sunken riverboat mississippi river

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Historic Drought Exposes Sunken Mississippi Riverboat Casino

By Nico DeMattia

Posted on Oct 30, 2022 3:50 PM EDT

Many parts of the Mississippi river are seeing record-low water levels. In McKellar Lake— a backwater of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee—the water level is almost 11 feet below the historic average, which has fully exposed a previously sunken Mississippi riverboat casino, the Diamond Lady. From bow to stern, there’s no longer a single inch of the Diamond Lady that lies hidden by the waterline, and there’s something tragic and eerie about it.

The Diamond Lady was built in 1991 and was the first riverboat casino in Iowa’s section of the Mississippi river since the 19th century. It was designed to look like old paddlewheel boats from that bygone era, just with modern slot machines filling its multiple decks. In the ’90s, it was bright, vibrant, and full of passengers looking to feel as if they’d been transported back in time. But in 2008, after having been transported to Memphis, the Diamond Lady sank, due to freezing water.

After it sunk, it was just left in the backwaters of the Mississippi River, and you can see where the waterline used to sit. From the hull to about midway up the second deck, the Diamond Lady’s white and blue color scheme turned to a muted brown, waterlogged and rotten from having sat in the murky lake for over a decade. Above that brown water-stained line, you can still see its original colors and get an idea of what it used to look like when it was a vibrant gambling attraction.

The Diamond Lady, like the Rhythm City riverboat before it, is making an unscheduled encore appearance next to — not in — the Mississippi River in Memphis. https://t.co/eKyiKhaH7D pic.twitter.com/OAomZrpv5O — Local 4 WHBF (@WHBF) October 28, 2022

There’s no doubt locals are going to want to check out the now risen Diamond Lady in person and many will likely try and climb aboard. However, doing so is a terrible idea. Not only is the boat on unstable footing but there’s no safety equipment or even railings, and every part of its structure is weakened. Aside from some selfies to prove to your your bravery to your friends, you’ll find nothing aboard the previously sunken Diamond Lady but soggy wood, worthless furniture, and broken dreams.

Still, I don’t blame the sort of morbid curiosity of wanting to see it in person. Seeing what was once a popular, beloved tourist and vacation attraction, so still, quiet, and lonely has an eerie allure. Just don’t climb aboard.

Riverboat casino that sank in Mississippi River resurfaces amid historic drought

The Diamond Lady, a once majestic riverboat, rests with smaller boats in mud at Riverside Park Marina in Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park along the Mississippi River on October 19, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Record-low water levels in the Mississippi River have unearthed a flurry of rare finds . The latest? The nation’s first riverboat casino that sunk during a storm last year.  

The Diamond Lady, America’s first riverboat casino, set sail in 1991 and operated for a few years before a bigger riverboat replaced it. Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White reportedly christened the paddlewheel boat before its maiden voyage took off from Bettendorf, Iowa 31 years ago.

It had been stored on the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee , since 2008, but the Diamond Lady sank in 2021 during a winter freeze, according to WPSD. It wasn’t seen again until the Mississippi River receded to its lowest levels in 10 years.

River levels are so low, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico is moving in, FOX Weather reports.

Drought drives Mississippi River to historic low levels, impacting agricultural exports

Drought has driven the Mississippi River to historic low levels, impacting the agricultural exports. The crisis has increased shipping prices, and that cost may fall on consumers and creating problems for barges.

According to the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, water levels are at or below the low-water threshold along a nearly 400-mile stretch of the river from near where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi River south to near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Other finds from a drought-stricken Mississippi River

Rare Civil War relics found lying in rocks along Mississippi River (Photo credit: Riley Bryant)

Also in Memphis, history lover and relics collector Riley Bryant made a fascinating discovery along the banks of the drought-stricken Mississippi River.

Bryant said the artifacts — a Civil War-era Union army cartridge box plate and bullets — were just sitting there among the rocks under the I-55 bridge waiting to be picked up.

Just weeks before Bryant made his discovery, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, resident was walking along the Mississippi River there and found a shipwreck that’s more than 100 years old, FOX Weather reports.

According to Louisiana state archeologist Chris McGimsey, it belongs to a ferryboat called the Brookhill, which started sailing in the late 1880s or early 1890s. It was originally 250 to 300 feet long.

FOX Weather contributed to this report. 

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Drought Exposes Sunken Riverboat on the Mississippi River

The diamond lady sunk in 2021 during a harsh winter storm..

Drought has caused the Mississippi river to hit historically low water levels, and it has led to a historic — and certainly haunted — riverboat casino being exposed. The Diamond Lady took its maiden voyage in the early 1990s and was taken out of commission in 1999, then later moved to the Riverside Park Marina in Memphis Tennessee, according to Action News 5 .

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It floated there for a couple of decades until it succumbed to a strong winter storm and sank in 2021. But, now it’s back, and people are excited.

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The big reveal was only possible because the Mississippi is now 11 feet below its historical average, according to Newsweek … which is traditionally not a good thing.

It may not be in pristine condition, but the Diamond Lady is still a sight to behold and has reportedly caused hordes of people to come check the once-glistening ship out for themselves. Near the bow of the ship a sign reads “Warning Closed.” I, personally, cannot believe it.

