Spirit of Peoria
Two and Three Day Paddleboat River Cruises on Illinois River. Charters Available.
Contact Stoney Creek Travel
Weaverville / Asheville, NC
828-658-2582 / 877-658-2582
The Spirit of Peoria paddlewheel boat offers two and three day river cruises on the Illinois River.  Passengers enjoy the natural beauty of the river, onboard entertainment, and delicious dining with fresh local produce when available.

The one night and two day river cruises depart from Peoria, IL and cruise to Starved Rock Park on the Illinois River.  Passengers overnight at the Starved Rock Lodge and return to Peoria on day two.  Dining is on the boat.

The two night and three day cruises depart Peoria, IL and cruise to St. Louis, MO, stopping at a small towns along the river.  On day one, passengers stay overnight in Jacksonville, IL at the Econolodge.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are onboard the paddlewheel boat. On day two, the overnight is at Pere Marquette Lodge in the Pere Marquette State Park. Breakfast and lunch are on the boat. Dinner is at the lodge.  On day three, The Spirit of Peoria cruises into St. Louis at 2 PM, docking near the Arch.  Passengers have two hours of free time to visit the Arch.  At 4 PM, the motor coach departs for Peoria. Breakfast and lunch are on the boat. The evening meal is not provided on day 3.

1 Night / 2 Day Cruises 
$319 Per Person, Double Occupancy (Includes tax & gratuity

2010 Dates
June 14-15 & 28-29
July 12-13
August 9-10 & 16-17
September 13-14 & 20-21
October 11-12, 18-19 & 25-26

2 Night / 3 Day Cruises
$485 PP, Dbl Occup.
$615 Single Occupancy
(Includes tax & gratuity)

2010 Dates
May 22–24
August 21–23
September 25–27
October 2–4

July 24-28 Saint Louis (5-day/4-night) To be determined!

Riverboat pricing includes:
All Taxes and gratuities
All meals and snacks featuring:
Signature entrees such as chef carved prime rib
Gourmet cheeses accompanied with a glass of wine
Unlimited soft drinks, coffee, and tea aboard the cruise
Old-fashioned entertainment featuring:
  • Professional Storytelling
  • World-class ragtime piano
  • River history
  • There are four shows a day plus a variety of other entertainment venues.
  • Calliope concerts
  • Strolling minstrals
  • Hiking with guides.  See animals, birds, and fish

Lodging at Starved Rock Lodge For Two and Three Day Trips
Baggage handling
Friendliest crew on the river
Private Charters -  Hourly or Daily

The Spirit of Peoria offers the Midwest's most unique setting for meetings and weddings. Not only is the interior elegant, but the scenic river cruise provides entertainment appropriate for almost any function. Christmas parties, weddings, reunions, fraternity/sorority formals, and business meetings are just a few of the functions hosted aboard the Spirit of Peoria. Both decks are equipped with dance floors, restrooms, microphones, wet bars, and a remarkable view of the river.

Pricing:
Sunday–Thursday
1 Deck $1,800 (2 hour cruise / l hour dock time)
Entire Boat $2,500 (2 hour cruise / 2 hour dock time)

Friday–Saturday
1 Deck $2,500 (2 hour cruise / l hour dock time)
Entire Boat $3,000 (2 hour cruise / 2 hour dock time)

Additional dock time available at $350/hr.
Additional cruising time available at $650/hr.

To reserve private deck during regular sightseeing cruise:
$1,000 2.5 hours aboard vessel (1.25 hr cruise, 1.25 hr dock time)

Guests have their choice to bring any caterer aboard the Spirit of Peoria; however, they have the facilities, chef, linen, china, and professional wait staff that can guarantee a fantastic dining experience so you can relax and enjoy the cruise. You are responsible for your own musical entertainment, but the Spirit of Peoria does have a list of live bands and local DJ services from around the area.
Starved Rock Lodge

On two day steamboat river cruises, passengers are treated to an overnight stay at the beautifully rustic Starved Rock Lodge in Starved Rock State Park.  Nestled within 2630 acres of forest with 18 lush canyons and waterfalls, the lodge sits atop a wooded bluff, overlooking the Illinois River.

This historic lodge boasts a garden-like indoor pool complex with a lap-size pool, Jacuzzi, children's pool, sauna, poolside tables.  The resort has a full service restaurant, cafe, 3 gift shops, and elevators.  Massage service is available.

The spacious rooms feature a charmingly, fashionable decor while maintaining their rustic beauty.  Each room has a coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and board, free HBO, TV and DVD. All rooms are nonsmoking.
Eagle at
Starved Rock State Park
One of 18
Waterfalls
Guided Nature Hiking
Starved Rock Lodge Great Hall
Photos Courtesy of  Spirit of Peoria, Starved Rock Lodge,
Pere Marquette Lodge & Winery
Pere Marquette Lodge and Winery

On the second day of the three day cruise, passengers disembark the Spirit of Peoria for an overnight stay at the Pere Marquette Lodge and Winery in Grafton, IL.  This beautiful resort is located on 9,500 scenic Pere Marrquette State Park acres.

The resort has a lovely atrium swimming pool / whirlpool, and sauna.  Delicious meals are presented in their full service restaurant.

