Marietta’s Hidden Treasures Shine In Ohio As Riverboat Cruises Bring A New Wave Of Tourists!

Published on August 27, 2025

This summer, Marietta, Ohio, has welcomed a lively activity of tourism, courtesy of nan riverboat cruises that support appearing on nan Ohio River. More than 20 boats person dropped anchor astatine nan city’s levee, and nan Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau says nan sheer number of calls for a spot this size has been a trading win. Every docking time sends a caller existent of visitors into nan downtown, and nan spillover has reached nan java counters, nan handcrafted gift shops, and nan city’s mini but cherished historical sites.

Economic Impact connected Local Businesses

According to Shannon Beacham, trading head for nan Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, nan accrued cruise postulation has had a visible effect connected nan section economy. Downtown businesses, peculiarly those wrong stepping region from nan Ohio River, person knowledgeable higher income this summer. Shops that typically cater to visitors person reported an uptick successful business, pinch visitors taking clip to research Marietta’s charming streets and historical sites.

Local entrepreneurs person capitalized connected nan riverboat season, pinch galore establishments receiving dependable traffic. Liz Johnson, co-owner of Jeremiah’s Coffee House, shared that nan café has go a celebrated extremity for cruise vessel unit members, who spot their java orders arsenic soon arsenic nan boats dock. “Whenever nan boats are successful town, nan unit usually travel successful earlier noon to spot their java orders.

The cruise passengers person besides contributed to nan lively ambiance successful nan bosom of nan city. At Whit & Whimzy, a gift shop that specializes successful locally made creation and crafts, proprietor Lisa Pytlik highlighted really extended layovers gave visitors ample clip to research some nan shops and Marietta’s humanities landmarks. Passengers person reported that they had much elasticity to sojourn historical sites and still shop downtown.

Cultural and Historical Attractions See More Visitors

Tourism attractions, including nan Castle Museum, person besides benefited from nan increasing riverboat traffic. The museum, which offers a rich | glimpse into Marietta’s past, hosted 11 riverboat groups this summer. Education Director Kyle Yoho stated that each group typically consisted of 50 visitors, and nan depository provided guided excursions to Mound Cemetery and nan ancient earthworks. Feedback from nan tours has been overwhelmingly positive, pinch galore passengers expressing liking successful learning astir nan city’s unsocial humanities background.

The influx of visitors has provided Marietta’s taste sites pinch an opportunity to showcase nan area’s rich | history. Guests person had nan chance to research Marietta’s well-preserved landmarks and study astir its domiciled successful early American history. The Mound Cemetery, successful particular, has been a important extremity for galore tourists, acknowledgment to its relationship to early Native American cultures and nan funeral tract of humanities figures.

A Unique Appeal to Cruise Passengers

For visitors for illustration Jerry and Peggy Lucas from San Diego, Marietta’s entreaty lies successful its manageable size and humanities significance. Traveling connected a sternwheeler, nan mates recovered nan town’s ambiance some charming and approachable. Zane Carter, a deckhand pinch 1 of nan cruise lines, shared that passengers connected smaller vessels often for illustration towns for illustration Marietta owed to their history and unsocial attractions. “Smaller towns often person much history and unsocial sites.

Future of Cruise Tourism successful Marietta

Although nan riverboat cruise play has ended for this year, section officials expect nan surge successful cruise postulation to stay a regular portion of Marietta’s tourism strategy successful early years. The dependable travel of visitors has not only helped bolster nan system but has besides raised nan city’s floor plan arsenic a destination for riverboat cruises. The Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to proceed supporting section businesses and taste attractions by promoting nan metropolis arsenic a must-visit extremity connected nan Ohio River cruise route.

Increased visibility, owed to nan regular beingness of riverboats successful nan region, has besides reinforced Marietta’s position arsenic a premier tourer destination successful Ohio. The city’s downtown, pinch its unsocial shops, historical buildings, and welcoming atmosphere, is expected to proceed benefiting from cruise-related tourism successful nan years ahead.

A Bright Road Ahead for Marietta’s Visitor Economy

With riverboat cruises still tying up astatine Marietta’s levee and passengers spilling onto Front Street, nan heartbeat of nan city’s downtown and its array of taste sites look poised to powerfulness nan region’s system for years to come. Small-business owners chatting amiably pinch passengers, hoteliers readying caller packages, and tourism leaders mapping next-season itineraries tin already consciousness nan caput of a snowball assemblage of art, history, and stream lovers. Connecticut marble, handmade cigars, and aged steeple bells, each 1 a recovered jewel welcomes nan adjacent batch of visitors, promising to cement Marietta’s domiciled arsenic a riverfront beacon for those successful hunt of awesome stories framed by awesome views.