The Diamond L ady wasn’t fully submerged when it sank. You can see that from the waterline that stops below the third deck. While everything below that line is a murky and gloomy brown color, th e white still shines (sort of) above it. It was probably very cool to see back in its he y day.

While it may seem like a cool idea to hop on board, it’s almost certainly a terrible idea. First of all, the ship is just sitting in very wet and unstable mud. You don’t wanna be the guy who knocked over The Diamond Lady, do you? On top of that, who knows the condition of the ship’s floors? It’s without a doubt very dangerous.

There’s no word on what will happen to the once-submerged riverboat casino. Is there a more fitting way to celebrate Halloween ? I personally don’t think so.

Sunken casino riverboat exposed due to low Miss. River water levels

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Ever since the Mighty Mississippi River reduced to a trickle of its former self, it’s slowly revealed what lies beneath. The latest find — an old casino riverboat.

The Diamond Lady took its maiden voyage in the early 90′s, according to Captain William Lozier, President of Memphis Riverboats.

He says it operated as a floating casino a few years later but was taken out of commission in favor of a larger vessel around 1999.

Lozier said the vessel was moved to Riverside Park Marina, but winter storms proved too much for the riverboat and she succumbed to the Mighty Mississippi in 2021.

But receding waters has revived interest in the Diamond Lady, which can now be seen from hull to mast.

Claire and Lucy Smith, along with their brother, were only a few of the hoards who have made the muddy hike through the receded banks to pay respects to the old Lady.

“We just thought it’d be fun,” Claire said. “And it’s so, so cool.”

Lucy said that she’s on the hunt for some other treasures the Mississippi River might reveal as waters stay at record-low levels.

“Things like this might reveal bones... or maybe even unsolved murders,” Lucy said with a laugh. “But you really do get to look at all the rich history of the Mississippi.”

Water levels have risen over the weekend, but aren’t expected to get back to normal just yet.

As the levels continue to rise and fall, there’s no telling what other secrets will be revealed under the black, murky waters of the Mighty Mississippi River.

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Shipwrecked casino boat revealed as Mississippi River suffers from prolonged drought

The diamond lady emerged from the depths in memphis, tennessee, article bookmarked.

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The Mississippi River has revealed the carcass of a sunken casino boat as drought continues to ravage the second longest river in North America.

The Diamond Lady emerged from the depths in Memphis, Tennessee, this month after it sank during a winter storm in 2021 at the Riverside Park Marina.

The mud-covered vessel, and other smaller boats, were left exposed after the Mississippi dropped to near record lows amid persistent drought across two-thirds of the Midwest region and northern Great Plain states.

Nearly the entire stretch of the Mississippi River — from Minnesota to the river’s mouth in Louisiana — has experienced below average rainfall over the past two months.

As a result, water levels on the river have dropped to near-record lows, disrupting ship and barge traffic that is critical for moving recently-harvested agricultural goods such as soybeans and corn downriver for export. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the precipitous decline in water levels also revealed a century-old shipwreck.

Last week, 1,500 barges were stuck in vital shipping lanes as captains attempted to navigate the increasingly narrow passages. The US Army Corps of Engineers was dredging problem areas to help keep water flowing and ship traffic moving, the The Wall Street Journal reported.

The river’s problems may only grow more challenging in the coming months, as the drought is expected to continue. The National Weather Service forecasts that dry conditions will persist in much of the river’s upper watershed through January.

Although the climate crisis is raising temperatures and making droughts more common and intense, a weather expert told The Associated Press that this latest drought affecting the central US is more likely a short-term weather phenomenon.

A prolonged issue in California, drought in the state has impacted both water supplies and increased wildfire risk and isn’t expected to get better. The AP notes that that the climate crisis is only “raising temperatures and making droughts more common and worse.”

“The drier areas are going to continue to get drier and the wetter areas are going to continue to get wetter,” Jen Brady, a data analyst at Climate Central, a nonprofit group of scientists and researchers that reports on climate change, told the outlet.

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Sunken casino riverboat revealed by low water levels of Mississippi River

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Ever since the Mighty Mississippi River reduced to a trickle of its former self, it’s revealed a plethora of lost wonders. The latest find is an old casino riverboat.

The Diamond Lady took its maiden voyage in the early 1990s, according to Captain William Lozier, President of Memphis Riverboats.

He told WMC it operated as a floating casino a few years later but was taken out of commission in favor of a larger vessel around 1999.

Lozier said the vessel was moved to Riverside Park Marina, but winter storms proved too much for the riverboat, and she succumbed to the Mighty Mississippi in 2021.

Receding waters have revived interest in the Diamond Lady, which can now be seen from hull to mast.

Claire and Lucy Smith, along with their brother, were only a few of the groups who have made the muddy hike through the receded banks to pay respects to the old Lady.

“We just thought it’d be fun,” Claire Smith said. “And it’s so, so cool.”

Lucy Smith said she’s on the hunt for some other treasures the Mississippi River might reveal as waters stay at record-low levels.

“Things like this might reveal bones ... or maybe even unsolved murders,” Lucy Smith said. “But you really do get to look at all the rich history of the Mississippi.”

The riverboat isn’t the only lost relic recovered during the river’s historic low water levels. In early October, a treasure hunter in Louisiana found a 100-year-old ferry boat while exploring the riverbanks .

Water levels have risen over the weekend, but aren’t expected to get back to normal just yet.

