Royal Caribbean in talks to begin Big Sandy River Cruises
By: Mark Wayne, Lead Investigative Reporter
Date: November 17, 2022
The Lawrence County Tourism Commission is in final negotiations with both Royal Caribbean and Viking River Cruises to bring the cruise industry to Lawrence County. The cruise industry has been very profitable for towns along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, but has yet to be tried along smaller tributaries, such as the Big Sandy and Levisa Fork Rivers.
Lawrence County Tourism Chairman Les Queen released a statement saying, “The Cruise industry generates almost as much money as the La Visor Laser thinks the Lawrence County Public Library does per year, so we are aggressively pursuing a joint venture with Royal Caribbean and Viking River Cruises. We want to showcase one of the most historic and beautiful rivers in Kentucky, as well as boost the local economy.”
The current proposal includes funding to rebuild the former boat docks off Main Street in downtown Louisa, just behind the Court House. Routes have been proposed traveling both north and south of Louisa, to showcase the beautiful foliage and river scenery.
Area Readdiction Conglomerate (ARC) has graciously already sponsored the construction of several luxury riverside shanty towns. Several former clients have even committed to doing live reenactments of homeless hobos living along the banks of the river, as was common in the days Appalachia was being settled.
The Commission is pushing for stops in lesser-known areas, like the area formerly known as Peach Orchard, which is officially called Richardson. The Commission is proposing to include tours of the old company town owned by The Peach Orchard Coal Company, as well as a train ride along a refurbished Chattaroi Railroad.
In a draft proposal obtained by The Big Sandy Lazer, an authentic post-Civil War gambling parlor, Baptist bourbon bar, and Lisa’s Front Porch restaurant will be included in the newly designed river boats. Pending acceptance of final negotiations, construction on the first river boat could begin as soon as next spring.
Time Out From Comedy:
This article was inspired by my reading A Guide to Historic Coal Towns of the Big Sandy River Valley by George D. Torok.
The town of Peach Orchard, now known as Richardson, was roughly 15 miles south of Louisa and was the very first coal town in the Big Sandy Valley. Coal mining was introduced there by Judge Archibald Borders in 1847.
Judge Archibald Borders was a pioneer farmer, merchant, and politician of Lawrence County, who lived from 1798 until 1882. He is most famous for building a river steamboat named Big Sandy, that was used by future President Gen. James A. Garfield during the Civil War to transport supplies as far up river as Pikeville.
Infamously, the coal town of Peach Orchard was visited by Elizabeth Haven Appleton in the 1850’s, who produced some the first detailed accounts of life in Appalachia and Eastern Kentucky. Incidentally, she is responsible for perpetuating some of the earliest negative hillbilly stereotypes through her writings in the Atlantic Monthly. Seriously, this lady was the worst!
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ARC claims voter fraud in Lawrence County Elections
Area Readdiciton Conglomerate (ARC) is claiming it was the victim of voter fraud in this past Tuesday’s County and City-wide election after several key candidates they backed were defeated in general election races.
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Ghost of Fred M. Vinson seen haunting Dee’s Drive Inn bathroom
This past Tuesday evening, Mrs. Marge Thompson, 76, of Martha, KY was leaving the post office located in downtown Louisa when she was startled to see what appeared to be the specter of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson floating up from the Dee’s Drive Inn Bathroom. This is the second such haunting Mrs. Thompson has seen in the past year, the first being of D&J Tobacco in April.
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Fort Gay moves to annex Point Section
During the most recent City Council meeting, Fort Gay, WV Mayor Jolene McCoy introduced a controversial motion to formally annex the Point Section from Louisa, KY. The annexation is viewed as illegal by several surrounding towns and counties, but is expected to be supported by the Fort Gay City Council at a special meeting later this week.