Rick Owens, left, and Greg Carpenter worked on the Dixie last month while it has been dry docked. The Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. received a $20,700 grant from the Kosciusko County Convention Recreation and Visitor Commission this week. InkFreeNews Photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. received a $20,700 grant from the Kosciusko County Convention Recreation and Visitor Commission this week.

Bob Dailey, president of Dixie Sternwheeler Inc., requested $20,700 for necessary repairs and maintenance to The Dixie Boat in North Webster. He received the money at the Wednesday, March 12, KCCRVC meeting.

Dailey said the boat is 96 years old and that over time, it’s begun to “hog,” or bend.

“We want to stop that, as there’s no way we can fix it,” said Dailey. “We’ve decided to put trusses on each side to prevent that.”

Dailey said the organization had found someone to do the work at the cost of materials only.

The grant money will be used to help pay for some of the major renovations it is completing on the Dixie during its down time. The boat is currently dry docked and work started in October. The renovations, said Dailey, have cost around $70,000.

Interior work includes moving the snack bar, fixing the wheelhouse and installing trusses on both sides of the boat.

Next, sandblasting and painting will occur both inside and outside.

After the trusses are done, the remainder of the boat will be put back together and the boat will go back into the water sometime in early May.

“We are even more encouraged that we will be ready to operate by Memorial Day weekend. We can still use donations from individuals and businesses,” Dailey said.

For the first time in 18 years, the price of rides has gone up to $9.75. The first ride is Friday, May 23. Dailey said they still need about $20,000 to pay for the rest of the renovations.

To donate to the Dixie, send a check to P.O. Box 674, North Webster, IN 46555 or visit PayPal or Venmo and search for the Dixie. For further information, email [email protected] or visit its Facebook page.