As the levels continue to rise and fall, there’s no telling what other secrets will be revealed under the black, murky waters of the Mississippi River.

Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Sunken casino riverboat revealed by low water levels of Mississippi River

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Ever since the Mighty Mississippi River reduced to a trickle of its former self, it’s revealed a plethora of lost wonders. The latest find is an old casino riverboat.

The Diamond Lady took its maiden voyage in the early 1990s, according to Captain William Lozier, President of Memphis Riverboats.

He told WMC it operated as a floating casino a few years later but was taken out of commission in favor of a larger vessel around 1999.

Lozier said the vessel was moved to Riverside Park Marina, but winter storms proved too much for the riverboat, and she succumbed to the Mighty Mississippi in 2021.

Receding waters have revived interest in the Diamond Lady, which can now be seen from hull to mast.

Claire and Lucy Smith, along with their brother, were only a few of the groups who have made the muddy hike through the receded banks to pay respects to the old Lady.

“We just thought it’d be fun,” Claire Smith said. “And it’s so, so cool.”

Lucy Smith said she’s on the hunt for some other treasures the Mississippi River might reveal as waters stay at record-low levels.

“Things like this might reveal bones ... or maybe even unsolved murders,” Lucy Smith said. “But you really do get to look at all the rich history of the Mississippi.”

The riverboat isn’t the only lost relic recovered during the river’s historic low water levels. In early October, a treasure hunter in Louisiana found a 100-year-old ferry boat while exploring the riverbanks .

Water levels have risen over the weekend, but aren’t expected to get back to normal just yet.

As the levels continue to rise and fall, there’s no telling what other secrets will be revealed under the black, murky waters of the Mississippi River.

Copyright 2022 WMC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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In the last year, severe drought has shriveled the Mississippi River. In places like Tennessee, there are huge expanses of exposed riverbed and only a few disconnected pools of water.

In some areas, the drought has withered the Mississippi to the point that people can stand on land in the middle of the river. More explorers are walking the riverbeds, and they are finding items that were hidden under the gushing water, including a historical shipwreck.

But the Mississippi River is the longest river in North America, and it’s long been used to supply drinking water, irrigate crops and transport goods. And without the needed depth, barges can’t get through and water supplies are threatened.

In southeastern Missouri, hikers have long visited Tower Rock, a rock formation in the middle of the Mississippi River. Typically, visitors must take a boat to reach the rock, but by October 2022, the river level dropped below 1.5 feet, exposing a jagged pathway. Hikers can now walk across the riverbed to the rock without getting their feet wet.

What Caused the Mississippi Drought?

Most of the U.S. is currently experiencing a drought. For southwestern states, including parts of California and Nevada, dry conditions have occurred for more than two years . For midwestern states along the Mississippi River, like Iowa and Illinois, the drought began in the summer of 2022.

“The problem is that much of the Midwest is in a drought. Even up in Minnesota or Wisconsin, you aren’t getting heavy rains up there to allow the river levels to go up,” says John Haase a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Quad Cities Forecast Office.

The lack of rain means the river levels aren’t replenished to keep up with demand. An estimated 15 million people in 50 cities rely on the Mississippi for drinking water. And on some parts of the Mississippi, the lack of rain has resulted in shallow waters. In the Quad Cities, for example, Haase says the flood stage is 15 feet and the river is currently at 4.4 feet.

Read More: Drought At Lake Powell Reveals Preserved World That Was Once Lost

Brookhill Ferry Shipwreck Exposed

The receding river waters have revealed long-hidden relics. In Louisiana, the remnants of a sunken ferry are now fully exposed. Archaeologists had been aware of the shipwreck since about the early 1990s, but it was too submerged for them to study.

Archeologists believe the sunken ship was once the Brookhill, a ferry built in the 1890s that ran night service from Baton Rouge to Port Allen. In 1915, the ship was tied to the dock and sunk during a violent storm, according to Charles “Chip” McGimsey, the Louisiana state archeologist.

Most of the ship has deteriorated in the river, and McGimsey says it won’t provide archeologists with much information, except perhaps some shipbuilding insight. He says the true value of the discovery is how much it has excited the public and attracted thousands of visitors.

“Most kids learn history from a book. They are reading or looking at a picture or they go to a museum and look at things in glass cases,” McGimsey says. “There are few chances to reach out and touch history.”

Read More: Preserved Sunken Ship Found in Shipwreck Alley After 120 Years

Unearthing Skeletal Remains

In the coming months, the receding river might allow for more exciting shipwreck discoveries. But the withdrawing waters are also exposing more sinister findings.

On October 22, 2022, a woman who was rock hunting with her family in Mississippi found skeletal remains , including what appeared to be a human jawbone and rib. She reported the discovery to state authorities, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is determining whether the bones are human and if they match anyone in the missing person’s database. Lake Mead has also exposed shipwrecks, a lost city and human remains .

Read more: World War II Relics And Hunger Stones Emerge In European Drought

How Is the Mississippi Drought Affecting Drinking Water?

For people whose drinking water comes from the Mississippi River, the drought could be a health hazard. The low levels have allowed saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to creep into the river. In September, high levels of sodium and chloride were found in the drinking water . Although the chloride levels detected were only likely to affect the water’s smell or taste, residents on low-sodium diets due to kidney or blood pressure issues were advised to be on alert.

