Stone Mountain Suspends Duck Boats After Tragedy

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA — The popular duck boat attraction has been shut down at Stone Mountain Park after a deadly accident with similar boats in Missouri that killed 17 people last week.

On Thursday, an amphibious tourist boat capsized on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, during a heavy thunderstorm. Four young children, ages 1, 2, 7 and 9 and all from the same family, were among the dead, as well as two 15-year-olds. The oldest person killed was 70. Seven people also were injured.

At Stone Mountain, the similar Ride the Ducks attraction was shut down over the weekend and remained closed Tuesday as park officials study what happened in Missouri.

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"All of us at Stone Mountain Park are heartbroken about the incident in Branson, Missouri," park officials said in a written statement. "Our prayers are with the victims, their families and the team at Ripley Entertainment.

"As always, safety is our top priority here at Stone Mountain Park. Therefore, we have suspended our Ride the Ducks operation until more information becomes available."

The statement says Stone Mountain Park workers conduct daily inspections of the water-and-land vehicles, "follow standard procedures and processes and keep our staff well trained."

The park also conducts third-party inspections, the statement said.

The Stone Mountain attraction uses 1940s-era Army DUKWs, which have been converted into tourist-friendly transport that takes visitors over land, then on the water in a tour of the park.

Photo courtesy Stone Mountain Theme Park