Come and see what The Army Corps of Engineers has been doing to upgrade the locks for the next Century. Tours will be led by Army Corps Engineers who have supervised these improvements.
Note, these are donation based fund raising tours with a suggeted donation of $250. All donations are used to support educational programs at the Locks.
Tour groups are limited to 15 people and last about 1 ½ hours. Each tour will begin in the visitor center theater with a short presentation, including safety guidelines. Before the tour, we will make sure everyone has the appropriate equipment/clothing and you will need to sign a liability waiver. The tour will end back at the visitor center to address any unanswered questions.
Note this is a hazardous construction zone. You will descend a 70 foot tall scaffolding and venture through dark tunnels with uneven footing. …strenuous activity, not for the faint of heart. Also, airborne shellfish allergies should be considered. If you have mobility issues, fear of heights, vertigo, or claustrophobia, this is not the tour for you.
It will be cold and wet. You must provide your own foul weather gear: layered clothing, rain gear, gloves, a flashlight and wading boots that can be used in 4 inches or more of water. Bring your own hard hat, if possible. If not, we can provide one at the visitor center.
If you find this tour intimidating, we suggest you take one of our free scheduled tours or other custom VIP Tours that are less physically challenging.
VIP 'INSIDE THE CHAMBER Private Tours
These tours are only available during winter months when the Lock chamber is emptied for maintenance.
Note the inside the chamber and tunnel part of the tours may not be available due to construction safety issues. .
