The owner of the Cave-In-Rock Ferry closed his ferry service in the June of 1994. There was no ferry service for the Illinois and Kentucky sides to cross. At the time the charge for crossing the river on the ferry was $5.00. It was nearly 5 months before the ferry service got started back up.
As a result of efforts from the Ferry Authority, elected officers, business owners and county magistrates from both states, the Cave-In-Rock Ferry reopened for business on November 10, 1997, as a free service. What an exciting day it was for both Kentucky and Illinois.
Kentucky and Illinois both sharing the cost of the ferry. It was the first time in the history of the Cave-in-Rock ferry that a state subsidy had funded the service.
Without the Cave-In-Rock Ferry, motorists leaving Cave in Rock, Ill, for Kentucky would have to drive dozens of miles out of the way to either the Ky. 56 Shawneetown Bridge or U.S. 45 Brookport Bridge. Using the Ferry and Ky. 91 North, there are only 11 miles between Marion and Cave-in Rock and Southern Illinois.
John May, standing on left, was our current Judge Executive at the time.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony on both sides of the river. The free ferry service began about 1:30 that day and began on a regular 16-hour schedule Friday morning.
Lonnie Lewis, now owner of the ferry service, said they had been extremely busy the first six days and merchants here are lauding the increased sales they are realizing from southern Illinois shoppers.
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