City: Shreveport, LA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (903) 789-2238

Address: 510 Cypress Dr.

Description: Since Shreveport is located only 19 miles from the Texas state line, traveling to Uncertain to explore the other side of Caddo Lake will require only a short drive. Once you arrive at Shady Glade Marina and look upon this mystical, watery, primordial destination, expect to feel a mix of emotions. But staying on shore should not be considered an option. Captains Ron Gibbs and Wes McCalip will be ready to welcome you aboard the Graceful Ghost, a replica of an 1800s steamboat, complete with a paddlewheel and whistle. Your one-and-a-half-hour tour will meander through the bayous and swamps associated with the lake. Enjoy the old cypress trees covered with Spanish moss that function as a type of time machine, placing you in a distance land that time seems to have forgotten. The flora and fauna work in tandem to generate a mysterious realm that alligators, bass, and bald eagles call home. Definitely bring your camera. Want something a bit more intimate than the flat-bottom paddle wheel boat? Then ask about the Pontoon Boat tours, designed to focus on specific aspects of this water paradise. One tour will even take you to the Louisiana side of this natural lake, pointing out where Howard Hughes Sr., using his newly patented (in 1909) dual-cone roller bit, drilled for oil. The pontoon boats seat a maximum of 10 persons, while the Graceful Ghost can accommodate up to 35 adults. From Christmas Eve through Feb, the Graceful Ghost sails by reservation only. As spring arrives, the boat sets forth at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., Tues through Sat. In the dog days of Aug, tours are limited to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Tues through Sat. Sept to Dec 23, the boat departs Tues through Thurs at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and extended hours Fri and Sat. A minimum of five people is required for the Graceful Ghost to leave the dock, so you might consider calling ahead and making a reservation. And groups can also arrange to charter the steamboat; what an incredible adventure to share with coworkers, classmates, and friends.