The low river levels aren’t just a problem for locals who live near the Mississippi. Barges transporting cargo have been delayed or rerouted, which will have an impact on the national and international supply chain.

About 7 percent of all freight movement in the U.S. happens over water. And barges move almost half the U.S. exported grain supply. At various times, parts of the river have been closed to barges, causing backups and delays.

Significant rain and snowmelt are the only solutions, and neither is in the forecast anytime soon. The U.S. Climate Center is predicting minimal precipitation for the remainder of the year.

Read more: No End in Sight for Megadrought Crisis as States Fail to Agree on Use of Colorado River Water

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Mississippi River's Low Water Level Reveals Century-Old Shipwreck

The discovery is the latest to surface from ebbing waters caused by drought, by sara cline • published october 18, 2022 • updated on october 18, 2022 at 8:28 am.

A shipwreck has emerged along the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as water levels plummet — threatening to reach record lows in some areas.

The ship, which archaeologists believe to be a ferry that sunk in the late 1800s to early 1900s, was spotted by a Baton Rouge resident walking along the shore earlier this month. The discovery is the latest to surface from ebbing waters caused by drought. During the summer, receding waters in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area revealed several skeletal remains, countless desiccated fish, a graveyard of forgotten boats and even a sunken World War II-era craft that once surveyed the lake.

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“Eventually the river will come back up and (the ship) will go back underwater,” said Chip McGimsey, the Louisiana state archeologist, who has been surveying the wreck during the past two weeks. “That’s part of the reason for making the big effort to document it this time — cause she may not be there the next time.”

McGimsey believes that the ship may be the Brookhill Ferry, which likely carried people and horse-drawn wagons from one-side of the river to the other — before major bridges spanned the mighty Mississippi. Newspaper archives indicate that the ship sank in 1915 during a major storm.

But this is not the first time the low water levels have revealed the ship. McGimsey said that tiny parts of the vessel were exposed in 1990s.

"At that time the vessel was completely full of mud and there was mud all around it so only the very tip tops of the sides were visible, so (archaeologists) really didn’t see much other. They had to move a lot of dirt just to get some narrow windows in to see bits and pieces,” McGimsey said.

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Today one-third of the boat, measuring 95-feet (29-meters) long, is visible on the muddy shoreline near downtown Baton Rouge.

McGimsey expects more discoveries as water levels continue to fall, having already received calls about two more possible shipwrecks.

But the unusually low water level in the lower Mississippi River, where there has been below-normal rainfall since late August, has also led to chaos — causing barges to get stuck in mud and sand, leading to waterway restrictions from the Coast Guard and disrupting river travel for shippers, recreational boaters and passengers on a cruise line.

In Baton Rouge the river rests at about 5-feet (1.5-meters) deep, according to the National Weather Service — its lowest level since 2012.

Water levels are projected to drop even further in the weeks ahead, dampening the region’s economic activity and potentially threatening jobs.

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Century-old shipwreck uncovered near baton rouge as drought lowers mississippi river.

BATON ROUGE - In downtown Baton Rouge, extremely low water levels reveal what's left of an early 20th-century ship that was destroyed in a wreck.

Local resident Patrick Ford was down by the riverfront for one of his daily scavenges for artifacts, but what he came across — the shipwrecked remains of the Brookhill exposed above the water — was more than what he expected to find.

"I immediately texted friends and was like, 'holy moly, I think I found a ship, a sunken ship!'" he said.

Ford was amazed by what he came across. He said he had been observing receding waters for weeks prior, but when he made his rounds last Sunday, more exposure of the river's banks brought deeper findings of what had been stored in the sediment. 

Shortly afterward, Ford reached out to experts looking for further explanation.

That's when Chip McGimsey, the state's archaeologist and director of the archaeology division, stepped in. McGimsey says they've known about the Brookhill shipwreck for quite some time. 

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"We believe this is a ship that was manufactured in 1896 in Indiana for trade here," he explained.

It was several years later when the Brookhill and its sister ship, the Istrouma, faced devastation. 

“On September 29th of 1915, there was a big storm… both ships sank,” McGimsey said.

While Istrouma broke from the ferry dock, Brookhill stayed grounded, but much of the boat was taken out by logs that crashed onto it. 

Years later, investigations began on the wreck.

“In 1992, it was exposed, an archeological firm did some work. At that time, it was not nearly as exposed as it is now,” McGimsey said.

With shockingly-low water levels, McGimsey says 90% of the half of the hull that's left is now exposed, and he explains what they plan to do next and why it's important. 

“For the most part, there are not good documents on boat building, especially when you get back into the area of wooden boats,” he explained. “They have a lot of individuality in these boats, and there are so few of them remaining. This is a rare example of one from around 1900.” 

McGimsey says they'll build on reports that were filed back in the '90s, which show basic renderings of what they believe the ship's build looked like. 

Both McGimsey and Ford say that in addition to discovering more about legacy ships, it's shedding more light on a piece of Baton Rouge history.

“Explore your surroundings, get to know where you live and what's around, beyond just what's in front of you… take a walk, see what's out there,” Ford said.

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A 19th-century shipwreck and human remains were uncovered as the Mississippi River recedes

• Drought has  unearthed a sunken 19th-century shipwreck and human remains in the Mississippi River.
• The  Mississippi River  is receding to historic lows amid  drought  across the Midwest.
• More discoveries are likely as bodies of water shrink due to climate change-induced droughts, experts say.

