For decades, the Jungle Queen has continued to be one of Fort Lauderdale’s most enduring attractions.
The two-story cruiser, designed to look like a cross between a classic riverboat and Humphrey Bogart’s African Queen, takes off from the city’s Bahia Mar Piers at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard. It paddles along the city’s waterways, offering glimpses of Millionaire’s Row on the way to its own “private island” destination complete with a barbecue and dinner show.
Now, Bill Fuller, owner of the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale and co-owner of Miami’s Ball & Chain, has purchased the operation, according to online site, the Browardist. Fuller is the perfect new owner for the Jungle Queen, who has a proven track record of not only restoring some of South Florida’s most treasured establishments — but improving on them so that future generations can also experience them.
Jungle Queen was founded by Al Starts, who introduced guests to South Florida through alligator wrestling exhibitions and Native American craft demonstrations before expanding into sightseeing cruises and dinner excursions. The attraction was purchased by the Faber family in 1958, with Earl Faber and later his son, Jerome, transforming it into one of the city’s signature attractions. Jerome commissioned the 400-passenger Jungle Queen IV in 1971, while Mike Faber continued the family’s stewardship in the decades that followed. For many South Floridians, Jungle Queen is synonymous with Fort Lauderdale itself. A trip aboard the Jungle Queen is a joyful excursion for both locals and tourists alike, and its annual appearance in the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade have made it a beloved tradition for generations of families and visitors.
