Duck's Eye View
Ride The Ducks is the nation's largest amphibious tour operator and amphibious vehicle manufacturer. Our mission is to "create Quack-tastic memories worth repeating" ™ by offering our guests an entertainment sightseeing experience that is fun, informative and engaging.
Our fleet exceeds 75 vehicles, carrying over 1,000,000 guests each year around the United States.
Ride The Ducks is a Herschend Family Entertainment company and is headquartered just outside Atlanta in Norcross, Georgia.
Our Migration
We hatched this business in 1977 in Branson, Missouri when local entrepreneur Bob McDowell acquired a small sightseeing business and quickly adopted the mission to build a better guest experience.
- 1977 - The McDowells launch Ride The Ducks in Branson, MO
- 1994 - Ride The Ducks agrees to provide vehicles to Boston Duck Tours ™, a relationship that continues today
- 1998 - Ride The Ducks of Seattle opens as a licensed partner of RTD
- 1999 - RTD subsidiary Amphibious Vehicle Manufacturing receives USCG approval for patented "Stretch Duck," significantly improving the classic WWII DUKW
- 2001 - Ride The Ducks partners with Herschend Family Entertainment in pursuit of national and international expansion
- 2001 - Ride The Ducks of Baltimore opens
- 2003 - Ride The Ducks of Philadelphia opens
Ride The Ducks of Stone Mountain Park (Georgia) opens - 2004 - Herschend Family Entertainment becomes sole owner of Ride The Ducks
- 2006 - Amphibious Vehicle Manufacturing receives USCG approval for patented "Truck Duck"; an entirely new and modern design based on nearly 30 years of operating experience
- 2008 - Ride The Ducks launches in San Francisco and Newport, KY (across the river from Cincinnati)
Herschend Family Entertainment
We Create Memories Worth Repeating.™
Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation owns, operates or partners in 22 properties in nine states including Silver Dollar City Attractions in Branson, Missouri; The Dollywood Company in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Stone Mountain Park outside Atlanta, Georgia; Dixie Stampede dinner attractions; Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia; Newport Aquarium outside of Cincinnati, Ohio; Adventure Aquarium outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Ride The Ducks International.
Since its founding in 1960, Herschend properties have received numerous awards for excellence in theme, presentation and operations, including the IAAPA worldwide "Applause Award" for excellence and the THEA Award (Themed Entertainment Assoc.). Herschend is a company dedicated to "creating memories worth repeating!"
See more information at www.hfecorp.com.