Fatal Branson duck boat operator says service won’t run this year

Saturday, 22 Mar, 2019 0

The owner of the duck boat that sank last summer, killing 17 people, will not operate the tourist attraction this year.

Instead, Ripley Entertainment will open a replacement attraction in the town of Branson, Missouri, and give some of the proceeds to local first-responders.

"Branson thrives on tourism, so we want to make sure we continue to give back to the community," Ripley Entertainment spokesperson Suzanne Smagala-Potts said.

The new attraction, called Branson Top Ops, will include indoor laser tag, an interactive outdoor maze with barriers, and a tower.

Work will begin shortly ready for a scheduled Memorial Day weekend opening. Ten percent of the proceeds, with a minimum of $100,000, will be given to first-responders.

The duck boats have operated for almost 50 years. Ripley took over the operation in 2017 but suspended the attraction after one sank during a storm in July 2018.

Smagala-Potts couldn’t comment on whether the boats would ever float again on the lake.

Several lawsuits are currently underway and the boat’s captain was indicted on 17 counts accusing him of failing to tell passengers to put on flotation devices or prepare them to abandon ship even after waves crashed into the boat.

Smagala-Potts said the company is pursuing mediation with the families.

"We want to do the right thing for the families and the community," she said.

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Lisa

Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.

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