A New Chapter For A Fort Lauderdale Icon - Jungle Queen Enters Its Next Era Under The Care Of Mai-Kai Owner Bill Fuller

Since 1935, Jungle Queen has carried guests through Fort Lauderdale’s waterways, offering scenic cruises, dinner experiences, island entertainment, and a sense of nostalgia that has become part of the city’s identity. Alongside the Jungle Queen, the River Queen has also played an important role in the company’s story, serving as a vessel for special charters and private experiences.

At the heart of that legacy is the Faber family.

The Jungle Queen story begins in 1935. It was founded by Al Starts who at that time created a daytime marketplace, featuring the sale of the Indians merchandise and alligator wrestling. The concept was expanded to include a barbecue dinner cruise and show. In 1958 Earl Faber, Mike’s grandfather, bought the business and brought his Vaudeville talent to the operation. His flair for entertaining expanded the Jungle Queen operation for the next four years. His son, Jerome took the helm in 1962 after the loss of his father. Jerome continued to expand the business, and in 1971 commissioned the Jungle Queen IV, a 400-passenger vessel. Fifty-Two years go by before Mike Faber stepped in to keep the legacy alive. What began as a riverboat attraction grew into something much larger: a destination, a gathering place, and a living piece of local history.

The island has always been the heart and soul of the Jungle Queen experience. It is where a scenic cruise becomes an immersive evening of dining, entertainment, storytelling, and shared memories. The family’s relationship with the Seminole community, the historic wall of stories preserved on the property, and the island’s distinctive atmosphere have helped make Jungle Queen a uniquely meaningful South Florida experience. Over the years, the family has continued to preserve the island’s character while thoughtfully elevating the experience for new generations of guests.

Jungle Queen has also remained a highly visible part of Fort Lauderdale’s civic and cultural life, including its long-standing presence as a beloved highlight of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.

Now, after 91 years of family stewardship, Jungle Queen begins a meaningful new chapter under the ownership of Bill Fuller.

Fuller is a Co-Owner of Ball & Chain, the historic Little Havana destination recently recognized as one of the best bars in America, and owner and managing partner of the iconic Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show. His work preserving and revitalizing historically significant hospitality destinations demonstrates an understanding of the care, creativity, and respect required to guide a beloved institution into its next era.

The connection feels especially fitting. Jungle Queen, Ball & Chain, and the Mai-Kai are each rooted in history, storytelling, atmosphere, and immersive hospitality. They are not simply places people visit. They are places where generations gather, celebrate, and create memories.

The acquisition represents the passing of stewardship from the Faber family, who faithfully operated the Jungle Queen for nearly seven decades, to Fuller, whose passion for preserving and strengthening legacy businesses has become the hallmark of his career.

For more than nine decades, the Jungle Queen has been woven into the fabric of South Florida, introducing generations of visitors to Fort Lauderdale's scenic waterways while creating lifelong memories through narrated sightseeing cruises, dinner excursions, and unforgettable evenings on Tropical Isle.

The attraction also holds a special place in the region's holiday traditions as "Santa’s Showboat," carrying Santa Claus along the New River during Fort Lauderdale's nationally recognized Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.

"I have a deep love and appreciation for historic businesses like the Jungle Queen," Fuller said. "These places become part of a community's identity. They hold memories that span generations, and with that comes a tremendous responsibility. My goal isn't to reinvent the Jungle Queen—it's to honor its extraordinary history while investing in its future so families will continue making memories here for generations to come."

Just days after the acquisition, the Jungle Queen welcomed more than 1,000 members of Scotland's famed Tartan Army, whose colorful traditions, music and celebration transformed the riverfront into one of the largest international fan gatherings in Fort Lauderdale ahead of Scotland's FIFA World Cup match against Brazil.

When it was originally launched in 1935 by Capt. Al Starts, the Jungle Queen quickly became one of Florida's signature attractions. In 1958, Earl Faber and his wife, former Ziegfeld Follies performer Mary Faber, acquired the business and spent decades building it into one of the state's most recognized tourism brands.

Fuller views his role as preserving that legacy while thoughtfully investing in its future. His plans include maintaining the experiences guests have loved for generations—including the narrated sightseeing cruises, the iconic dinner cruise, live entertainment, and Tropical Isle—while enhancing the overall guest experience, supporting employees, and ensuring the attraction remains vibrant for decades to come.

"I often say that ownership of a legacy business is simply the passing of a baton," Fuller said. "The Faber family carried that baton with distinction, and I am honored to carry it into the next chapter. Our responsibility is to leave the Jungle Queen even stronger than we found it."

The Jungle Queen departs daily from Marina Village at Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale and continues to offer its signature sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, and live entertainment on Tropical Isle.

About Bill Fuller

Bill Fuller is a Miami-based entrepreneur, preservationist and hospitality executive with more than two decades of experience restoring and operating iconic South Florida destinations. He is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Barlington Group and Mad Room Hospitality, where he has led the revitalization of historic hospitality properties including Ball & Chain in Miami's Little Havana and the landmark MAI-KAI Restaurant & Polynesian Show in Fort Lauderdale. Fuller is widely recognized for preserving culturally significant institutions while positioning them for long-term success through thoughtful investment, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to community.