Posted: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:42 PM - 11,760 Readers
By: Crestina Chavez
Back in 1945, Dudley Fowler helped put together a 60-foot paddleboat on a piece of family property along Lake Austin known as Greenshores.
"Well, its a thing of great family pride," Fowler said. "We built it as a family. In the evening, when my dad got home from the law office and brothers and I home from school, we'd go down and helped set up the frame."
And, four years after that, the Riverboat Commodore set off on her maiden voyage.
"The governor came out and christen the ship in the Texas Navy and made the boat a ship in the Texas Navy," Fowler said.
Ever since then, the Riverboat Commodore has been a way of life for the Fowlers. Sharing the waters of Lake Austin with some 800-thousand guests over the boat's lifetime.
"My mother and dad are watching right now. I guarantee you. And, they're just as proud as can be," he said.
For decades, the Commodore has helped celebrate weddings,
anniversaries, and birthdays. Now, it's the Commodore's turn
to blow her own horn as she celebrates 60 years on the water.
"If the boat could talk, it would definitely have some stories
to tell." said owner Paul Mauler with Austin Riverboats.
Mahler has his own history with the Commodore.
"As I went through college, I helped deckhand, bartend, serve
food, on the riverboats, he said.
When he graduated, the Fowlers asked him if he's like to take over the business.
"60 years. Unbelievable," Mahler said. "The lake -- besides, the events and the boat, the changes in the boat, the changes along the lake have been unbelievable as well."
Voyagers riding waves of history aboard the Commodore.
"I hope to be able to hand the boat down to the next generation in my family as well," he said.
The Riverboat Commodore is the longest running riverboat operation in Texas.If you'd like to check it out for yourself, it docks next to the Hula Hut on Lake Austin.
For rental information, check out
www.austinriverboats.com.
