The company had operated 35 to 40 trips on its peak days using eight "ducks" - vehicles based on a World War II design that travel both on roads and in the water with passengers blowing duck calls on "quackers," according to a story in The Baltimore Sun (see link below).

The tour company began in Branson, Missouri, and got underway with its amphibious Baltimore business back in 2002.

Roland Woodward, executive director of the Baltimore Museum of Industry, situated within the lower Federal Hill Shipyard district, frequently stated in the past that he was desirous of having a ramp installed at his museum to accommodate the "Ducks". His hope was that of gaining an increase in declining ticket gate entries.

Woodward plans, would have included constructing a ramp for the use of the Ducks. The design never got past the planning stage and now are all but moot.

Ride the Ducks had six year-round employees and 23 seasonal employees in Baltimore, and the loss of their jobs is no laughing matter.

Branson Company officials said that they had decided to their focus investments in other cities. Moving swiftly, Branson's webmaster has already removed the Baltimore link from their list of other locations at bransonducks dot com. Goodbye Baltimore!

Walt