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Lake and land ‘duck’ tours now boarding

Staff report

Douglas Woods and Shawn Kearney have announced the opening of Tahoe Duck Tours based in South Lake Tahoe. The tours are on vintage 1945 U.S. Coast Guard-certified DUKW vehicles, known as “ducks.”

Built between 1942-1945, ducks were designed as a six-wheel drive amphibious truck to carry troops and supplies over land and water. This truck with a watertight hull and propeller became a symbol of goodwill to many as they went from ship to shore.

While the tours will focus on the area history and facts, there will be some environmental awareness folded in.



Woods first worked as a captain on Lake Tahoe 20 years ago for a tour boat and water ski company. Since then, he has worked in the passenger ferry service in New York, Massachusetts and San Francisco. He also owned and operated a towboat company in Florida and on Lake Tahoe rescuing stranded boaters. His partner Kearney is a 15-year veteran of the restaurant industry. She owned and operated two restaurants: Mariposa in the Sonoma and the Presidio Social Club in San Francisco.

The ducks seat 24 passengers and offer tours daily during the summer and early fall season. Tours start at the Stateline area and wind their way along the southern shore to the Tahoe Keys Marina where they drive into the lake. Tours last about an hour and 15 minutes including a 30-minute lake ride. Tickets range from $28 for adults to $18 for children 13 and under. Seniors over 62 years of age and active duty military with valid identification pay $23. Private charters are also available. Reservations can be made by calling 530-525-QUAK (7825).


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