The Spirit of Brownville is a popular excursion boat based in Brownville that has run up and down the Missouri River for many years. Each year, it is pulled out of the River for inspection by the Coast Guard, which controls navigation on the River. The Spirit now sits on the west bank of River waiting. Will it pass inspection again? It has been well and lovingly maintained but all things age.
The Spirit was created by the late Randel Smith of Brownville, using an old barge as the base. The conversion was done in 1981. Randel and wife Jane were both licensed pilots on the Missouri River. Randel said he named the boat the Spirit of Brownville after a ferry that plied the river at Brownville. Randel had been thrilled to ride on it as a child. Randel and Jane loved the boat, and their son James acquired a pilot’s license as well.
James worked on the River, gaining experience. He piloted the first river boat casino on the Missouri into its site. He worked on the River during high fast water and had many adventures. James eventually returned to the business with wife Lisa and sons Rob and Andrew Kaelin. He was a beloved part of the Spirit, always happy to chat with guests about the boat and the river.
