There’s a new tropical way to cruise the North Tonawanda waters.
TNT Tiki Tours is taking groups of up to six guests on 90-minute rides around Tonawanda Island and through the Erie Canal. Owned by the same group that operates Buffalo Tiki Tours, the rides started during Canal Fest earlier this month.
“We plan on being here for a while,” said co-owner Craig Schultz, who runs it with Mike Bartolotta. “It’s a great location and a really pretty ride.”
Last summer, 2nd Ward Alderman Frank DiBernardo went on a Buffalo Tiki Tour boat out of the River Works. He had such a fantastic time that he approached Schultz and Bartolotta about doing the same thing in North Tonawanda.
“He felt it would be a good thing running on the Erie Canal, especially with it being the 200th anniversary,” Schultz said, taking about a year from the idea to its launch. A new boat was bought and outfitted for North Tonawanda, with a thatched roof like a Hawaiian hut, a bathroom and room for six riders.
Departing from the docks next to the Remington Tavern on Sweeney Street, the tiki boat first goes around Tonawanda Island to show off the boats parked there. It then goes up Tonawanda Creek and the Erie Canal past the cottages and boat houses lining it before returning to port.
Along with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain, the boat has a Bluetooth speaker system for playing music. Outside food and drinks are allowed, with an on-board ice cooler provided.
The trips operate seven days a week with plans to run the tours through the middle of October, with their season next year aiming to start June 1 with an added history element.
Schultz said the response so far has been fantastic.
Reservations can be made either at tnttikitours.com or by calling 716-331-6266.