Motorized water sports

Motorized water sports was a popular pastime in Lewiston and Clarkston before the river was dammed, as this memoir from a longtime resident of the area describes:

“Boating on the river was a big attraction, just for pleasure or for fishing or skiing. Many residents and visitors water-skied on the river. Clarkston had three marinas, one was the Trade Winds Marina, which was adjacent to the Wild Goose Tavern and Dance Hall, a wild place on a Saturday night! The other Washington side marinas were Deschanes, across the river from the current Elks Lodge and Shadow Park Marina in Asotin. The Lewiston side had two marinas, Valley Boat and Motor not far upriver from the Blue Bridge and Grasser’s Marina near where the Speer Bullet Factory is located. Valley Boat and Motor also built a floating tavern called the Barge-inn, which became a very popular hangout for boaters and others. All of these marinas were privately owned, some had boat mechanic shops, and all had covered boat slips to rent. Additionally, Lewiston had a public boat launch at Kiwanis Park, across Snake River Avenue from the current River View Marina. Had River View Marina existed before the reservoir dikes were built, it would actually have had a ‘river view’!”

–Richard Scully, Lewiston