SAN ANTONIO – The new fleet of city-owned electric barges took to the River Walk on Sunday.
The 26 brightly colored boats have taken over for the old red and blue one that floated the river’s waterways for decades.
They will also float higher as well.
A new company, GO RIO, is now operating the fleet. It’s a venture between two local businesswomen and Landry’s, a Houston-based company that owns numerous restaurants and the Golden Nugget Casino chain.
RELATED: GO RIO begins contract as city's river barge operator starting Sunday
While GO RIO is new, most of its boat captains are not. They worked with the previous River Walk barge operator.
One of the captains said it is a similar tour to what you remember.
“We’re pointing out the same points of interest,” boat captain Clifford Edwards said. “We can't really change history. So, as far as the narration, it's the same but it's in a more comfortable boat, setting.”
While GO RIO has 26 boats to start, the company said it hopes to have a full fleet of 43 boats by December.
They also also sticking to the basics that people have come to know: tours, taxi service and dining cruises.
But it plan to introduce specialty floats like ghost tours or yoga by next year.
