St. Johns Rivership Co.
by Jeannine Gage
The Barbara Lee is a familiar sight in the Downtown Sanford Marina. The bright white rivership powered by a giant red paddlewheel has sat regally in her berth since 2012.
Even though you might have seen the beautiful boat, have you ever experienced one of its delightful cruises for yourself? And if the answer is yes, have you sailed recently? The Barbara Lee’s new owner is hoping you’ll come on board soon and discover everything new the refurbished ship has to offer.
“I just don’t think enough Central Florida folks know about us or the many ways they can enjoy the ship today,” says Michelle Wyatt. “We want to change that and create new experiences just for them.”
Michelle, who recently moved to Florida from Maryland, is the owner of the Barbara Lee and its operating company, St. Johns Rivership Co. She and her husband formerly ran a software development company specializing in the event industry, and owning an entertainment venue has always been a dream of Michelle’s. She just didn’t imagine the venue would be a big boat.
“I never dreamed of owning a rivership,” says Michelle. “But when I found it, I knew it was perfect.”
Swabbing the Decks and Then Some
Since September of last year, when Michelle took over the ship, she has freshened things up, bringing in new carpet, ceilings, and tables.
“The ship got a major overhaul in 2012, so mechanically, it’s in great shape,” says Michelle. “We just wanted to update the interior.”
Walking onto the Barbara Lee is like walking into a nice restaurant – just on water. There are two levels that hold a total of 190 guests. Delicious entrée choices are offered for lunch and dinner cruises, including prime rib, salmon, chicken, and two vegetarian options. There is a full bar for imbibing. When guests are seated, their meal starts with a plate of pecan sticky buns and a small appetizer of fruits and vegetables with ranch dip. Every sailing of the ship also features live entertainment.
The St. Johns Rivership Co., in operation since the 1980s, has traditionally offered lunch and dinner cruises where passengers can enjoy a nice meal, listen to some music, and travel down the scenic St. Johns River and Lake Monroe.
But now Michelle and Shannon Fischer, sales and entertainment director, are kicking things up a notch. The pair have many specialty cruises in the works.
“We want to provide unique and fun events for residents of Central Florida,” says Michelle.
New events include Rockin’ on the River, a two-hour cruise that will feature local bands; Wine Wednesday, a wine tasting that will feature themed wines; Whiskey and Wisdom, a collaboration with local historical societies; and eco tours. The lunch and dinner cruises last three to four hours, while the specialty cruises will be around two hours.
“Passengers can come and go out on a fun cruise and then still enjoy an evening in downtown Sanford,” says Shannon.
Prices range from $25 for some of the specialty cruises (food and alcohol are not included) to $85 for a dinner cruise (food is included, alcohol is not).
In addition, Michelle has leased property in the marina that will be used as a 4,000-square-foot event space, either on its own or in conjunction with events on the rivership.
“We are very excited about this,” she says. “It will be a great addition.”
Options abound for those seeking a venue that can accommodate their special occasion. For example, weddings and parties will be able to utilize the event space in the marina, the rivership, or both.
Michelle and her team are thrilled to be in Sanford and to offer new forms of entertainment for all to experience.
“We really want to be a part of the community,” she says. “To be a place Central Floridians think of for special occasions, private events, or to just have a nice, relaxing cruise.”