A prolonged drought has dried up the Mississippi River , revealing a centuries-old shipwreck and skeletal remains.

The river, a major shipping route, reached record-low levels this week amid drought conditions. According to a growing body of research , rising global temperatures due to burning of fossil fuels enhance evaporation, making droughts more severe. 

In early October, low water levels revealed the old sunken ship along the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Archaeologists believe these remains are from a ferry that sunk in the late 19th or early 20th century, The Associated Press  reported.

Though this is the first time the ship has been fully exposed, it's not a new discovery. Small parts of the vessel emerged from low waters in the 1990s.

"At that time the vessel was completely full of mud and there was mud all around it so only the very tip tops of the sides were visible," Chip McGimsey, Louisiana's state archaeologist, told the AP. "They had to move a lot of dirt just to get some narrow windows in to see bits and pieces," McGimsey said.

McGimsey thinks the ship could be the Brookhill Ferry, which carried people and possibly horse-drawn wagons across the Mississippi, until it sunk in a storm in 1915, according to news stories from  the  State Times  archives .

Shrinking waters also revealed skeletal remains

Gripped by drought, the Mississippi River's receding waters also led to a more gruesome discovery. On Saturday, a woman found human remains while searching for rocks with her family on the banks of the drought-stricken river. The remains included a lower jawbone, rib bones, and some unidentified bone pieces, Scotty Meredith, Coahoma County's chief medical examiner, told CNN .

"Because these water levels are so low that we knew it was only a short matter of time before human remains were found," Crystal Foster, the woman who found the remains, told  WMC . 

The discovery in Mississippi comes after multiple sets of human remains surfaced in recent months in Nevada's Lake Mead — the country's largest reservoir. Over the summer, several skeletal remains were found in the lake, which fell to historically low levels amid climate change-fueled drought. 

As human-caused climate change warms the planet and intensifies droughts, experts say more remnants of the past may be unearthed by receding waters.

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Though findings that were long-submerged can be grim, shrinking bodies of water could be a boon for experts tasked with solving missing persons cases, according to Jennifer Byrnes, a forensic anthropologist who consults with the Clark County coroner's office, which reviews deaths in Lake Mead.

"A big body of water disappearing is going to help us, from a forensic perspective," Byrnes told Insider.

Eric Bartelink, a forensic anthropologist at California State University's Chico Human Identification Lab, previously told Insider the dropping water levels have uncovered remains that have been hiding beneath the surface for years. 

"For us, it's really just potentially more opportunities to find missing persons and more likelihood that certain cases are going to be discovered," he said, adding, "It's just going to reveal more things that were in water that you normally wouldn't have access to very easily."

Watch: A devastating look at the California drought

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5 sunken World War I ships at bottom of Texas river revealed by drought

Five World War I-era ships were found in a southeast Texas river this month as ongoing drought conditions push water levels to new lows, officials said.

A 70-year-old retiree-turned-amateur shipwreck hunter discovered the wooden vessels, each 80 to 100 feet long, in the Neches River on Aug. 16, according to the Ice House Museum in Silsbee, Texas .

Bill Milner said a friend, the museum's curator, urged him to keep an eye out for sunken ships on his regular trips to the river, between Jasper and Hardin counties.

"She said if you got time, go ahead and look for it," Milner said Wednesday. “It was an accident [finding the shipwrecks], but it wasn't an accident. I wasn’t just playing around on a jet ski.”

With the drought-battered river as low as he has ever seen it, Milner said he was confident he would find a ship in the seemingly needle-in-a-haystack search.

"Fifty-50, I really thought in my mind that if I was ever going to find anything, this would be the best time to do it," said Milner, a resident of nearby Buna. "I was that enthusiastic and optimistic about it."

Milner, who made the discovery after about six weeks of searching, said he used a jet ski because it was the only tool that could navigate the vanishing Neches.

"The water is so low that's about the only thing you can get up and down on certain portions of our river right now," he said.

Southeast Texas used to be a shipbuilding hub, and the region was particularly active during World War I as America pressed to produce as many craft as possible to sustain the war effort.

But when the conflict known as " the war to end all wars " concluded in 1918, many of those newly built wooden ships had no use and were simply abandoned in places like the Neches River, the museum said .

Milner said that older residents know about the area's shipbuilding-and-dumping history but that younger locals are largely unaware.

Even in the decades after World War I, putting ships out to pasture on the Neches was common practice, the man said.

"You will see old sunken barges that 50, 60 years were parked out there, and they let them sink," he said. "It wasn't a big deal back then."

As historians and museum curators rush to learn more about the sunken ships, the plan is to leave them alone in the water with hope that river visitors don't disturb the wrecks or scavenge for souvenirs.

The museum pointed out that taking anything from a shipwreck is illegal under Texas law and urged curiosity seekers to look at and photograph the sunken vessels but do nothing more.

“It blew my mind,” Ice House Museum curator Susan Kilcrease told NBC affiliate KBMT of Beaumont.

“We could tell almost immediately that it was wood ... which put it at a certain time period of the early 20th century at a minimum,” she said.

