It motored the Willow Flowage and Wisconsin River for a number of years and now it sits waiting for someone to pick it up.
The Wilderness Queen was purchased last year by a Delavan interest with the idea of moving the boat to a new home. The boat was owned locally by Ben and Patty Zastrow and before that Tom and Chris Tiffany.
The boat was pulled from the water last fall and is parked at the Pelican Rapids boat launch. The new owner underestimated the weight of the boat and was in process of getting a rig to haul to Delavan. But not much has happened and the Rhinelander City Council is concerned it might be taking up space at the boat landing during the summer boating season.
City Attorney Carrie Miljevich said if the boat isn't moved, there is an ordinance that enables the city to claim the boat. Public Works Director Tim Kingman said should the city take the boat, it might have value in a sale, and might cost the city more to take it apart and demolish it.
Miljevich wanted to make one more contact...
"...I would recommend giving him one more courtesy phone call, saying this is really disrupting the city. We anticipate the snow to melt soon and we anticipate the boat landing to be open I was told it completely restricts access to the boat landing, or close to..."
A last letter or phone call to the owner will be made to see what his plans are about the boat.
