For over a century, visitors to the St. Croix River have experienced one of the Midwest’s most breathtaking landscapes from the decks of Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours. As towering basalt cliffs rise above the river and eagles soar overhead, generations of passengers have discovered that some of the region’s most unforgettable views are best enjoyed from the water.
This year, Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours celebrates an extraordinary milestone—120 years of continuous operation. What began in 1906 with a determined 17-year-old and an eight-passenger powerboat has grown into one of America’s longest-running family-owned sightseeing boat operations, carrying forward a legacy of exceptional hospitality, storytelling, and stewardship of one of the nation’s most scenic waterways.
A Family Tradition Begins
The story begins on the St. Croix River, where steamboats had been transporting freight since the late 1830s. At the turn of the twentieth century, visitors increasingly sought excursions through the spectacular Upper Dalles, a dramatic stretch of river carved through ancient volcanic rock formed more than one billion years ago.
When two local brothers who offered rowing excursions chose not to operate on Sundays, the local park commissioner approached the Muller family for help. Seventeen-year-old Carl Muller answered the call with his eight-passenger powerboat, Pinafore, launching what would become the Muller Boat Company—today known as Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours.
Boating was already part of the Mullers’ heritage. Carl’s family built boats and later operated a marina in Stillwater, Minn., giving him both the skills and entrepreneurial spirit to grow the business. By 1910, Carl was building and renting canoes to visitors eager to explore the river on their own. Remarkably, the family still preserves the original canoe forms used more than a century ago.
Growing With Each Generation
As demand for scenic excursions increased, so did the fleet.
Carl’s father, George Muller, built The Duck, a 32-passenger vessel named after Carl’s sweetheart, Katy Campbell’s nickname. Carl and Katy married in 1911, beginning another chapter in both the family’s and the company’s history.
Expansion continued throughout the 1920s with the acquisition of The Dalles and the construction of the Robert C., named after Carl and Katy’s young son, Bob. Before long, Bob became an integral part of the business himself, piloting his first passenger excursion at just 15 years old.
17-year-old Carl Muller answered the call with his eight-passenger powerboat, Pinafore, launching what would become the Muller Boat Company—today known as Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours.
Generations of visitors fondly remember Captain Bob Muller at the helm, pipe in hand, sharing stories of the river with passengers. When Bob married Ann in 1940, she became the first woman at Muller Boat Works to earn her captain’s license, further strengthening the family’s commitment to the business.
The fleet continued to evolve over the decades, with vessels including the Dalles Showboat and the Kathy M. In 1976, Bob’s daughter, Cam, and her husband, Dennis Radeke, assumed leadership of the company. Five years later, they introduced the Taylors Falls Queen, a 150-passenger authentic paddlewheel vessel that remains in service today. The Taylors Falls Princess, added in 1985, joined the fleet as another authentic paddlewheel, making the operation home to the northernmost authentic paddlewheel boats operating on the St. Croix River since 1924.
The Taylors Falls Princess joined the fleet as another authentic paddlewheel, making the operation home to the northernmost authentic paddlewheel boats operating on the St. Croix River since 1924.
More Than Scenic Cruises
Over the decades, the family diversified while remaining rooted in tourism and outdoor recreation.
In 1972, they purchased a nearby ski area to provide year-round employment opportunities for seasonal staff. Later, they expanded with the acquisition of Wildwood RV Park & Campground, which remains part of the family’s business today. The company added the River Rock Patio in 2020, offering guests a gathering place overlooking the river where they can enjoy food and beverages and take in panoramic views before or after their cruise.
Despite these additions, scenic cruises remain at the heart of the operation.
“We’ve gotten off on some tangents over the years,” said General Manager Ryan Ramaley. “When it comes down to it, focusing on our daily excursions has been the key to us. Focus on what you do best and just try to keep making it better.”
Those personal stories are perhaps the greatest testament to the company’s success. While the scenery has remained largely unchanged for more than a century, each generation continues to create new memories along the river.
Stories That Bring History To Life
Every cruise offers more than spectacular scenery—it offers stories.
A favorite among guests recounts the accidental creation of Blast Island during highway construction in the early 1930s. A series of explosive charges intended to reshape a hillside instead unleashed far more force than anticipated, temporarily blocking the river and creating a permanent island.
For years, Captain Bob Muller delighted passengers by describing witnessing the blast as a young man from one of the company’s boats.
Ramaley recalls sharing the same story during a tour roughly 20 years ago when an elderly passenger approached the pilothouse afterward. The man revealed he had been part of the blasting crew that day—and proved it by showing Ramaley one of his hands that was missing two fingers he had lost in the accident.
Moments like these illustrate why storytelling remains one of the company’s greatest traditions. Guests don’t simply observe the landscape; they become connected to its history.
Building Community Connections
Throughout its history, Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours has been deeply woven into the fabric of its community.
The company partners with local organizations, including fire and police departments and the Lions Club, for fundraising events. Educational cruises introduce children to the region’s geology, wildlife, and logging history in partnership with the National Park Service and the Wild River Conservancy.
The operation has also maintained a long-standing commitment to safety and professional development through its membership in the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA). Following the security changes implemented after Sept. 11, 2001, the company turned to PVA for guidance on alternative security plans and has since relied on numerous member resources, including training manuals and operational best practices. A prepared and well-trained crew only adds to the success of the company and the positive experience for guests.
Creating Memories Across Generations
Few attractions can claim to have welcomed the same families across multiple generations for more than a century.
As part of the company’s anniversary celebration, guests have been invited to share their memories.
One family recalled a canoe trip in the late 1970s when buses transported paddlers upstream before their journey back downriver. Another shared that three generations recently took the scenic cruise together, creating what they hope will become a new family tradition. One couple, who first fell in love with the area after marrying at the family’s ski resort, now celebrates each anniversary aboard one of the paddlewheel boats with their daughters.
Even Ramaley’s own connection runs deep. “My grandparents took my dad after he got baptized in St. Paul,” he recalled. “They rode the train up, and I actually have a picture of them standing next to one of the boats before boarding.”
Those personal stories are perhaps the greatest testament to the company’s success. While the scenery has remained largely unchanged for more than a century, each generation continues to create new memories along the river.
Looking Ahead
As Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours celebrates 120 years, the company remains focused on the same mission that began with Carl Muller’s first voyage in 1906: sharing the beauty of the St. Croix River while providing an exceptional guest experience.
In an industry built on creating lasting memories, few companies embody that mission as completely as Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours. Their story is one of family, perseverance, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to preserving both history and tradition.
For over a century, passengers have stepped aboard in search of scenic beauty. They leave with something even more enduring—a connection to a place, a story, and a family whose legacy continues to shape one of America’s most treasured waterways.