Senior Breaking News Reporter

Paddling the Wolf River

There are many ways to experience the Wolf River, but paddling in a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board arguably provides the most immersive experience and the greatest connection with nature. Approximately 75 miles of the Wolf River is open for paddle craft. Learn more about paddling on the Wolf River in this section and refer to the events calendar for upcoming paddling trips. We nearly always have a first Saturday paddle trip, and we would love for you to join us!

River Paddling FAQs

• Blues City Kayaks  | 901.762.1133 |   [email protected]
• Ghost River Rentals | 901.485.1220 | [email protected]
• Kayak Memphis Tours | 901.482.2942 | [email protected]
• Wolf River Canoe Tr ips | 901.877.3958
• Ghost River Rentals provides shuttle services along the Wolf River.  Contact Mark Babb or Don Hailey at 901.485.1220, or visit their website: ghostriverrentals.com
• Wolf River Canoe Trips provides shuttle service in Fayette County.  Contact Sarah or John Wilburn at 901.877.3958 for more info.
• Blues City Kayaks provides tours and rental kayaks in Shelby and Fayette Counties. Visit their website for more info: bluescitykayaks.com

There are 12 boat access points on the Wolf River from Michigan City, MS to the Mississippi River. Explore the interactive map to help find a section right for you.  The map highlights each river section and shows all of the boat access sites including a Google Maps link for each.

Interactive Map

Safety on any paddling trip depends on the paddler’s planning and preparation.  Before beginning a paddle trip on the Wolf River, please review and carefully consider this important Safety Information .

For a first trip on the Ghost River section of the Wolf, a guide is essential for inexperienced paddlers and very helpful to experienced paddlers.  Sections below the Ghost section can be negotiated without a guide, though it is best not to go alone.  The Wolf River Conservancy provides experienced volunteer trip leaders on planned monthly paddle trips on the Ghost River and other Wolf River sections, helping to arrange equipment rentals and shuttle services.  See our Activity Calendar for upcoming trips.

While the entire Wolf River is a Class I stream (no whitewater), it does have many obstacles and unpredictable currents that often send unprepared paddlers through dense shrubbery and fallen tree branches. Even during its slow flow, the Ghost River section requires use of moderate canoeing/paddling skills to safely negotiate some of its obstacles.  The trip is moderately strenuous, and, in the event of a medical emergency, significant difficulties can be encountered in aiding or evacuating a victim.  The section between Germantown Pkwy. and Walnut Grove Rd. does not offer many obstacles and is the best section for beginners.  During high water conditions (over 8 ft. on the nearest river gauge), any section of the Wolf can be dangerous.  Please review our Safety Information .

The Ghost River trip from LaGrange to Bateman Rd. takes about 6 hours, including a short lunch break.  This section should never be started later than 7 hours before sunset.  The Bateman to Moscow trip takes about 3 hours.  Germantown Pkwy. to Walnut Grove Rd. normally can be traveled in about one hour.

For the Ghost River section, fuel up with a high-carbohydrate breakfast before setting off.  Take at least one-half gallon of water per person, a lunch (which may have to be eaten in the canoe in high water), sunscreen, life jacket (wear it), Epi-Pen or inhaler for those with severe allergies or asthma, supplies and a mobile phone.  Please review all Safety Information .

Remember: In the event of a medical emergency, significant difficulties can be encountered in aiding or evacuating a victim.  Don’t take anything in the boat that you can’t afford to lose or get wet.  Dress in layers in cool weather so you can adjust for the temperature.  Bring a change of clothes and a small towel in a dry-bag or large Ziploc plastic bag.

Yes, as the Wolf River provides them a perfect habitat, and most are harmless water snakes.  The venomous cottonmouths, aka water moccasins, rarely bother people who don’t bother them first.

Pinecrest Camp and Retreat Center in La Grange, TN offers camping by reservation only.  See more information on camping at Pinecrest at this link.

The only public access overnight camping near the Wolf River is in the Holly Springs National Forest, which is less than a 20-minute drive from the Michigan City boat launch.  Please follow rules for dispersed camping on National Forest lands.  All other public land in the Wolf River watershed is day-use only.

Short River Hikes

Whether you want to go for pleasant after-work stroll or bike ride, or follow a boardwalk into a wild natural area which preserves some of the mid-south's most beautiful habitat, the wolf river has something to offer.

This list does NOT include the Wolf River Greenway trail itself, but several of the trails below intersect the Greenway - For information and updates on the Wolf River Greenway Project, click here.

John F. Kennedy Park (4575 Raleigh LaGrange Rd.) is the fifth largest park in Memphis at 260 acres.  Built in the mid-1990s by the Conservancy and volunteers, this 1.25 mile trail (one way) begins atop a hill at a gravel trailhead parking across from the Alzheimer's Center.  Walk down the hill following yellow signs and enter the forest where the trail winds through big trees.  The trail becomes a boardwalk for a quarter mile through a high quality bottomland hardwood forest. The trail then zigzags across the Wolf River Greenway and along the banks of the Wolf River.  You can make it a loop trail by walking the park roads back to the gravel trailhead parking.

For a map of John F. Kennedy Park, click here.

Started by an boy scout troop in 2019 and finished to the beach by volunteers on MLK Jr. Day in 2020, this unpaved hiking and mountain biking trail connects to Phase 9 of the Wolf River Greenway at 2630 Epping Way Drive, Memphis, TN.  The 2-5 ft wide path squeezes between the river and the Conservancy's 20-acre lake for over 0.5-mile to a large beach in a major bend of the river.  The total out-and-back distance from the parking area at Epping Way cul-de-sac to the beach and back is roughly 1.7 miles. Wolf River Conservancy is planning to extend this trail all the way around the lake to connect back with the Greenway for a nice loop trail.

