The General Jackson, Tennessee's only paddlewheel showboat, will cease operations at the end of 2026 after 41 years transporting passengers up and down the Cumberland River, Opry Entertainment Group confirmed to The Tennessean on Oct. 19.
"After an extensive evaluation, we have decided to retire the General Jackson Showboat due to ongoing maintenance challenges that have impacted its operating schedule," a company spokesperson said in a statement. "For many years, the General Jackson has offered visitors a unique way to connect with Nashville, and we are grateful to the teams who brought the experience to life."
The General Jackson is one of the biggest showboats ever built at 300 feet long with a 1,000-person capacity and four decks of entertainment.
It's also one of the last operating paddlewheel boats in the U.S.
In late 1983, Opryland commissioned the Jeffboat Company to create the boat for $10 million, and on April 20, 1985, it launched into the Ohio River. The boat's first captains were William Howell and Edgar Allen Poe, of no relation to "The Tell-Tale Heart" author.
The plan was to draw more visitors to Nashville's riverfront, and Opryland officials decided to name the boat in honor of the very first steamboat to chug down the Cumberland, which honored President Andrew Jackson. Two months after its first launch, General Jackson headed south from Indiana on a four-day journey to its home at Opryland.
When the boat finally arrived in Nashville on June 23, 1985, thousands of Tennesseans gathered in Riverfront Park between the Cumberland River and downtown to excitedly wave it through. About 80 crew members were on board at the time, hurriedly painting the decks and installing railing before the boat arrived at its final destination.
"Although the chapter is closing on the General Jackson, we remain committed to offering attractions and entertainment across our portfolio that feature the rich talent and music culture that have made Nashville a world-famous entertainment destination," a spokesperson for Opry Entertainment Group said.
Designed to look like an 1800s steamboat and inspired by the American Victorian era, General Jackson has hosted thousands of guests for dinner, a show and a cruise along the Cumberland over the last 41 years. Before the boat officially retires, it will welcome passengers aboard for one last Christmas season.
Tickets are on sale now for General Jackson's Nashville Christmas and Showboat Holiday Spectacular. The last voyage is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work,subscribe to The Tennessean.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Nashville's General Jackson Showboat is closing after 41 years
