Millersburg Ferry Boat Assn

What Millersburg Ferry Boat Assn does

The Millersburg Ferry Boat Association is a Pennsylvania-registered nonprofit that operates the last all-wooden, double-sternwheel paddle boat ferry service in the United States. Two historic vessels—the Roaring Bull V (primary) and the Falcon III (secondary)—carry passengers, motorcycles, and vehicles across the mile-wide Susquehanna River between Millersburg (Dauphin County) and Liverpool (Perry County) on a 15–25 minute crossing. The Association was incorporated in 1968 to preserve a ferry operation that has run continuously since 1817 and that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Core technology is the 19th-century double stern-wheel paddle design adopted in 1873: each vessel is propelled by two large wooden paddle wheels rotating through the water at the stern, rather than by propellers. The Association runs a seasonal operation (May through October, 9AM–4PM) with a 7-person staff, no reservations, and walk-up payment (cash preferred) at two landings. Revenue is generated from per-crossing fares across a tiered structure ($5 walk-on to $30 horse-and-buggy one-way), private charters ($300 first hour, $150 each additional hour, up to 45 guests), a membership/season-pass program, and donations. Customer segments are diversified across tourists, motorcyclists/car clubs, campers, and local residents, supported by an active digital presence on the website, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Tripadvisor with a 4.8-star average across 1,100 reviews.

Name

Millersburg Ferry Boat Assn

Legal name

Millersburg Ferry Boat Association

Website

https://millersburgferry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Millersburg Ferry Boat Association is a Pennsylvania nonprofit that operates America's last all-wooden, double-sternwheel paddle boat ferry, running two historic vessels across the Susquehanna River between Millersburg and Liverpool from May through October for tourists, motorcyclists, campers, and local residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Ferry Transportation

NAICS

Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Inland Water Transportation (48321)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Riverboat Passenger Transport Operators (TLAFALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Harbor & River Shuttle Services (THAIAJAE)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry service
• Historic paddle boat
• River transportation
• Vehicle ferry crossing
• Heritage tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Millersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Services: The primary revenue stream comes from transporting passengers and vehicles across the mile-wide Susquehanna River. The ferry charges per crossing based on passenger/vehicle type (walk-on passengers, motorcycles, cars, horse and buggies, trailers). Children under 3 ride free. The ferry operates on a transaction-fee model where each crossing generates revenue.
2. Charter Services: Private charter services are available for groups up to 45 guests at a rate of $300 for the first hour and $150 for additional hours. This provides premium revenue for special events, private rides, and group outings.
3. Membership and Donations: As a non-profit organization, the Millersburg Ferry Boat Association generates additional support through membership programs and donations. These help maintain historic wooden vessels and keep the 200-year tradition alive.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Millersburg Ferry Boat Association operates passenger and vehicle ferry crossings across the mile-wide Susquehanna River between Millersburg, PA (Dauphin County) and Liverpool, PA (Perry County) using two historic all-wooden, double stern-wheel paddle boat vessels (the Roaring Bull V and the Falcon III). The service runs seasonally from May through October, 9AM-4PM, with each crossing taking 15-25 minutes. The nonprofit also offers private charter services for up to 45 guests and membership/donation programs to support vessel preservation.

Product overview

The Millersburg Ferry Boat Association operates America's last all-wooden, double-sternwheel paddle boat ferry service across the Susquehanna River. The operation consists of two historic vessels—the Roaring Bull V (primary vessel) and the Falcon III (secondary vessel)—that provide standard passenger and vehicle ferry crossings, private charter services, and a membership program. The ferry connects Millersburg (Dauphin County) with Liverpool/Perry County, offering approximately 15-25 minute crossings for walk-on passengers, vehicles, and motorcycles. The service operates seasonally from May through October and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Roaring Bull V: The primary vessel named after the Roaring Bull rapids on the Susquehanna River. It is an all-wooden, double stern-wheel paddle boat with vehicle capacity of 4 cars or 8+ motorcycles and passenger capacity of 50.
• Falcon III

