Star attraction at Voyageur Winter Carnival: Neoteric Hovercraft rides

Canada’s Voyageur Winter Carnival at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay is the largest winter event in Northwestern Ontario. And Fort William Historical Park is one of the largest living history attractions in North America, bringing visitors from all over the world.

The Park’s 2017 Winter Carnival, known as Family Day Weekend, took place Feb. 18-20 and, as always, offered a weekend full of fun with a giant snow maze, tubing and sliding hills, skating, winter and carnival games, historical activities and indoor & outdoor entertaining. But something new was announced on their website this year ...

New this year – Hovercraft Rides!

Take an exhilarating ride and experience the Kamanistiquia River like you never have before – 

on a Neoteric Hovercraft!

Yes! Neoteric Hovercraft rides were the main attraction at the 2017 year’s Winter Carnival. In the past, helicopter rides were sometimes offered, but this year it was decided that hovercraft would be more exciting. Emily Carr, Communications Officer with Fort Williams Historical Park said, “New this year, we’re excited to have hovercraft rides. Visitors will be able to experience the Kamanistiquia River from a whole new exhilarating perspective. These hovercraft can go on ice and snow and take people down the Kam.”

The rides were piloted by Neoteric Founder/President Chris Fitzgerald and Vice President Steve Stafford on a 6-passenger Neoteric HoverTrek and a 4-passenger Neoteric HoverGolf Cart – the official replica of Bubba’s Hover, which was designed and manufactured by Neoteric.

On the first day of the Winter Carnival, visitors begin to line up for their first hovercraft ride.

People who took rides on the hovercraft were even more excited after the ride than they were before they launched. Sarah McKinnon, who attended the event with her husband and daughter, said, “The hovercraft was super cool. It was a lot of fun. I’m surprised by how fun it was actually.”

Chris Fitzgerald gives his passengers a few spins on the snow and ice-covered
Kamanistiquia River in Neoteric’s Bubba’s Hover.

After Thunder Bay’s John Lawson and his daughter Myla took a ride, he said, “There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a unique experience and I think everyone should give it a shot. Floating on a cushion of air isn’t something you do every day and it’s nice that the park had the opportunity to have this out here.”

Neoteric Vice President Steve Stafford flies a family down the Kamanistiquia River in a Neoteric HoverTrek. 

The hovercraft rides were definitely the star of the show and got a big "thumbs up" from everyone!

Today, the final day of the Voyageur Winter Carnival, Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald reported in. “I wish I had a way to capture all the positive comments we’ve gotten. One fellow came back specifically to tell us that it was the best ride of his entire life. Kids love it, as well. I spent time with them to explain how hovercraft work and they really seem to appreciate this.”

“Everyone says we have the best job in the world, taking people for fun rides”, Fitzgerald concluded.

Neither snow nor ice nor water hazards and sand traps are an obstacle for a Neoteric Hovercraft.

Here, the Neoteric Bubba’s Hover gives another group of passengers their first hovercraft flight.

At the close of the highly successful 2017 Voyageur Winter Carnival, the two Neoteric hovercraft are loaded and ready for their long trek from Ontario back to Indiana ... 

See more photos ...

Event Organizers & Venues: 

Imagine the increased attendance and media attention your upcoming events

would bring with Neoteric Hovercraft rides as the star attraction. 

Then contact us to make it happen!

A Neoteric Rescue Hovercraft saves another life

Yesterday in Iowa the Council Bluffs Fire Department rescued a fisherman who had fallen through the ice on Lake Manawa and was submerged in icy water while clinging to the ice shelf.

Captain Jim Maaske reported that their Neoteric hovercraft allowed the firefighters to quickly find the man and hover directly to him without putting themselves at risk. Thanks to his rapid rescue, the fisherman was checked by EMS personnel and released.

Council Bluffs Firefighters discuss the situation after their successful ice rescue.

The Neoteric Rescue Hovercraft is the only vehicle able to operate on thin and broken ice.
It prevents first responders from having to enter the freezing water, risking their own lives.

Council Bluffs has owned their Neoteric Hovercraft since 2015, and this is far from the first life it has saved. Less than a month after its purchase, the hovercraft enabled the rescue of a young man submerged in a flooded, muddy river. Fire Chief Justin James said there was more than 60 feet of deep mud on the shores of the West Nodaway River and 20 feet of shallow water to cross before reaching the victim. Chief James reported, "The amount of time it took us to get out there would have been drastically longer if we didn't have the hovercraft."

Along with speeding up rescue operations, the hovercraft also keeps first responders safe. As Chief James says, "The hovercraft is a very stable platform, and we're not getting in the water. It's not going to sink. It won't capsize like a canoe or other boat. Our hovercraft can handle some of the most dangerous rescues that would otherwise be out of reach. It's the only vehicle able to operate on any surface; you can get it anywhere that basically nothing else can get to. With it, we're not sending first responders into bad water or ice. We can go over it all with the hovercraft, grab the victim and bring them back."

First Responders:

See firsthand what a rescue hovercraft can do ...

Visit Neoteric Hovercraft at the 2017 FDIC in BOOTH 2704

... and register to win one of three FREE Hovercraft Pilot Training Courses!

(Valued at $1,575 each)