Riverie Begins its Journey to Rochester this Week and Arrives Downtown May 20!
Corn Hill Navigation to Launch New Riverie Tour Boat and Open New Waterfront Center on June 6 at Corn Hill Landing on the Genesee River
Online Booking for Cruises Now Open!
Rochester, NY — May 15, 2023 — Riverie, Corn Hill Navigation’s newest tour boat on the Erie Canal and the only tour boat tooffer cruises on the Genesee River since 2013, is getting ready to make its journey to Rochester.
Riverie is scheduled to arrive downtown on Saturday, May 20. It will make a stop at Pittsford’s Schoen Place from Thursday, May 18 to Saturday, May 20.
Riverie will be christened on June 6 at a celebration that will also include the grand opening of the new waterfront center at Corn Hill Landing on the Genesee River.
Riverie’s name incorporates River and Erie (Canal). While Riverie does not launch until June 6, it is not too early to book a cruise. Online booking is now open at CornHillNav.org.
The public can follow Riverie’s journey to Rochester on Facebook and Instagram.
This is the second vessel operated by Corn Hill Navigation, a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to fostering the appreciation, improvement, and sustainability of the Erie Canal and Genesee River since 1991. It also operates the iconic Sam Patch replica packet boat on the Erie Canal, based at Schoen Place in Pittsford. Sam Patch opened public cruises on May 14 to accommodate the thousands of visitors coming for the 2023 PGA Championship.
Patrick Russell-Walsh, Executive Director of Corn Hill Navigation, said, “We are so excited to launch Riverie in June and can’t wait to welcome passengers to our new waterfront center and to cruise our historic waterways on this beautiful new vessel. This launch has been in the planning for more than five years, and we are extremely grateful to all of our partners who have helped us reach this point.
“Riverie represents the realization of our mission to grow our positive impact on the region, with respect to the four E’s: Education, Economic Development, the Environment, and Enjoyment. We want to contribute to downtown Rochester’s revitalization, build awareness for the history, beauty, and importance of the Erie Canal and Genesee River, and increase accessibility for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to take pride in and experience our region’s waterways firsthand, from the deck of a boat.”
Corn Hill Navigation draws visitors from all 50 states and more than 50 foreign countries.
Bringing a Cruise Boat Back to the Genesee River
Riverie is a key component of Rochester’s ROC the Riverway initiative to bring a cruise boat and passengers back to the Genesee River after a long absence and help establish a vibrant urban core and sense of place. The Mary Jemison tour boat, operated by Corn Hill Navigation, was retired in 2013.
Riverie was designed and constructed by Scarano Boat Building in Albany, New York at a cost of approximately $700,000. Scarano is a leading builder of period wood, aluminum, composite, and steel boats, Coast Guard–certified for public transportation and excursions.
Corn Hill Navigation has raised more than $538,000 for the construction of Riverie from ROC the Riverway (A City of Rochester and New York State initiative administered by New York Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, and Empire State Development), Avangrid Foundation in partnership with Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation, Corn Hill Neighbors Association, and more than 100 other organizations and individuals, including 100% participation from Corn Hill Navigation’s board of directors. Additionally, the City of Rochester has pledged ongoing support as Corn Hill Navigation acts as the city’s Harbormaster. Corn Hill Navigation also acknowledges the very early support from Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation, Davenport Hatch Foundation, and the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
Riverie Offers New and Unique Entertainment and Educational Options
Riverie will provide a wide spectrum of new and unique entertainment options for families, businesses, and organizations. It will be available for private charters and themed cruises, including Live Music Sunset Cruises, Wine/Beer/Spirit Tastings, Birding, Bike and Boat, Pizza, Quiet Cruises, Lock 33 trips, Citizen Science Cruise, and a Full Moon Cruise
Riverie will also expand educational offerings by providing on-the-water, STEEM-based experiential learning that will benefit thousands of students annually, including those in the Finger Lakes Region, Monroe County, and the City of Rochester.
- Cruises range from $18 to $45 per person and can be booked online now at https://cornhillnav.org/riverie.
- Educational charters are custom designed and start at $525.
- Private charters are also available. Rates vary.
- For information on charters, contact Corn Hill Navigation at (585) 662-5748 or email [email protected].
New Waterfront Center Opens June 6
In its goal to lead the way in attracting recreational boaters to downtown from near and far, Corn Hill Navigation will also officially open its new waterfront center at Corn Hill Landing on June 6, providing harbormaster, visitor, and tourism services.
The fully renovated 2,200 square feet multi-use facility features a riverview patio and houses Corn Hill Navigation’s headquarters and ticket office, the Harbormaster, visitor information, educational displays on the Erie Canal and Genesee River, and amenities for boaters, including restrooms and showers. It will host a broad range of educational and community programming, meetings, and business and social events.
Boater docking facilities include over 900 feet of dockage along the sea wall with an average water depth of four to six feet, water and electric hookups, and sewage pump-out. The overnight fee is $5. The pump-out fee is $5. The Harbormaster’s office will be open serving boaters starting June 7, Wednesdays through Sundays. For information call 585-662-5748, or email [email protected].
Sam Patch Tours is Open Now at Schoen Place
Public cruises depart Wednesday through Monday from 12 Schoen Place in the historic Village of Pittsford, New York. The Erie Canal is opening early this year between Pittsford and Fairport, New York, to accommodate the thousands of visitors coming for the 2023 PGA Championship. Book online now at https://cornhillnav.org/sam-patch.
The Sam Patch is participating in the PGA Passport Program sponsored by the Pittsford Chamber of Commerce. Get all the details on the program’s special offers at https://pittsfordchamber.org/
In this 199th season of the Erie Canal, the remaining portions of the New York State Canal system are scheduled to open Friday, May 19, 2023, for the annual navigation season.
Corn Hill Navigation is Hiring!
In conjunction with Riverie’s launch, Corn Hill Navigation is hiring for a number of positions, including crew members, ticketing and seasonal staff, and captains. For information, email [email protected].
About Corn Hill Waterfront and Navigation Foundation
Corn Hill Waterfront and Navigation Foundation is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1991. It operates two tour vessels, Riverie at Corn Hill Landing in Rochester on the Genesee River and Sam Patch on the Erie Canal at Schoen Place in the Town of Pittsford. Corn Hill Navigation’s mission is to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in on-the-water experiential learning and foster the preservation and improvement of the Erie Canal and Genesee River for future generations. Hundreds of thousands of people from all 50 states and more than 50 countries, including tens of thousands of students from schools across Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region, have experienced the Erie Canal and Genesee River aboard a Corn Hill Navigation vessel. Ridership has grown 40 percent over the past ten years. In 2019 and 2021, Corn Hill Navigation expanded its educational programs with the development of Environmental Education on the Erie Canal (E3C), a hands-on multidisciplinary STEEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental, and Math)-based curriculum.
The Corn Hill Waterfront & Navigation Foundation
280 Exchange St. Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 662-5748 | [email protected] | cornhillnav.org