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Riders on our water taxi service will now be able to continue their journey on land to historically significant sites courtesy of a free Groton bus shuttle, thanks in part from the support of the Submarine Force Museum Association and Friends of Fort Griswold.

“We want to give our water taxi riders a convenient way to visit all our Groton Bank sites including the Submarine Force Museum, which is not currently connected by water taxi,” said Amy Perry, the park’s executive director. It will also give those visiting the submarine force museum a convenient and fun way to see other historic sites.”

The Groton land shuttle is part of a stepped up effort to acquaint both visitors and local residents with the many historically important museums and sites on both sides of the river. The land service comes in anticipation of another significant change in 2020.

“Next year will be another story when our boats will be able to dock at our new landing right at the museum, thanks to funding from the Connecticut Port Authority, our partnership with the Museum and significant support from leadership at Naval Submarine Base New London.”

But for now, the land shuttle will take riders to the museum, along with Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park and Bill Memorial Library, Ebenezer Avery House, the National SubVets WWII Memorial East, which honors submariners who served in World War II and the Avery-Copp House.

The shuttle bus will do a one-hour hop-on loop between these stops on Saturdays between 10:40 am and 3:40 pm in July and August. It will not operate on Sailfest weekend.

The land shuttle is part of the changes offered by the park that also include themed walking tours on both the east and west banks of the river. Details can be found on the park’s website.

The water taxis are authentic Navy vessels, known as liberty launches that provided ship to shore transportation for sailors when they pulled into a port without docking facilities. The water taxis, one named Groton, the other New London are a central feature of the park’s operation. Round trip taxi fares for adults are $10; $5 for children and active duty military (military ID required.) Children three and under ride free. Adult season passes are $50; $30 for children.

Water taxi rides after 6 p.m. are $5 for a two-stop ride between City Pier and Thames River landing.

The Park will hold its Annual Meeting Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. at the Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus, 1 Crystal Lake Road, Groton, CT 06340.

The meeting will include an update on new programs for 2019, introduce the Park’s new water taxi operator, Vixen Ledge Marine, as well as new TRHPF officers and board members. There will also be a special presentation to honor Capt. Paul Whitescarver, 51st Commanding Officer of the Sub Base, who has played a significant role in the growth of the Park and who made possible the installation of a new water taxi landing site at the Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus which is on schedule to be installed in 2020. Capt. Whitescarver is retiring this month.

In 2018, the Park had more than 6,500 passengers ride the three-stop hop-on hop-off taxi taking in the local sites, dining, shopping and just enjoying getting out on the water.

We are looking for volunteers who would like to spend some time in the summer sun and have fun while taking part in Connecticut’s most innovative historic tourism venture. Volunteers will be needed to guide visitors who disembark from the park’s water taxi at Fort Trumbull, and City Pier in downtown New London and at Fort Griswold in Groton, said Amy Perry, the park’s executive director. The taxi links historic sites that helped shape our nation.

“These volunteers will serve as docents on walking tours we have prepared, so no specialized background is needed, except a desire to help us showcase our region’s extraordinary historic sites and museums,” Perry said. “As the experience at the Park continues to grow so do the opportunities for local people to get involved.” Volunteers don’t have to commit to a specific schedule on a Saturday or Sunday between Memorial Day Weekend and mid-September when the water taxi is in operation.

Flexible schedules will be the norm. Volunteers should feel comfortable speaking in front of small groups. “We hope that by offering complimentary docent-led walking tours more people will visit the park, and learn about the history that surrounds us,” she said. “Even those who have ridden the water taxi in previous seasons will have another reason to ride again, and even bring family and those who are visiting.”

Anyone who is interested in volunteering is encouraged to reach out via email at: [email protected]