update

We have come closer than we’ve ever been to getting a dock installed at the Submarine Force Museum and USS Nautilus.Through its bonding authority the CT Port Authority has approved our grant application for $750,000 for the design, construction and installation of the dock. Introducing this new stop on the water taxi route will be an exciting new venture. More than a year in the making, this could not have been accomplished without the expertise and collaboration of the Town of Groton, City of Groton, the Navy and the leadership at the Subase and The Submarine Force Museum. Thanks to all who helped steer this to success.The final sign off on the bond requires the approval of the state budget. (See The Day editorial)

Sponsoring the Park provides the unique opportunity to support both the New London and Groton communities, to build your brand awareness, and demonstrate your organization’s appreciation of our national, cultural, and historic heritage sites.

It also helps us:
Keep the water taxis fully operational throughout the season – which is close to $100K year.
Increase the Park’s visibility with additional signage.
Create programming and collaborative experiential activities with historic partner sites.

For information about 2018 sponsorship contact Amy Perry.

Our 2017 Sponsors

Yale New Haven Health Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
Groton Utilities
The Day
Crocker’s Boatyard
98.7 WNLC
The Resident
Atlantic Broadband
Foxwoods Resort Casino
The City of Groton
Town of Groton
The City of New London
Shoreline East
CT State Parks (DEEP)

With a second boat in operation, the Park hosted several events on the River this year. We started the season with “Four Centuries in 90 Minutes” tour given by Deborah Donovan, past President of the New London Historical Society.

The Avery-Copp House hosted two sold out tours entitled “Whalers & Traitors & Pirates & More” with talks given by Museum Director Leslie Evans and Groton Town Historian Jim Streeter. The SECT Cultural Coalition developed an evening “Thursdays on the Thames” series featuring local renowned experts giving talks on the water taxi with a specialty beverage on each tour. Topics ranged from Defense to Industry to Eugene O’Neill.

The Hempsted Houses took children and parents on an August morning ride up the Thames as part of their one-week day camp. And, Mitchell College introduced new students to the area in September by making a TRHP water taxi ride an orientation activity complete with a stop at Paul’s Pasta.

Our Water Taxis are great for company outings, family events, educational or edu-tainment events, lectures, sunset cruises and more. For more information about chartering our boats contact us at [email protected] .

Phantom is a registered therapy dog who belongs to Michelle & Kevin Lake. We recently caught up with Phantom for a Q & A.

We often have dogs riding the water taxi but none of them have a season pass. What prompted you to buy one?
My parents had read about the water taxi last year in The Day and we enjoyed our rides late last season. With the earlier start this year they knew we would be riding more so it made sense.

Is this your first season riding the water taxi?
No, we rode a few times late in the season last year. We were at City Pier one day last year taking my photo in front of the mini-submarine when my parents noticed the taxi was at the pier. The Captain and mate let me get on to check it out. Surprisingly, there was enough room there for me to lay down! Soon my parents were taking me to the Groton dock so we could ride over to New London.

How many rides would you say you went on this year?
Eight or nine times this year. I don’t do well in the heat, so they only take me when it’s safe for me. They always try to go when there is something going on at City Pier.

Have you had a chance to meet any other four-legged friends while on the boat?
We have met one other dog that was owned by the sister of Morgan, one of the mates on the taxi. There have been lots of nice families riding who give me nice pets and take photos with me.

What would you say to all of your friends about riding the water taxi?
It’s great way to get around! There is usually a wonderful breeze on the boat and at the landings.

If you could offer any suggestions what would they be?
Sometimes the gap between the dock and the boat is just a little too much for me. The mates have been great pulling it in as close as possible, but a plank would be ideal to help get me on. We are hoping that the taxi can go to the Nautilus soon, I like it there out on the pier by the submarine.

Phantom, is a Bernese Mountain Dog from the Bern area of Switzerland. Phantom’s official AKC Name is Lewa’s Soaring to New Heights. He was named after an F-4 Phantom Fighter Jet – a favorite plane of Michelle and Kevin. He’s 8 years old. Phantom is a certified Therapy Dog. Some of the places he visits include local nursing and rehabilitation facilities, elementary and middle schools, colleges, group homes, local libraries, and a Drug Detox/Rehabilitation Center.

We’re looking forward to seeing Phantom (and, of course, his parents) next season.

Not only can you expect to have fun and learn about the area when riding the water taxi, it’s also a place to meet new people, make new friends and experience the unexpected. This happened early in the summer to Executive Director Amy Perry. While riding the Groton to Fort Trumbull she struck up a conversation with Jeannie Lambert, wife of Mike Lambert, Bureau Chief for Recreation for the DEEP. Amy was sharing a little bit about the history of the boat when Jeannie realized she had been on the boat in its past life. While working for the Department of Defense in the 1980s, part of Jeannie’s job was to provide events and activities for the sailors when they went on liberty. During that time, she had been aboard the USS Hunley, and rode its liberty boat dozens of times shuttling sailors for off-shore leaves all over the globe. That liberty boat is what we now call the Groton.

Both of our Water Taxis are refurbished from the Navy days of shuttling crew and admirals to and from the large ships of the United States Navy. One of the boats was assigned to the USS LaSalle, which while in the Persian Gulf in1988, assumed the role of Commander of Middle East Forces. The other boat was assigned to the USS Hunley, a submarine tender home ported in Charleston, South Carolina servicing the nuclear powered Polaris submarine fleet.