| Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat | |
| Imagedimensions: | 250px |
| Location: | Magic Kingdom |
| Section: | Liberty Square |
| Status: | Removed |
| Custom Label 1: | Ticket |
| Custom Value 1: | D |
The Admiral Joe Fowler was a riverboat ride vehicle named after Park Construction Administrator Joe Fowler, a former US Navy rear admiral who was in charge of the construction of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.[1] [2] In 1980, it was completely destroyed after being dropped by a crane attempting to the lift the riverboat into the dry dock area.
The Admiral Joe Fowler riverboat was built at the Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Inc. in Tampa, Florida, the same place where the Walt Disney World Railroad's four steam locomotives were refurbished.[3] The riverboat entered service a day after the Magic Kingdom park opened on October 1, 1971.[2] On May 20, 1973, a second riverboat named the Richard F. Irvine, which would later be renamed as the Liberty Belle in 1996, entered service.[2]
But in late 1980, the Admiral Joe Fowler riverboat was accidentally dropped from a crane while being lifted into the dry dock area for a routine overhaul, and its hull was completely destroyed beyond repair.[2] [4] The damaged riverboat was taken to a boneyard for a while before being broken up for scrap as it was decided that the Magic Kingdom park no longer needed two riverboats in the Rivers of America.[4] [5] The riverboat's steam engine machinery was being shipped to Tokyo Disneyland to be used as part of the Mark Twain riverboat.[3] The Admiral Joe Fowler's whistle became part of the Walt Disney World Railroad's No. 4 Roy O. Disney locomotive.[3]
In 1997, the Magic Kingdom I ferry, which crosses the Seven Seas Lagoon taking guests between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom park, was renamed to Admiral Joe Fowler. The Magic Kingdom II ferry was renamed to Richard F. Irvine.[2] [4]