1987 Custom Tour Boat and Business

Background

This Tour and Charter Boat Business is a Wyoming Limited Liability company, which started business on July 7, 2005, primarily in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area located 15 minutes from Lovell, Wyoming. Bighorn Canyon NRA is the home of the 3rd largest canyon in the US. The business is operated on a seasonal basis from May to September. Typically, the season starts the Friday before Memorial Day and runs to Labor Day in any given year. The National Park Service administers the Bighorn Canyon NRA.

This company has been the exclusive provider of scenic boat tours and fishing charters in this Area and has been since its inception. Scenic tours are provided on a U.S.C.G. Inspected tour boat (Belle) that is capable of carrying 45 passengers at a time. We provide two 2 hour narrated tours daily during the operating season, which we begin on the Friday before Memorial Day and run to Labor Day. This activity has been promoted for many years to international tour operators (inbound receptives) to gain additional business such as FIT (Foreign Independent Travelers) and bust tour travelers coming to our region. The Company has numerous contracts with tour companies throughout the world to provide boat tours in this Area. These contracts and customer lists will be a part of the sale.

Additionally, the Company has operated Horseshoe Bend Marina for the last 15 years providing boat rentals, cafe and catering with a beer garden, slip rentals, and fishing charters as well. They have established the Marina Area as a small concert venue and regularly provide free live band performances, which has increased the revenue of the Marina substantially.

The Company is authorized to operate and do business the National Recreation Area under 4 Special Use Permits under contracts commonly known as CUAs, with the National Park Service (NPS). Every two years, the Marina and Campgrounds must be competed for after the Park Service publishes a "Request for Proposals" (RFPs) notice to the public. This Company has consistently won the proposals over the years without interruption in business. The upcoming 2024 season is an RFP year.

There are many positive reasons to consider this business, including the relatively short season with decent revenue. There are additional ways to increase the revenue as well, such as increasing the season through the end of September for the boat tours, increasing the campground season, etc. One key benefit of operating under a CUA with the NPS is that the NPS is responsible for all infrastructure repairs although the Company must pay for all utilities of the Area it utilizes including water, power and trash. This location is subject like many of the reservoirs in the West, lake levels that are subject to the runoff from snowpack over the winter in the surrounding mountains and rain we get in April, May and June. Marina and boat tours have previously been impacted by both high and low water conditions. During low water conditions, the Marina and boat tours are not required to operate pursuant to Contract as the lake must have launch level capability to operate.

The terms of any sale must include a purchase of the entire Company interests from its members. The assets listed below will not be sold separately and are a part of the sale in whole.

The Company currently does not have an active CUA with the Park Service. This is being applied for again under an RFP which has not been advertised yet. There is no guarantee that the Company will be the recipient of the CUA and therefore, there is a two tiered structure for the purchase of this Company. Based upon the last 19 years, the probability of the being awarded to the Company is high. If the Marina and/or Campgrounds are awarded to another entity or person, it is very likely that the boat tour/charter business will be renewed according to the NPS. Our Company is the only provider with a tour boat in the region within several hundred miles. We apply for the 4 CUAs every two years and condition the award to us on "all or none" basis. In otherwords, the NPS can award all RFPs to our Company or lose the boat tours, which do not have to be competed for in a separate RFP. RFPs themselves, have no cash value, but are key to the income stream of the Company. Buying the Company in whole insures that there would be no interruption of business by a name and/or entity change.

Under the terms of the CUA contracts, the Company is responsible for paying all utilities it utilizes plus a 3% of the gross total of all revenues received by the operation payable to the Park Service. there is no rent or repair costs required of the buildings and grounds. All repairs and labor therefore are paid by the NPS. This creates an unique opportunity for profit growth.

The sale includes the Company's logo, tradenames (except Zenith Maritime-Western Region), website, fareharbor and campspot reservation systems, all company branding.

Our Company has had several of the same employees for several years including clerks, Licensed captains, dock hands, clerks and camp hosts. It takes 7 employees to easily run this business for 3 months. Most employees are part time. The captains are typically independent contractors. The Managing Member will assist in the transition and start up and integration of the new owner into the business to assure uninterrupted service during the operational season, if applicable and desired by new owner.

Over the years, our Company has become a trusted partner and sought after tourist attraction by attending travel trade shows annual, including, but not limited to: International Round UP by Rocky Mountain International; GO WEST, National Tour Association, POW WOW by US Travel, etc. These associations have led to contracts and inclusions in tour packages offered by various companies throughout the World. This is a portion of the business that can be dramatically expanded if desired.

We utilize search engine bookings with Expedia, Get Your Guide, Booking.com as well.

 

 

 

Assets

M/V Belle - Tour Boat. Official No. 921109. Built in in 1987 by Hueneme Boat Works, Belle is a 45 passenger tour boat powered by a 5.9 Cummins Diesel Engine (Series B). All PFDs and safety equipment included and spare parts.

1984 International Semi-Tractor

53 Ft Custom Boat Trailer for Belle

2018 Grand Island G Series w/25 hp Tohatsu outboard (8 passenger pontoon) - 16 ft

2018 Boat trailer for above (single axle)

2019 Grand Island G Series w/30 hp Tohatsu outboard (10 passenger pontoon) - 20 ft

2019 Boat Trailer for above (tandem axle)

2019 Grand Island G Series w/30 hp Tohatsu outboard (10 passenger pontoon) - 20 ft

2019 Boat Trailer for above (tandem axle)

2019/20 Grand Island G Series fishing pontoon w/30 hp Outboard - 20 ft (10 passenger)

2019 Boat trailer for above (tandem axle)

Spare 30 hp Tohatsu outboard (in case of problem during Season. This is a "plug and play" integration for All pontoons.

StarCraft 16 ft aluminum fishing boat w/25 hp Yamaha 4 stroke (5 passenger)

1984 Grady White 202 w/150 hp Yamaha 2 stroke w/low hours. Fishing/tow vessel.

2020 Chevy 3/4 ton High Country Pickup w/6.6 Diesel

2008 Ford 1 ton Lariat Pickup w/6.4 Powerstroke diesel. New bulletproofed motor in 2022 - Under warranty until September 2024.

2005 34.5 ft 5th Wheel Hitchhiker II LS 4 slide camper

2008 16 ft ATV flatbed trailer w/ramp (kayak trailer)

Yamaha Golf cart gas powered (4 passenger) w/utility application flatbed transition

Miscellaneous:  

3 tandem kayaks

2 single kayaks

1 3 person Coleman Canoe

2 two person canoes

2 Scheels Stand Up Paddleboards (lifetime warranty)

3 Commercial refrigerators (True)

Various commercial racks and tables for Marina

75+ PFDs of various sizes (infant - 7x)

Kitchen appliances, utensils, cookware

Inventory (t-shirts, sweatshirts, safety supplies)

Additional assets:

Historically, 4 CUAs with NPS in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area for operating scenic boat tours, Horseshoe Bend Marina, Horseshoe Bend Campground, Trail Creek and Barry's Landing Campgrounds

Contracts with Receptive Tour Operators bring FIT (Foreign Independent Travelers) and Bust Tours - Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours; ATI; America 4 U; Hotel Beds, etc.

Contracts with Foreign Tour Companies - direct contracts based in Germany, Denmark, UK, etc.

Contracts with domestic tour companies for bus tours - Village Travel, Heritage Tours, Trafalgar, etc.

Company website and log, and will assist in change over for Fareharbor.com booking service and sampspot.com reservation services, if desired.

Disclaimer
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.