Products and services

• Standard Ferry Crossing Service Walk-up, first-come-first-served ferry crossing transporting walk-on passengers, motorcycles, cars, pickups, SUVs, vans, horse and buggies, and trailers across the Susquehanna River between Millersburg and Liverpool, PA. The 15-25 minute crossing serves tourists, locals, motorcyclists, and campers on a pay-as-you-go basis.
• Private Charter Service Private charter rental of the ferry vessel for events, parties, and group outings. Accommodates up to 45 guests. Priced at $300 for the first hour and $150 for each additional hour.
• Membership Program Season pass and membership options for regular ferry riders providing cost savings throughout the operating season while supporting the continued operation and preservation of the historic ferry.
• Roaring Bull V Ferry Vessel The primary all-wooden, double stern-wheel paddle boat vessel operated by the Millersburg Ferry. Named after the Roaring Bull rapids on the Susquehanna River. Carries both passengers and vehicles with capacity for 4 cars (or 8+ motorcycles) and 50 passengers per crossing.
• Falcon III Ferry Vessel The secondary all-wooden, double stern-wheel paddle boat vessel that operates alongside the Roaring Bull to maintain ferry service throughout the operating season.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.8 star average rating from 1100 reviews across Google, Facebook, and Tripadvisor
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC)coreOthersThe Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission provides recognition and support for the Millersburg Ferry as a historic Pennsylvania landmark. The PHMC logo appears on the organization's website indicating a formal relationship with the state's historical preservation agency.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cape May-Lewes Ferry: The Cape May-Lewes Ferry operates passenger and vehicle ferry crossings across the Delaware Bay between New Jersey and Delaware. Comparable to Millersburg as a dedicated passenger/vehicle ferry operator with a scenic, destination-driven ridership profile and seasonal operating window.
• Casco Bay Lines: Casco Bay Lines operates scheduled passenger ferry service between Portland, Maine and several Casco Bay islands. It is a small, mission-driven passenger ferry operator comparable to Millersburg in service model (fixed-route passenger ferry with vehicle capacity on inland/coastal waters) and similar small-team scale.
• Savannah Riverboat Cruises: Savannah Riverboat Cruises operates riverboat passenger excursions on the Savannah River, including sightseeing cruises, dining cruises, and private charters. Highly comparable to Millersburg as a riverboat passenger-transport operator combining scheduled crossings with charter and tourism revenue.
• Block Island Ferry: Block Island Ferry operates passenger and vehicle ferry service from mainland Rhode Island to Block Island. Comparable to Millersburg as a small-scale, seasonal passenger/vehicle ferry operator serving a defined point-to-point river or coastal crossing with a strong tourism component.
• Gateway Clipper Fleet: Gateway Clipper Fleet operates sightseeing, dining, and charter cruises on Pittsburgh's three rivers. Comparable to Millersburg as a heritage riverboat passenger operator with mixed scheduled and charter revenue, both serving the tourism market on U.S. inland waterways.

Broad incumbents

• NYC Ferry: NYC Ferry operates commuter and tourist passenger ferry routes across New York Harbor. Comparable to Millersburg in core service type (scheduled passenger ferry) but at much larger scale, with multi-route urban operations and year-round service.
• Washington State Ferries: Washington State Ferries is the largest ferry operator in the United States, operating vehicle and passenger ferries across Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Comparable to Millersburg in core service (passenger/vehicle ferry) but at public-agency scale, with year-round multi-route operations rather than a single heritage crossing.
• Hornblower Group: Hornblower operates a portfolio of sightseeing cruises, charter yachts, and ferry services in multiple U.S. cities. Comparable to Millersburg through its charter and sightseeing vessel operations, but operates at significantly larger scale and across multiple markets rather than a single heritage river crossing.
• Staten Island Ferry: The Staten Island Ferry provides free passenger ferry service between Manhattan and Staten Island, carrying millions of riders annually. Comparable to Millersburg as a passenger ferry operator but at vastly greater scale, with municipal rather than nonprofit ownership and a commuter-focused, year-round ridership base.

Emerging players

• Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: Circle Line operates sightseeing cruise tours around Manhattan. Partially comparable to Millersburg as a passenger watercraft operator with a strong tourism/sightseeing orientation, though focused on urban harbor cruises rather than fixed-route river crossings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/roaringbull5
• Facebookfacebook.com/millersburgferry
• Instagraminstagram.com/MillersburgFerry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/millersburg-ferry-boat-assn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Millersburg Ferry Boat Assn