Waterfront

Welcome to Louisville's Waterfront

Louisville's waterfront is a community neighborhood of open space, parks, walking trails, and places to view the Ohio River. It is also the wharf area for riverboats, including the Belle of Louisville and the Spirit of Jefferson.

 The Belle of Louisville is the oldest operating river steamboat in the country, and the oldest of her kind in the world! She was built in 1914 as a packet (freight) vessel, and is the only steamboat with that lineage still cruising in America today. The Belle is steam-powered and paddlewheel-driven, and is a one-of-a-kind experience. Her major cruising season is Memorial Day to Labor Day, with some special events in the spring and weekend cruises in the fall.

The Spirit of Jefferson is a diesel-powered riverboat built in 1963. With more modern features and two enclosed decks, she offers cruises most of the year.

For a complete schedule of cruises, visit our website at www.belleoflouisville.org, click on "Cruise Calendar" in a box on the right of the home page, then choose any month. All cruises shown in red are on the Belle, all in blue are on the Spirit.

Waterfront Park extends along the riverfront all the way from McAlpine Lock to Tumbleweed Restaurant - a distance of about 8 miles. A walking/biking path leads from the boat wharf to McAlpine Lock, and beyond to Shawnee Park. Small plaques tell the visitor about river history along the way.

Joe's Crab Shack Restaurant sits on the western edge of the section of the park called The Great Lawn, where community events take place throughout the year, including during the weeks of the Kentucky Derby Festival.

Beyond the Great Lawn, walking trails, children's play areas, a swing garden, and a memorial to Abraham Lincoln make the park a restful, natural break from the bustling downtown area. The entire park provides uninhibited views of the Ohio River, and visitors can be found watching the early morning wildlife and the inspiring sunsets at dusk.