Pearl of the Lake

Historical society event recalls Pearl of the Lake and Donna Mae boats

Oct 4, 2023
On Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 12:15 p.m., the Lake City Historical Society (LCHS) will be hosting Larry Nielson, captain of the Pearl of the Lake to share stories about his experiences on this iconic pleasure boat on Lake Pepin. Larry is a natural raconteur and has many amusing tales to share about the...

Pearl of the Lake sold to Florida company

May 10, 2023
After 17 seasons on Lake Pepin, the Pearl of the Lake paddlewheel boat is saying bon voyage to Lake City. Larry Nielson, who owned and captained the boat, announced last week that the excursion boat had been sold to Toho Riverboat Adventures and would be relocating to St. Cloud, Fla. “We really...

Tour of Minnesota visits Lake City

Jun 23, 2021
The annual Tour of Minnesota bike tour spent two nights at Hok-Si-La Park last weekend. While they were here they took a sightseeing tour of Lake Pepin aboard the Pearl of the Lake paddle boat. Pearl owner Larry Nielson said that there were over 180 riders participating this year. Initially called...

Eagle center announces more eagle-viewing cruises

Mar 4, 2020
The National Eagle Center’s On the Lake and On the River eagle viewing cruises are returning for the 2020 summer season. Cruises will be aboard the Pearl of the Lake in Lake City and the Cal Fremling in Winona. They will host a series of six cruises starting in June and running through October....

Lake Pepin added to station’s camera network

Oct 16, 2019
KTTC-TV’s live camera network now includes a camera mounted in Lake City looking out over Lake Pepin. The camera captures images of Lake Pepin periodically. The most recent image can be viewed at https://kttc.com/live-camera-network/. “It is a privilege to show off the natural beauty of Lake Pepin...

Donna Mae: Back in the pilot house

Aug 21, 2019
For Donna Mae Jensen, being in the pilot house of the Pearl of the Lake paddlewheel boat on Aug. 10 was a different sort of thrill than it might be for the average 88-year-old, but not as unfamiliar. When she was a child her father, E.W. Holstrom, owned ferry and excursion boats that traversed...

On the Lake cruises to be offered by Eagle Center

Jun 5, 2019
As part of their annual Bald Eagle Days celebration in June, the National Eagle Center will host a pair of interpretive cruises on Lake Pepin. The On the Lake cruises will take place on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 aboard the Pearl of the Lake paddleboat in Lake City.Similar to the Center’...

Tiger Time rides the Pearl of the Lake

Sep 5, 2018
Children in Lake City Tiger Time boarded the Pearl of the Lake paddlewheel boat for a ride around Lake Pepin during the last week of the summer childcare program. “The kids absolutely loved it,” Tiger Time Director Amy Holland said. “A huge shout out to Larry (Nielson) and the crew for taking time...
Photo by Larry Nielson

Michael Poindexter opens the navigation season on Lake Pepin

Apr 11, 2018
The first barge of the season passed through Lake Pepin Tuesday, April 10. Larry Nielson, the captain of the Pearl of the Lake paddlewheel boat, took this photo of the Motor Vessel Michael Poindexter as it entered the lower end of Lake Pepin at around 7 p.m. that day. He said it “encountered a...

Pearl looks back on 
11th season in Lake City

Nov 2, 2017
The Pearl of the Lake paddlewheel boat made its final excursion of the season Sunday, Oct. 22, according to owner and boat captain Larry Nielson. The boat attracted thousands of passengers this year, according to Nielson, and its guestbook was signed by passengers from all 50 states and 17...

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