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The Kehl family business started in the 1960’s when Bob and Ruth Kehl bought and ran a café in downtown Dubuque, Iowa. By the 1970’s they were also in the catering business and had purchased a 150-passenger steamwheeler, “River Rogue” for dinner cruises.
A fixture on the Davenport riverfront for many years will leave Friday. The Rhythm City casino boat is scheduled to depart around midday. Casino Boat Cruises in Davenport on YP.com. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Cruises in Davenport, IA. Casino Rv Park in Davenport on YP.com. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Casinos in Davenport, IA.
In 1977, the Kehls commissioned a 377-passenger “Spirit of Dubuque.” The Mississippi Belle and Mississippi Belle II followed in the 80’s. In 1986, the business expanded to West Virginian with the West Virginia Belle, a 1000-passenger boat.
Hard work creates success. Bob and Ruth Kehl received the National Small Business of the Year Award from President Reagan in 1986, beating out Microsoft for the honor.
It’s no secret the Kehls were opposed to the idea of gambling on the rivers when the idea was floated in the Iowa Legislature in the late 1980’s because of the threat to their riverboat business. They soon figured out gambling was likely coming. No one was in a better position to be part of this new industry.
The Kehl family has been involved in gaming since its inception in the state of Iowa. On March 8, 1990, the Dubuque Casino Belle, Inc. owned and operated by Robert and Ruth Kehl, was granted the first riverboat gaming operator’s license in Iowa and the license was issued on April 1, 1990. The Dubuque Casino Belle became the first American-flagged vessel to offer gambling cruises in the United States.
The Kehls received their second license in 1991 for the Mississippi Belle II, which started riverboat gaming operation on June 1 in Clinton, Iowa.
The Kehl’s had interest in and operated a total of four riverboat casinos in the Midwest; Dubuque Casino Belle, the Mississippi Belle II, Catfish Bend Casino, Fort Madison/Burlington, Iowa and Saint Joe Frontier Casino, St. Joe, Missouri.
Today, the Kehl’s have majority ownership in Elite Casino Resorts, LLC, which owns and operates Riverside Casino and Golf Resort® in Washington County which opened in 2006, Grand Falls Casino Resort® in Lyon County, Iowa, which opened in 2011, and Rhythm City Casino Resort®, which reopened in 2016. Riverside received one of only four new Iowa gaming licenses awarded by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission out of ten applications in 2005. Grand Falls was the only license awarded by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission of four applications in 2010. In 2014, the Kehl’s became owners of the existing Rhythm City Casino in Davenport and opened a land-based casino resort to replace the existing riverboat in June 2016.
Go BackLeave the navigation to someone else when you climb aboard these boats and explore Iowa's rivers and lakes.
1. Riverboat Twilight
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Designed as a replica of a Victorian steamboat, the Riverboat Twilight has three decks, dining areas and sundecks. Take a short 1.5 hour sightseeing cruise on select dates, with Le Claire as your port of call. Want a true getaway? Two-day cruises depart from Le Claire to Dubuque and include all meals, lodging, on-board entertainment and admission to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. One-day cruises run from Dubuque to Guttenberg. Operates Memorial Day weekend through October. Admission fee applies. Reservations strongly encouraged.
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2. Celebration River Cruises
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
For more than 30 years, the Celebration Belle has sailed the mighty Mississippi River with ports in Le Claire, Dubuque and the Quad Cities. The 770-passenger paddlewheel boat, the largest non-gaming riverboat on the Upper Mississippi, offers casual sightseeing, lunch, dinner and day-long cruises. Operates April through October. Admission fee applies.
3. Blue Heron Eco-Cruises
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Departing from Camanche, the 26-passenger Blue Heron pontoon boat provides an up close and personal look at the backwaters, sloughs and main channel of the Mississippi River. Public sunset cruises are offered Thursday evenings and some Saturday mornings out of Rock Creek Marina and Campground, May to October. Saturday morning cruises operate from May to Labor Day. Public cruises are free of charge and reservations are recommended.
4. Channel Cat Water Taxi
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Hop aboard this open-air boat that sails between several ports on both the Iowa and Illinois sides of the river in the Quad Cities. The ferry boat is part of the Quad Cities metro transit system and operates daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
5. Maiden Voyage Tours
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
In addition to a two hour long daily open boarding cruise, Maiden Voyage Tours in McGregor offers several charter options including the Tom Sawyer Adventure and Bird Eco Tours. Captain Robert, a former clammer, tells about the “hunters and gatherers of the Upper Mississippi” with clarity and humor – he’s a crowd favorite! Operates Memorial Day weekend through October. Admission fee applies.
8. American Lady River Cruises
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Choose a lunch, happy hour or sunset dinner cruise aboard this 80-foot Skipperliner yacht based in Dubuque.
9. Mississippi River Charters
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Groups of up to six can set out for two-, four- or eight-hour fishing or sightseeing trips on this charter based in Guttenberg.
10. Queen II
LAKE OKOBOJI
An Okoboji icon for more than 30 years, the Queen II provides a 60-minute narrated excursion around West Lake Okoboji. The steamboat can accommodate 200 people on its open-air upper deck and enclosed lower deck. Operates Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission fee applies.
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11. Lady of the Lake
CLEAR LAKE
Enjoy a “boatload of fun” aboard the Lady of the Lake in Clear Lake. The authentic sternwheel paddleboat will take you on a 90-minute cruise around the natural, spring-fed Clear Lake. They also offer specialty cruises including the 4th of July fireworks cruise or annual Pirate Party cruises. Operates Memorial Day weekend through September. Admission fee applies.
12. Scenic City Empress
IOWA RIVER
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Climb aboard the Scenic City Empress and you’ll see why Iowa Falls earned the nickname “The Scenic City.” The double-decker riverboat with an enclosed lower level cruises the Iowa River, offering beautiful views of limestone bluffs. Operates Memorial Day weekend through October. Admission fee applies.