We had an opportunity to tour the Coosa River on the Sulzbacher Roman Holiday. Rome is known for having three rivers. The Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers flow together to form the Coosa River. Going down the river on the Sulzbacher Roman Holiday is a unique experience every resident and visitor of Rome should experience!
The Roman Holiday embarks from Heritage Park and travels down the Coosa River to the Lock and Dam and back to Heritage Park. It is a two-hour round-trip tour. Public tours are available the first Sunday of the month, beginning in May and going thru October.
The Sulzbacher Roman Holiday was named after Joel Sulzbacher, who was a native of Rome.
We arrived for our cruise approximately 20 minutes before departure. The Captain checked our ticket, and we boarded. Before we left the dock, they did a headcount as part of the safety rules. The boat holds up to 40 people and is US Coast Guard-inspected. Life vests are available for each passenger (another US Coast Guard Regulation), but I felt completely safe.
From the dock at Heritage Park, you can look across the river and can see Myrtle Hill. Over the past few years, water sports have become popular in Rome’s rivers. Paddleboard, kayak, canoe, and tube use are rapidly growing, and there are several rental locations in the area for equipment.
The Captain for our cruise was Carolyn McGuiness, and her First Mate was Dennis Nordeman. We remained seated while the boat started up, but we could move about the deck once we left the dock and were headed down the river. Since we were among the first people to board, we chose seats closest to the front.
We had to take a quick selfie. I often get so caught up in taking pictures that I sometimes forget to get a picture of us!
Once we started down the river, we could see that the water level was down. The First Mate told us the water level measured at the Lock and Dam was about 12 feet, which is low for the Coosa River. You can see by looking at the banks where the water level has been recently in relation to where it was on our trip. Looking at the leaves, you could see fresh mud on them, indicating that they had been underwater a couple of weeks ago.
The day we took the tour was quite warm for October, and the leaves had not yet begun to change. The breeze was consistent and kept us cooled off enough that we weren’t miserable. This trip would be even more beautiful with the leaves changing for fall.
The First Mate talked to us during the tour. He was highly knowledgeable about the history of the Coosa River. He told us the history of several Steam Boats used to travel the rivers and how vital the cotton industry was to Rome and surrounding areas. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the rivers were a way of life for many people in Rome. I have always been fascinated by the history of Rome. Still, the tour gave me a completely different perspective on Rome. It was like I was learning about my hometown for the first time, seeing it through a different set of eyes.
The scenery was thick and green as we went down the river. We watched for wildlife, and our First Mate pointed out a couple of protected wildlife areas. Ahead of us were hills that perfectly illustrate the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in which Rome is nestled.
We turned around at the Lock and Dam. You can see in the photo below where the water changes, and it looks like a silver line. That is where the dam is. This was as close as we got to it. The lock is to the left.
The Lock and Dam Park is located on Burnett Ferry Road and has picnicking, camping, and fishing facilities. It is a popular spot in Rome for outdoor activities.
On the way back, we learned more about the history of Steamboats and some fascinating accounts of sailors and their crews. We even learned how events on the Coosa River inspired Popeye, The Sailor’s stories and comics.
When we were close to being back at the dock, we had a clear and perfect view of the Clock Tower. I only had a second to take the picture because the trees only allowed the ideal view for a moment.
Our tour on the Sulzbacher Roman Holiday was a fun excursion that taught us so much about the history of Rome. There was a good mix of locals and tourists from the surrounding area as passengers on board our cruise. The Roman Holiday River Tour would be an excellent adventure for families and couples of any age and locals and tourists alike.
Book your excursion by visiting the website HERE. You can also book private tours for small church groups, family gatherings, parties, or any other small gathering. On the boat, tables can be set up for food. Just be sure to clean up after yourselves. The ECO Center manages the Roman Holiday and can help you arrange tours of the ECO Center and set up your river cruise on the Roman Holiday.
The boat is handicap accessible and has a restroom on board for emergencies.
