The Ticonderoga Ferry - Your Lake Champlain Crossing between New York and Vermont

Bulletin: 01/01/10 11:30 a.m.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WE ARE OPEN UNTIL SUNDAY, JAN 3RD DURING OUR REGULAR HOURS
( 6 AM - 8 PM) AND THEN WE WILL BE CLOSING FOR THE SEASON.

WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE, SUPPORT, AND UNDERSTANDING.

This site is the most reliable source of
The Ti Ferry Winter Operation Schedule.

Thanks again for your patience

we wish you all the very best for the Holidays...

Matot Inc.1759 LTD

Previous postings below retained for reference

Due to the unexpected closing of the Crown Point Bridge, the Ticonderoga Ferry has extended it's hours of operation. We will be operating 7 days a week from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm.

At the present time, there is no charge, as the State of New York has contracted with us to provide emergency/alternate crossing service. We do not know at the present time how long the free passage will be offered.

( update Nov. 14th ) We are pleased to announce that we will continue to offer service after our scheduled closing date of Nov. 15. Any information to the contrary will be posted here, so please bookmark this page and return on occasion for additional information as it develops.

We regret we are unable to return phone calls at this time.

We thank you in advance for your understanding.

Matot Inc.1759 LTD
3143 Richville Road
Whiting, Vermont 05778

Original Site Content:

Welcome! The Ticonderoga Ferry provides historic scenic seven-minute daytime crossings on Lake Champlain between Ticonderoga New York and Shoreham Vermont, connecting The Lake George and Adirondack regions of New York with the Middlebury and Central Green Mountain areas of Vermont. We are located on Route 74 just off of Route 22 in Ticonderoga New York and off of Route 22A via Route 73 in Orwell or Route 74 in Shoreham Vermont.

We Serve Cars, Trucks, School Busses, Campers, Bicycles, Motorcycles, People, and Livestock.

Ride with us and save MILES, TIME, GASOLINE, AND HAY!

Cars and Small Pickups	$8 one way - $14 round trip
One Ton Trucks	$9 one way - $16 round trip
Motorcycles	$5 one way
Pedestrians	$1 - one way
Bicycles	$2 - one way
Trucks, RV's, Trailers, Campers, School Busses Maximum Gross Vehicle weight 15 Tons	according to size
Prices and schedules Subject to Change
Please Note: Ferry closes promptly Please arrive 15 minutes prior to closing to make sure you catch the last trip of the day Maximum Gross Vehicle weight 15 Tons Crossing takes approximately seven minutes Approximately three round trips per hour Pull Signal Flag to call Ferry during off peak hours Ferry runs only during Posted hours Ferry can hold up to eighteen cars Please have Fare ready for attendant Exact Change Appreciated *Enjoy your crossing!*

Location Map
We cross Lake Champlain between Fort Ticonderoga, New York and
Larrabee's Point in Shoreham Vermont, using New York and
Vermont Routes 73 and 74

The "Model T" of Ferrys!

The Fort Ticonderoga Ferry has operated on Lake Champlain since 1799 officially and since 1759 on an unorganized basis. Only a few businesses in the United States can claim to have served the American public longer. Among Lake Champlain Ferries, the Ti Ferry is the oldest.

The first ferries were most likely glorified rowboats or canoes, but a double-ended sailing scow was in service by 1800. This vessel was about 30 feet long, with a mainsail that would swing completely around the mast to provide a simple means of reversing course. There appears to have been ramps on each end, leeboards to prevent sideways drift, and a sweep oar manned by a strong man to keep it on course.

Barges grew in size as traffic increased. They kept the leeboards, the on-board exit and entrance ramps, and the sweep oar, but the sails were replaced successively by steam and gasoline launches alongside.

A cable guidance system was installed in 1946. This eliminated the need for the sweep oar. The cable system much improved, is still the system used today. It consists of two 1-1/4" steel cables, stretched parallel to each other across the lake and securely anchored in concrete on either end. The cables are lifted and carried by four hardened steel sheaves, one on each corner of the present barge, and serve to steer the barge between two landing ramps, one at each end of the course. With this cable system, operation is assured in all but the most severe weather.

Today the ferry barge is powered by the Addie B, a sixteen ton double ended tugboat built in 1979 in Maine. The ferry barge, the Fort Ticonderoga 11, is a 94 ton unrigged steel barge built in 1959 in Warren Rhode Island.

The cables are tight, but not taught. When not actually in use on the sheaves, they return to their resting place on the bottom of the lake and do not interfere with other boat traffic. They are replaced every 4 years.

Lake Champlain is a Federal Waterway, which means that the personnel and equipment of the Fort Ti Ferry are inspected and qualified by the United States Coast Guard.

The Ferry operates in all but the most severe weather.

Thanks for Visiting!

See You Next Crossing!

May 1- July 3	8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
July 3 thru Labor Day	8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
September 2 to October 31	8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.