Rooms are nonsmoking, have individual climate control, cable TV, radio, phone with data port, coffee maker, and hair dryer.
Pere Marquette Lodge and Winery
Peoria to Starved Rock
1 Night / 2 Days
8:15am-8:45am—Check-in at the Spirit of Peoria 100 NE Water St—Breakfast on Main Deck
9:00am—Spirit of Peoria departs Peoria landing
9:45am—Live Ragtime Piano Music or Professional Riverlore on Boiler Deck
11:30am—Cold Deli Lunch Buffet on Main Deck
1:00pm—Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
3:00pm—Wine and cheese reception on Boiler Deck
3:30pm—Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
5:00pm—Prime rib buffet dinner on Main Deck
5:45pm—Approximate arrival at Starved Rock Landing

Evening
Starved Rock Lodge in Utica, IL 
Your luggage will be in your room!
8:00pm—Guest speaker in the Great Hall

Day Two
Leave your luggage in your room!  Our luggage handlers will pick it up for you. Do not leave your luggage on the bed; place it near the door in plain sight. 
6:30am-8:00am— Breakfast at Starved Rock Lodge
8:00am—Shuttle departs Lodge for Starved Rock Historic Site (you will not return to the lodge after this tour—you will go directly to the boat!)
9:00am—Second Shuttle departs Lodge for the Spirit of Peoria
9:00am—Snacks and coffee available on Boiler Deck
9:15am—Shuttle picks up group from Starved Rock Historic Site (shuttle will not return to lodge-goes directly to the boat!)
9:30am— Live Ragtime Piano Music or Professional Riverlore on Boiler Deck
12:30am—Hot Lunch Buffet on Main Deck
2:00pm—Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
3:00pm—Late afternoon snack on Boiler Deck
5:00pm—Approximate arrival at Peoria landing

*Arrival times may vary due to delays (weather or boat traffic).
Main Deck—First Deck: dining
Boiler Deck—Second Deck: entertainment and snacks, open-air seating
Texas Deck—Third Deck: open-air seating
If the weather is nice and you don’t want to miss anything please feel free to take your meals on either the Boiler or Texas Deck.  We will gather your dishes and utensils

Peoria to Saint Louis Itinerary
2 Nights / 3 Days

Day one
Check-in any luggage that will not be needed on the boat.
7:00am-7:30am—Check-in at the Spirit of Peoria Landing.  Light breakfast buffet on Main Deck.
7:45am—Spirit of Peoria departs Peoria landing
8:15am—Lock through at Peoria Lock & Dam
9:00am—Live Ragtime Piano Music and Professional Riverlore on Boiler Deck
12:00pm—Cold Deli Lunch Buffet on Main Deck
1:30pm—More Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
3:00pm—Wine and cheese reception on the Boiler Deck
3:30pm—More Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
5:30pm—Lock through at LaGrange Lock & Dam
6:00pm—Prime rib dinner buffet aboard the boat
7:00pm—Approximate arrival in Meredosia and motor coach trip to Jacksonville for the night

Night One
Jacksonville, IL
Hotel information coming soon!  Your luggage will be in your room!

Day Two
Leave your luggage in your room!  Our luggage handlers will pick it up for you. Do not leave your luggage on the bed; place it near the door in plain sight. 
7:45am— Shuttle will depart for the Spirit of Peoria
8:30am—Hot Breakfast Buffet aboard the Spirit of Peoria on Main Deck
8:30am—Spirit of Peoria departs Meredosia Landing
9:30am—Live Ragtime Piano Music and Professional Riverlore on Boiler Deck
12:00pm—Hot Lunch Buffet on the Main Deck
1:30pm—More Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
3:00pm—Late afternoon snack on Boiler Deck
4:30pm—Approximate arrival at Grafton landing and motor coach to the lodge
6:30pm—Dinner at the Père Marquette Lodge

Night Two
Père Marquette Lodge and Conference Center 618-786-2331  Your luggage will be in your room!

Day Three
7:30am-8:30am—Breakfast at the Lodge
9:00am—Shuttle departs for the Spirit of Peoria
9:30am—Spirit of Peoria departs for Saint Louis
10:00am—Live Ragtime Piano Music and Professional Riverlore on Boiler Deck
11:30am—Lock through at Melvin Price Lock & Dam
12:00pm—Hot Lunch Buffet on the Main Deck
1:15pm—Lock through at Lock & Dam #27
1:30pm—More Professional Riverlore or Ragtime Piano
2:00pm—Approximate landing at the Gateway Arch in Saint Louis
2:15pm—Free time to visit the Gateway Arch
4:00pm—Board coaches for return to Peoria at the riverfront landing
5:30pm—Stop for dinner-approximate(on your own-this meal not included in overall trip cost)
7:30pm—Approximate arrival in Peoria

*Arrival times may vary due to delays (weather or boat traffic).
Main Deck—First deck: dining
Boiler Deck—Second Deck: entertainment and snacks, open-air seating
Texas Deck—Third Deck: open-air seating
If the weather is nice and you don’t want to miss anything please feel free to take your meals on either the Boiler or Texas Deck. 
Embark on a journey South from Peoria to the "Gateway to the West," Saint Louis, MO.

Day one will take you through 2 locks & dams, the first being just 1/2 hour into your cruise. The second lock & dam is just south of Beardstown, IL. The boat will land in Meredosia, IL. Established in the 1890s, Meredosia boasted 4 button factories. The pearl button business dried up in 1948. Your first evening will be in Jacksonville, IL.

Relax in the sun on one of the Spirit’s peaceful decks, spot river wildlife with Riverlorian and Master Storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis, or visit the pilothouse and learn the rules of the river with your Captain, Alex Grieves.

From Meredosia, the cruise will continue south to Grafton, IL and the Pere Marquette Lodge. Grafton sits at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The Pere Marquette Lodge which is just 5 miles upstream from Grafton is situated among 8,000 acres making it Illinois' largest state park.


From Grafton, the cruise will continue to St. Louis. The Spirit of Peoria will travel through two more locks on the Mississippi before landing at the Gateway Arch.

The cruise includes all meals, taxes and gratuities, entertainment and lodging. The motor coach will make a stop on the way back to Peoria, if you would like to purchase dinner it will be on your own.