The River Boat was built in 1923 and ran along the Ohio River for a decade. In 1933, it became a St. Louis passenger steamboat and later a recreational ship. In 1991, it was reborn as one of the first gambling boats in the United States by the president of a casino in Davenport, Iowa. Currently, the historical boat is being decommissioned in Alton. The five-story steel line is divided into 15 zones to make it easier to reach its final destination in St. Elmo, Illinois, and will be converted into an 80-room hotel, convention center, and museum at a new permanent mooring in Tower Lake. The project is a joint venture between the town of St. Elmo and a group of seven investors.

The Discovery Channel's crew is recording the entire course of the new season of "Mega Move," which will air sometime after next season begins in January. There are also documentaries focusing on the history of River Boats and celebrities who have played on them over the years, including Lewis Armstrong, Tina Turner, Aloguri, and the rock band U2.