Cave-In-Rock Ferry
{{more citations needed|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox Water transit
|name = Cave-In-Rock Ferry
|image = Cave-in-Rock Ferry closeup.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|locale = {{Jct|state=IL|IL|1}} in Cave-In-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois, and {{Jct|state=KY|KY|91}} in Crittenden County, Kentucky
|waterway = Ohio River
|transit_type = Passenger/automobile ferry
|ended_operation =
|system_length =
|lines = 1
|vessels = 1
|terminals = 2
|ridership =
|operator = Kentucky Transportation Cabinet[http://transportation.ky.gov/Ferries/Pages/default.aspx]
Illinois Department of Transportation[http://www.idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/passenger-services/Ferry-Services/index]
Lonnie Lewis (ferry boat owner)[http://www.wsiltv.com/story/31326880/cave-in-rock-ferry-getting-new-barge]
}}
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is one of four passenger ferry services that cross the Ohio River into the U.S. state of Kentucky. It connects Illinois Route 1 in Cave-In-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois, to Kentucky Route 91, 10.6 miles north of Marion, Kentucky. It is the only public river crossing available between the Brookport Bridge at Paducah, Kentucky, and the Shawneetown Bridge at Old Shawneetown, Illinois.
History
In October 1829, the county court of Livingston County, Kentucky granted James Ford a franchise to operate a ferry.{{Cite news |date=1939-06-29 |title=Hardin Co, IL ferry history - McFarlan family |pages=16 |work=Hardin County Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hardin-county-independent-hardin-co-il/124164432/ |access-date=2023-10-12}}
Since 1994, Lonnie Lewis of Lonnie Lewis Inc., doing business as Cave in Rock Ferry Company, has operated the ferry.{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Shelley |date=2022-07-11 |title=Cave-In-Rock Ferry Again Continues Ohio River Service After Last-Minute Deal |url=https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2022/07/11/cave-in-rock-ferry-again-continues-ohio-river-service-after-last-minute-deal/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Waterways Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pensoneau |first=Liz |date=1998-09-01 |title=Our Natural Resources: News Briefs |url=https://www.lib.niu.edu/1998/ip980943.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=www.lib.niu.edu}} Operation is jointly funded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
The Loni Jo is the current vessel that traverses the river.{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Aaron |date=2022-09-20 |title=Once numerous, the few remaining ferry boats on the Ohio River carry on |url=https://woub.org/2022/09/20/few-remaining-ferry-boats-on-ohio-river-carry-on/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=WOUB Public Media |language=en-US}} As of July 2022, 500 vehicles cross daily. The ferry operates 16 hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Commuters use the ferry to avoid the approximately 35-mile detour to the nearest bridge in Shawneetown. The ferry is a tourist attraction that connects the Shawnee National Forest and Cave-In-Rock in Illinois and Amish country in Crittenden County, Kentucky.{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Shelley |date=2020-06-26 |title=Contract Dispute Could Disrupt Cave-In-Rock Ferry Service |url=https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2020/06/26/contract-dispute-could-disrupt-cave-in-rock-ferry-service/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Waterways Journal |language=en-US}} Farmers use the service to transport tractors and agricultural equipment.{{Cite web |date=2015-09-25 |title=This summer’s temporary ferry at Shawneetown is reminder of region’s rich history |url=http://www.thegleaner.com/news/this-summers-temporary-ferry-at-shawneetown-is-reminder-of-regions-rich-history-206c0902-0627-03d9-e-329556721.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Gleaner |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/passenger-services/Ferry-Services/index Ferry Services – Illinois Department of Transportation]
- [https://transportation.ky.gov/MultimodalFreight/Pages/FERRYBOATS.aspx Ferries – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet]
- [http://herald-review.com/lifestyles/ferry-shuttles-commuters-and-a-few-asian-carp-from-illinois/article_cce9c958-380f-11e3-bab6-001a4bcf887a.html Ferry shuttles commuters, and a few Asian carp, from Illinois to Kentucky] by Joe Gisondi, Herald & Review. October 19, 2013.
Category:Hardin County, Illinois