Lil' Toot
| Lil' Toot | |
|---|---|
Lil' Toot docked at the habor in 2024 | |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Boat |
| Capacity | 19 riders per hour |
| Website | liltootsb |
Lil' Toot is a water taxi and popular tourist attraction at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, California. It takes passengers from Stearns Wharf to Santa Barbara Harbor. Rides cost $5–10 for a 25-minute ride and tour every hour. The tugboat has a 19-person capacity.[1] Private rides are also sold.[2]
History
Lil' Toot was started by Fred and Kathy Hershman in 2003. The boat's previous name was Captain Red, and Fred, formerly of the United States Coast Guard, first found it broken down in a front yard in Newburyport, Massachusetts.[3] The duo created the company Celebration Cruises to manage the boat and other ships in the city, but sold most of their boats in 2023.[2][4]
In 2022, Madeline Gabor wrote a children's book about Lil' Toot, called How Lil' Toot Got His Smile.[3]
References
- ^ "Lil' Toot Santa Barbara". www.santabarbara.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Magargee, Jack (August 26, 2023). "Celebration Cruises Sells Majority of Business, but 'Lil' Toot' Will Live On". The Santa Barbara Independent. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Kettmann, Matt (March 18, 2022). "Lil' Toot's Life Story". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ Hershman, Fred; P; R (October 25, 2019). "Meet The Expert: Captain Fred And Lil' Toot". NPR. Retrieved July 2, 2025.