More big boats heading to La Crosse this summer, after one company shut down

La Crosse will see nearly two dozen visits from big riverboats this year, despite the shutdown of the company that owns the American Queen paddlewheeler.

Jim Flottmeyer manages marine operations for the La Crosse Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. He told the park board Thursday that his staff has been talking the American Cruise Lines.

“We’ll have 10 stops of American Cruise Lines, and 10 stops of Viking, which gets us 20 stops this year,” Flottmeyer told the board.

Flottmeyer added that there won’t be any double stops here by American Cruise Lines and the Viking line on the same day, but boats may occasionally stay overnight.

American Cruise Lines may also stay late in the evening on Thursdays during the summer, when the Moon Tunes concerts are held at Riverside Park.

The American Cruise Lines website says its boats will mainly stop in La Crosse on the trips coming from St. Paul.