Ride the Ducks facts for kids
Ride the Ducks logo
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Tourism |
| Fate | Permanently closed |
| Founded | Branson, Missouri, 1977 |
| Founder | Bob McDowell |
| Headquarters | , |
| Services | Duck tours |
| Parent | Ripley Entertainment |
Ride the Ducks was a national duck tour operator and eponymous tourist attraction in some parts of the United States. It made use of amphibious vehicles, nicknamed "ducks", to provide tours of cities by boat and by land.
Ride the Ducks was purchased by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation in 2004. Herschend sold a majority interest in the company to an independent investor in 2012. The Branson operation was sold to Ripley Entertainment in December 2017.
Operations
The company used custom built amphibious vehicles based on the DUKW amphibious vehicle design from World War II known as "truck ducks", while some used an original DUKW chassis extended to fit them, known as "stretch ducks". The company also used original DUKWs extended to hold more people, and as such are also "stretch ducks". All incorporated advances in marine design and safety. Drivers were certified by the Coast Guard and hold commercial drivers' licenses, and all vehicles were equipped with personal flotation devices. The company has also manufactured vehicles for other duck tour operators.
Locations
Ride the Ducks also formerly operated in a number of additional locations across the United States:
