River Inn Resort

Debbie St . Germain

2024-03

My husband and I stayed two nights as a romantic get away for Valentines. Due to the time of year, we were the only guests! We stayed in the larger room which was very clean and comfortable. The owners came in the morning to make breakfast which was yummy both mornings. Marty, who took reservation, gave us ideas on what to do in the area. We are already booked for our next stay in the summer.Rooms: Room was comfortable and had a nice view

Karma Kaelin

2024-03

I highly recommend checking this place out! It has changed so much over the years and for the BETTER! Dont let the negative review from 5+ years ago put you off! Its quiet, relaxing, and the staff are very attentive while full of knowledge about its history as it's a family ran business! 10 stars would be more like it! We love going there even just a day trip!

Mary Taylor

2024-03

Just Fantastic Just Amazing. From calling and reserving a room way back in January and reserving tickets for dinner cruise. Lisa was outstanding talking with me about the history the town the Inn the Spirit of BrownsvilleWhen we arrived we were so excited! Our room was even more than what we imagined! We walked around the outside and inside and was amazed Sotting outside our room each evening was an site to see calm serene watching the river. Jim and Lisa serving an delicious breakfast with care. Took the time to chat with us. Was great to share laughs and they were very attentive. We definitely will return this fall. Thank You River Inn 😊We decided to reserve a room for their Valentines special. Was greeted by their hosts and such a warm welcome. Our room was inviting there was long stem rose bottle of wine. Chocolate covered strawberries. Delicious breakfast. The river scene was so peaceful. Just Perfect

Isaac Archuleta

2023-11

Cannot recommend this place enough! Even if it is a bit out of your way to stay here... do it! This old riverboat is so unique and is surprisingly well furnished and clean. The owners/management is the best and they do all they can to make you feel welcome! In the morning they treat you to an amazing (and large) breakfast! Didn't have a single unpleasant experience here. Will stay at the River Inn Resort again!Nearby activities: Tons of stuff in Brownsville. Within walking distance or a quick drive. Also a short drive to Indian Cave State Park or Loess Bluffs NWR.

GG GJG

2023-09

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Mary Jane Curtis

2023-09

What a remarkable place--a sparkling gem on the "wide Missouri"! After learning about Brownville's interesting history during an earlier discovery of the town, I wanted to stay at the River Inn Resort, and to check out the town further. I combined a Friday night rodeo performance in Sidney, Iowa with a trip to Brownville for the remainder of the weekend in early August. I made the reservations online for a two-day stayover at the River Inn Resort, and they sent a confirmation email. When my husband and I arrived in Brownville for our stayover, we parked in the lot in front of the Inn and walked across the gangway, which is a wee bit bumpy in places. (Note: if your equilibrium is unstable, you might consider a helper.) They do have an elevator onboard, though. Once inside, we looked for the check-in desk thinking it was on that level; a young lady, working in the kitchen, was sweet to stop her work and point us in the right direction to the desk downstairs. We arrived at 3:00 pm--check-in time; the nice lady behind the counter was ready with our key and tickets for a dinner cruise the next evening on the Spirit of Brownville. We decided to check out the room before bringing in our things and were very thankful they have a pull-behind luggage cart! The room was spacious and included a wet bar, mini fridge, and small coffee maker. We had a river-view room, and I was anxious to see the view; I stepped outside and shut the door behind me, not thinking about the automatic lock---oops! I'm thankful my husband was still inside. We had time to get ready before our evening out on the town: dinner at the Lyceum Cafe, (usually only open until 2:00pm, but that Saturday evening they offered a prime rib dinner buffet from 5--8pm) and the Brownville Village Theatre, for a live theatrical performance. (Note: The Inn supplies a few toiletries--shampoo, etc., but---this is "small town" America, and there's no place close-by to shop for anything you might have forgotten--food and/or beverages, etc.) The Inn is stationary, hooked up to electricity and such, but it floats on an inlet of the Missouri River, so it rises and falls with the river's flow. There's an opening in the rock dike which allows water to flow into the inlet, so the water spools and laps underneath the structure, (it's not too annoying, and my husband slept well, but for me--foam earplugs were a blessing.) Breakfast guests are asked to be at the dining room at 8:30am, as they plate and serve each person individually. The 8-person round tables are set up for as many guests who are registered for that particular morning, so you walk into the dining room and choose a place setting. You might end up sitting with someone you don't know. You never know who you're going to meet---and how wonderful to meet someone new! The second evening, my husband and I had tickets for the dinner cruise on the Spirit of Brownville (another enjoyable experience!) The second morning of our stay, Monday, there weren't as many people for breakfast, so we had a chance to talk with Lisa, the co-owner, who not only takes care of almost every aspect of the Inn--she, her husband, and their son, serve the food as well--it's a family affair! We had a conversation earlier with Lisa's husband James, who oversees the Inn as well as captains the paddlewheel boat; he explained a little of the "Inns and Outs" of running a floating Inn. They're a lovely couple who seem to truly care about their customers' experiences, as well as the well-being of their hard-working employees. You can tell these folks take a lot of pride in what they do. The River Inn Resort may not be a 5-star hotel nor is it Michelin rated cuisine, but to my husband and I, it was a 5-star experience, and one of the most enjoyably awesome and fun times we've had in a long time! Congratulations James, Lisa, and family, Addie, and Ryan, for a wonderful experience and a job well done!! We'd love to come back for a little getaway---hopefully, sometime soon!Nearby activities: Brownville offers a variety of tourist sites including quaint shops, museums, historic homes, the Brownville Village Theatre, a concert hall, a winery, and a great cafe. The thing we noticed, is that most of the museums and shops open at noon or 1:00pm, and the town seems to close down around 5:00pm, so there's just a small window of opportunity to take in the sites--unless you're going to the evening performance at the theatre or the concert hall. There's also a lot of neat little surrounding towns to visit, including Nebraska City (home of Arbor Day)--which is only a 30-mile drive northwest of Brownville. I personally would stay at the River Inn Resort, and just do day trips to the other towns, if you're planning on staying for a few days.Food & drinks: There basically is only one restaurant in town, the Lyceum Cafe, which is only open until 2:00pm. The weekend we were visiting, they just happened to have a Saturday evening prime rib buffet from 5--8pm, so we took advantage of that dinner opportunity. If you're staying for any length of time, you most likely would have to check out food establishments in nearby towns. We only stayed for two nights, and one of the nights we went on the Spirit of Brownville dinner cruise, which was a neat experience.

Andre Williams

2023-10

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Chad Larson, CIC

2023-07

What a hidden gem in SE Nebraska! Spent the day perusing the unique shops Brownville has to offer followed by a dinner riverboat cruise and overnight stay at the River Inn Resort. Dinner and the next morning breakfast were delicious! Hosts are super personable as well. Highly recommend!

Luba S

2023-08

I visited this place on a road-trip. The hotel is on a boat. There is an open space on the roof top that can be used for parties, weddings. The roof is covered with turf from Memorial stadium in Lincoln. The turf is not permanently attached and kept in place with heavy bricks. It doesn’t look safe to walk if you are wearing heels. Nice romantic gateway. Not far from Indian Cave state park.Noteworthy details: On a boat on Missouri River.

Jane Nunnenkamp

2023-10

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Tia McBee

2023-06

This place is the coolest place I've ever stayed!! It needs a little TLC, but overall this is an experience I'll never forget!! The owners were very helpful, very nice, and very friendly people!! The breakfast was AMAZING 🤩🤩🤩🤩! It's a B&B floating hotel on an old paddle boat!! It is also off the beaten path so a little hard to find but other than that the whole stay was surreal!

Angela Bilyeu

2023-05

The River Inn Resort is a great place to go to have fun and relax. It is a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The rooms are nice, clean, and quiet. The breakfast is delicious, and you get a lot of it. The dinner cruise is a lot of fun too. Dinner is delicious and so is the signature cocktail. If you are looking to unwind for a bit this is the place to go. All of the staff is super nice, and go out of their way to make sure you have a great stay.

Jerry Jackson

2023-09

Jean and her husband went "over board" making us feel at home on the boat. They knew about Brownville. Lou Ike the back of their hammer and more. We are plasmid our next trip out there.Nearby activities: BrownvilleAuburnNebraska CityTrails endThe Spirit of BrownvillleIndean CaveMissouriIowaWalkability: The River Resort has an elevator so the decks are wheelchair accessible

Coleman Westerby

2023-05

My wife and I went to Brownville in February for two nights. Nevertheless, in the winter, the small town is a ghost town. My wife and I heard about all the amazing activities in the warmer months the first day/night in Brownville and wanted to experience them. Thus, we requested to cancel our second night at the hotel. The owners were extremely understanding and pleasant about the situation and allowed for a credit for one night my wife and I can come back in the warmer months. Even before this situation, the owners were very helpful in finding some stuff for us to do while there and were amazing hosts. Highly recommend.

Venture The Heartland

2023-05

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Robyn Dibbern

2023-05

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Luke H.

