History
Founded by PK (Paul Kennedy) with the expectation of increasing traffic to a struggling marina. PK built a 48 passenger tour boat with the help of a local contractor & friends. But, what to name the boat? PK's wife did not think a boat in the desert was a very good idea. However, he sought to change this & upon completion of the boat, he decided to name it after his wife, Dolly. Business was slow to take off. A freelance writer visited Canyon Lake & took the Dolly Cruise. Enthralled with the entire experience, she wrote an article covering 3 newspaper pages! Tour companies across the country began to visit & it became increasingly difficult to accommodate the traffic. It was a matter of time before the Kennedy family had to make a decision to either enlarge the boat or sell it. In 1987, they opted to sell the boat to their most devoted passengers, Roger Grimh & Family. They increased the boat side to 140 passengers & hired Dolly back as the PR director, still there today!
Specialties
Home to the Dolly Steamboat, Canyon Lake showcases multiple canyon walls, some as high as 800 ft. Created by cataclysmic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions over 20 million years ago, the Dolly Steamboat makes viewing this lake an incredibly unique and memorable treasure. With a capacity of 140 passengers, the Dolly Steamboat offers delightful sunset dinner cruises as well as daily scenic tours whereas the skipper narrates and recounts legendary tales of yore. You'll often see Bighorn Sheep, Bald Eagles and other wildlife as you cruise the waters of Canyon Lake. As the skipper diligently maneuvers the boat, you feel as if you can reach out and touch the canyon walls, a truly fascinating once in a lifetime experience. The Dolly Steamboat is recognized as a major AZ attraction by the AZ office of Tourism, the Convention & Visitors Bureaus as well as Chambers of Commerce throughout the state. The boat operates year round & offers daily scenic cruises plus Saturday sunset cruises paired with a fabulous dinner complete with chef's choice dessert. Also available for private company outings, weddings, celebration of life and more. The schedule changes with the seasons so please make sure to check the dates on the website for the most up to date info. We look forward to serving you aboard the Dolly Steamboat & promise superior service with outstanding personal attention. On behalf of the Grimh Family & the Dolly Crew, thank you for cruising with us. Welcome aboard!