Alton Bay leaders crossing fingers for The Mount to dock this summer

ALTON BAY — The roots of the M/S Mount Washington date back to 1872, when the original sidewheeler steamer vessel was launched from Alton Bay port, but for the second summer in a row, Lake Winnipesaukee's largest ship hasn’t been able to stop there.

The future of The Mount’s services on the eastern tip of the Big Lake is unclear. Leading up to the summer season, town leaders said the dock likely needs to be repaired. Mid-way through the month of July, town staff don't have any new information from Mount Washington Cruises about a plan.

“They are currently working on it, but it doesn’t look like there’s a plan to begin work this year,” Town Administrator Ryan Heath said on Thursday. “They talked about bringing it back to the dock, weather permitting. And not to pick up scheduled runs, but to stop at Alton Bay, occasionally, depending on weather.”

Heath said in an interview, on June 11, that the last the town had heard from the cruise company, they were actively working on designing a rebuild for the dock. A major issue is the broken piling, but he said it goes well beyond that.

“If you look, it is in need of much more repair than just the pilings,” Heath said. “It is showing serious signs of wear and breakdown.”

On Thursday, Heath said the piling The Mount needs in order to tie up was in disrepair, prohibiting the boat from making stops unless weather was pristine. He said there had been talks about the vessel stopping on clear days, but any choppy water at all would make it impossible.

“Without pilings, the boat will hit the docks if the waves are too rough,” Heath said.

Heath was not confident the ship would be docking at all this summer. The impression he got, from information from Mount Washington Cruises, was they were doing a “full assessment” on the dock.

When Mount Washington Cruises shared an updated schedule and plans in April, which included the re-introduction of the Winnipesaukee Belle to their fleet, Mount Washington Cruises General Manager Jared Maraio said there were plans to bring The Mount back to Alton Bay. He said The Mount didn’t stop there last year due to an issue with the stern cluster, and they were working on repairs and options.

Maraio said on Thursday plans are in the works, but wouldn’t comment on specifics.

“While we’re continuing to work on plans for Alton Bay, nothing is confirmed yet, and I’m not ready to share details until everything is locked down,” Maraio wrote in an email Thursday afternoon.

In an April press release, Mount Washington Cruises stated the company was exploring logistical options for service in Alton Bay, and a “formal update regarding the port’s role” in 2026 was expected in the future.

The M/S Mount Washington has five ports: Alton Bay, Meredith Bay, Weirs Beach, Center Harbor, and Wolfeboro. In a typical summer, the vessel departs Alton Bay on Sundays at 11:15 a.m., which is still noted on a sign at the dock.

Alton Bay is the southernmost part of Lake Winnipesaukee, home of a bustling area of restaurants, bars, ice cream shops and retail in what is a popular vacation destination. According to Mount Washington Cruises, it is one of the oldest shipping ports on the lake, dating back more than 175 years.

Heath said plans, costs, and contractors to make repairs to the docks have been actively explored, but the town has not received any definitive information. He hopes something can be worked out soon, recognizing the M/S Mount Washington is an important part of the town’s history, and a major attraction for residents and visitors alike.

“We have expressed our desire for The Mount to return to Alton Bay,” Heath said. “We don’t want to lose that for area residents and tourists. They know we are in strong support for that.”

For the current schedule, visit cruisenh.com.