2023-05

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Terry Beckwith

2022-05

We took the river boat and dinner ride while staying in Nebraska City. What a wonderful way to spend an evening. The boat ride was two hours long up and down the Missouri. I am a bird enthusiast and got to see and photograph a bald eagle, twice. I loved watching the barn swallows skimming low over the water to catch insects. Our dinner was excellent and there were generous servings. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the river and region. Highly recommend!

Raymond Lovett

2023-05

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Chris Godfrey

2023-05

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Jay Jackson

2022-05

We booked a nights stay in advance on a recent road trip. We had a wonderful experience other than Mother Nature stepping in with an awful storm, which knocked out the power for a couple of hours during the early morning hours. We arrived late in the afternoon and we gone early that morning so my rating comes from the nights accommodations. Our room was larger than I expected, was clean and had all the amenities one would expect a hotel to have. Our stay was one of the more cost effective nights we had on our trip. I would definitely stay there again and I would recommend the location to family and friends.

Valerie Hall

2022-05

Such a wonderful place to stay, right on the river; we could hear the water flow by out our window at night, and the fresh breakfast was perfect! Brenda took great care of us! Also, thanks to the owner for coming out and helping us when we locked ourselves out! :)

Ronald Kretz

2022-05

My wife and I went to celebrate our anniversary. A great place to visit and enjoy a very nice relaxing time. The dinner cruise was excellent and the food was outstanding. Lots of history to explore in the area. If you’re looking for 5 star big city excitement, this is not for you. If you’re looking for 5 star relaxation and great hospitality, this is the spot for you.

Marian Eagle

2018-05

We really liked this resort. The room, while small, was comfortable and well appointed. We sat on the deck in Adirondack chairs Friday night and watched the Missouri River rush by. The view of the opposite bank was very reminiscent of the Charles Fritz paintings made at the locations mentioned in the Lewis and Clark journals. The included breakfast was excellent, and the host was very welcoming. Ask for a room on the riverside.

Andrea Birch

2023-05

This is such a beautiful old showboat, remodeled into an elegant Inn. It is comfortable and inviting. The food is excellent as well. I can't wait to stay again.I highly recommend this experience.All the staff are so very friendly too.

Brandon Wrick

2019-05

This was a very unique B&B. The rooms were very nice and up to date. Everybody that works there were very friendly and helpful. We stayed on the Riverside and had the river right outside our room. The bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was roomy and the shower was tall enough for someone who is six foot tall. The breakfast in the morning which was included was very large. You will not walk away hungry. This place is highly recommended!

Linda Crytzer

2019-05

We absolutely loved our stay on the river boat. The River Boat Inn and dinner curse on the Spirit of Brownsville was wonderful! Great to wake up to the sunrise on a river boat! Our room was very nice and the breakfast was delicious and the staff was wonderful. Can't wait to go back

David Moran

2017-05

Stayed in April of 2017. We had a great time and are coming back in a couple of months. Riverside rooms are definitely the way to go, but there are plenty of areas to look out over the river on the second and third levels. Our goal was to sit, read, and relax for a night and we accomplished that. The room was nice, and breakfast was great. During warm weather, a great combination is hitting the winery for a little while and then walking back and chilling for the evening.

A C

2022-05

While looking for the place we found rusted old signs pointing us towards the boat. I didn't feel too confident about it. But the hotel looked fine.+ The food on the boat was good+ It's a nice experience if you want a quick stay at Brownville+ Breakfast is good. They home cook it and serve it on a plate for you. It comes with fruit, juice and coffee.It's an overall filing portion.- the beds didn't look clean. They were made up well but had blood spots from mosquitos on it. And that's the side that was facing up. Didn't hide it.- the next day they came to make the beds. There's no sign to ask them not to. I normally don't let service in our rooms when we stay over. There was no way to avoid this.-They clean anything, just made the bed and left. Didn't pick up the food or tissues /cleenex from the floors.- what I wasn't too happy about was the door was left open after the cleaning was done. I have my things inside, please close the door.i don't want anyone else coming into my room.- also we didn't see anyone at the front desk. Except one time when we were checking out.

Julie P

2020-05

What a wonderful place and delightful atmosphere. Lots of common area where we met together as family from different areas of the country, played games and watched the barges go by. The food was excellent. The dinner cruise was excellent. The rooms were very accommodating and comfortable. The staff was aMAZing. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a getaway that is very unique and even inspiring. So much history in the area. The walking path and Arboretum were a treasure as well as the many museums and galleries in Brownville. We even went out to Indian Cave State Park for a scenic overlook that was unbelievable and explored the many hiking trails.