Designated in 1988 by Wolf River Conservancy and local partners, Lucius Burch SNA is located in Shelby Farms along the Wolf River and is accessed from: Walnut Grove Road near the bridge over the river, near Germantown Road and Walnut Bend at the paved parking area or at the gravel parking area at the Raptor Center.  The northern section can also be accessed on foot or bike via the Shelby Farms Greenline, Unpaved hiking and biking trails afford good river views.  Old channelized streams and exotic invasive plants, such as privet, illustrate some of the effects of channelization and urbanization. Conversely, pockets of high quality bottomland hardwood forest with a state-listed species are found along the trails as well.  For a map, see the trails in the dark green areas in the south and western portions of Shelby Farms Park:  click here for rough trail map.

The Germantown Greenway is a 4-mile paved trail in the Wolf River Nature Area, which can be accessed from Wolf River Blvd. between Kirby and Riverdale, between Riverdale and Germantown Pkwy., or from Germantown Pkwy. at the Chik-Fil-A parking lot. The trail includes interpretive signs, benches, butterfly gardens, and wetlands. Thanks to the efforts of WRC and community leaders, the Germantown Greenway now connects to the Wolf River Greenway.  One day there will be a continuous trail extending 15 miles west to the Mississippi River and 15 miles east to Collierville-Arlington Rd.

For a map of the Germantown Greenway and surrounding area, please click here.

The trailhead for this short unpaved trail is located on Kimbrough Rd just south of Wolf River Blvd. Look for the kiosk next to a gravel parking lot. Recently, TDEC Division of Natural Areas removed exotic invasive privet to restore the habitat.  For a complete description and a map, click here.

Overton Park is an amazing ecological refuge within the heart of Memphis and lies within the Wolf River watershed.  Enjoy old growth hardwood forest on the many paved and unpaved trails within the park and natural area. Overton Park Conservancy stewards and manages this park in partnership with city of Memphis.  DIRECTIONS  For more information on the park and Overton Park Conservancy, visit overtonpark.org.

Peterson Lake Nature Center encompasses a 0.7 mile long boardwalk from Peterson Lake, a natural oxbow,  through forest and wetlands to the banks of the Wolf River. At the end of the boardwalk, you can see part of the Wolf River restoration project, i.e., one of the  rip-rap weirs created by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to stop the degradation of the river caused by channelization. Deer and other wildlife are frequently seen along the boardwalk, and there are abundant cypress, tupelo, and other trees. DIRECTIONS to Johnson Park, follow Bill Morris Pkwy. (385) to Byhalia Rd., go left or north, and stay on Byhalia Rd. which will dead-end at Johnson Park.  Keep driving past the play areas and the lake. The road makes a small loop and becomes a parking lot.  Look for the Peterson Lake Nature Center sign and the beginning of the boardwalk.

For more information, visit the Collierville Parks website.

A large park north of Collierville contains over 2,000 acres of woods and wetlands along both sides of the Wolf River. The 5-mile crushed limestone trail is open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk and can be accessed at the Collierville-Arlington Rd. bridge where there is a gravel parking lot on the north side of the river. The park can be accessed at its western end from Bethany Rd. Eventually, the trail will extend for 8 miles to Houston-Levee Rd. The farm fields north of the woods are now open for hiking and biking. The map below shows a trail on the farm roads. There are two parking areas off Collierville-Arlington Rd.,one on the north side of the bridge, and one farther north at the main trailhead. On the map, TR-1,2,4,5,6 all represent the tributary weirs. There is no hunting and no ATV (four-wheeler) use allowed.  Day-use only. The County sheriff’s deputies have begun checking the parking areas after dark.

Wolf River Wildlife Area Map

A short unpaved trail along the Wolf River leads from the parking lot to a boardwalk through a first-class wetland with tupelo and cypress trees. The entrance to the Clark Preserve is .25 miles north of the Wolf River Café and Rossville Square. Go over the bridge and turn into the parking lot on your right. The Clark Preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy.  For a complete description and a map, click here.

Clark Preserve information from The Nature Conservancy.

The area around the boat ramp was protected by Wolf River Conservancy in 2016 and 2018 and is now part of Ghost River State Natural Area. This boat ramp at Bateman Bridge offers access to the Wolf River. There is no trail, but wading is possible here because the bottom of the river is sandy and the river is usually fairly shallow. Shoes are recommended. Take Hwy 57 east through Moscow and take a right onto Bateman Rd. DIRECTIONS.  For a map of the area, click here.

The 0.5-mile Mineral Slough trail and boardwalk traverses a fine stretch of bottomland hardwood swamp characteristic of the Wolf River floodplain. The Ghost River is a section of the Wolf River in which the river seems to disappear, widening into a broad, vegetation-filled swamp. It is a popular destination for paddlers and has been named one of the best wetland canoe trails in the country. DIRECTIONS. To read a complete description and for a map, click here.

This is a beautiful hike to the source of the Wolf River, a large spring-fed pond about .25 miles from the trailhead, in the hills of Benton County, Mississippi. Look for natural springs trickling out of the earth and the unique purple sands along the stairs on the trail.  Click here for DIRECTIONS:  on Hwy 72 heading east, ff you cross the Tippah County line, you've gone too far. Turn right or south at the small brown sign for Baker's Pond onto Tower Rd., and bear right where the road forks. Look for the Baker’s Pond trailhead parking area on the left.  The trail used to connect to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, but a large tornado destroyed that portion of the forest and has overgrown the trail.  Restoration efforts are being made to repair the trail.

Baker's Pond Map

Safety Information

Paddling the Wolf River in a canoe or kayak can be a wonderful experience. The quality of that experience, however, will depend largely on your training, planning, and follow-through.

The Wolf River Conservancy recommends always paddling in groups of two or more, regardless of your skill level or experience. The level of skill you need to paddle the Wolf River depends on your physical condition, prior training and experience, and the paddling conditions of each river section. If in doubt about your skills or how to find appropriate training, or for any other questions, please contact a Wolf River Conservancy Volunteer River Guide, a local outfitter or paddling retailer, or the American Canoe Association, of which the Wolf River Conservancy is an affiliate.

Your trip will be much more enjoyable, comfortable, and certainly safer if you bring along appropriate clothing, gear, and other items, including a change of clothing in the event of a capsize, emergency gear, medications, and a first aid kit. Any river trip involves an element of risk, and it is necessary to be prepared for emergencies. Please read this Safety Information and consider these rules and recommendations carefully in planning your trip.

Participants in Wolf River Conservancy float trips will be required to wear an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while on the water. These are provided by the outfitters along with boat and paddle for those renting. Paddlers arranging their own trips are required by state law to have an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD, or life jacket) for each person on board; children 12 years old or younger are required to wear a PFD at all times while on the water.   Click here for more information on Personal Flotation Devices .

The Conservancy recommends that everyone wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life jacket (PFD) while onboard any kind of human-powered, natural-powered or motorized boat, on any body of water, at all times. Remember, a life jacket (PFD) must be properly fitted and sized to the person wearing it and must be worn correctly to work!

Although the Wolf is rated as a class one river (no whitewater), conditions can rapidly change. It is imperative that paddlers realistically evaluate their experience and abilities in regard to an anticipated trip, especially if considering bringing children along. If in doubt, ask a Conservancy River Guide. Paddlers of any skill level should check both weather conditions and water level prior to departure.

No paddler, regardless of experience level, should paddle alone. Beginners are advised to seek out some type of formal training before paddling; afterwards, paddle only with highly experienced guides for the first few trips. The Conservancy membership trips are well-suited for beginners, depending on the river section, because they are led by experienced paddlers familiar with the route who provide limited basic instruction at the beginning of the trip. Please do not paddle with children as passengers unless you are an experienced paddler yourself.

Always check weather conditions and water level before your trip. Do not attempt a trip if the forecast indicates severe weather such as a thunderstorm. Do not attempt a trip during flood conditions. For weather conditions and forecast, use this link . The Conservancy recommends not paddling any section of the Wolf River if the USGS River Level Gauge closest to the section being paddled reads 8 feet or above for most paddlers. Use the following links to check water levels:

Gauge at LaGrange

Gauge at Rossville

Gauge at Collierville

Gauge at Germantown Pkwy

Gauge at Hollywood St

Gauge at Mississippi River

Our Interactive Map provides a description for each of the accessible sections of the Wolf River, helping paddlers to choose the section that best meets their needs.

Always bring plenty of drinking water, regardless of the season. We recommend a half gallon or more per person for all-day trips.

Always bring necessary allergy medications and emergency supplies such as a first aid kit, prescription medications you might need, a change of clothes to carry with you in the boat, flashlight, whistle, compass, rain gear, cell phone, sunscreen, insect repellent, snacks, etc., and a waterproof “dry” bag to hold these items. Local outfitters are a good source for other suggestions as well as ready-made kits and supplies; these can also be found online.

Have a float plan. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Always wear clothes and shoes suitable for conditions. Denim and other types of cotton clothing are not recommended to be worn in or around water or while boating at any time of the year. Fast-drying synthetic polyester materials, which can be layered for cold weather conditions, are preferred. Shoes which fit securely are recommended. Avoid crocs and flip flops can easily slip off the foot when wet, and waders or rubber boots which could fill with water. Water shoes or some form aquatic “bootie” are highly recommended. Protect your feet at all times.

Cold weather clothing suggestions: Neoprene booties, synthetic (e.g., fleece) or wool fabrics worn in layers, a hat, gloves. Avoid cotton clothing. During cold weather, it is essential to bring a full set of rain gear and at least one change of clothes in a dry bag in the boat with you to prevent possible hypothermia.

Warm weather clothing suggestions: Neoprene booties or water shoes which fit securely, layered clothing, including synthetic fabrics, and a hat with a brim or visor. A change of clothes in a dry bag is recommended. Be sure to bring sunscreen and insect repellent as well.

Other items to consider:  Food and snacks, binoculars, camera, field guides, cell phone, sunscreen, insect repellent. Again, if you want to keep it dry, store it in a waterproof bag.

This is dangerous if a boat capsizes and not advised for the Wolf River.

Familiarity with basic boating safety rules is strongly advised, especially for those arranging their own trips. More information can be found on the TWRA Boating website and TWRA Paddlesports Laws .