Joy's Drive-in Marina was operated by Joyce Tyson and Earl Stott, who bought the Thomas Boat Landing in 1962 and operated it as Joy's Drive-in Marina and Diner until 1969. They renamed the paddle-wheeler Nancy Carol as the River Queen; it later sank at its moorings. Tyson had leased restaurant space from the marina since 1951.
The diner was popular as a late-night meal stop.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 10, 1964
Careening Truck Stops Inside Diner
Two Saranac Lake youths were injured last night when the panel truck owned and operated by one of them crashed into Joy's Drive-In with such force that it broke through the building's brick wall.
Ronald J. Fina, 19, of 63 River Street, the driver,is being treated at Saranac Lake General Hospital for lacerations of the left leg, head and chin and Eldred Gauthier, 19, of 103 1/2 River Street, his passenger, is also confined to the hospital with a broken left leg and numerous lacerations of the face.
Thomas K. Phelan of 32 Virginia Street, told The Enrterprise this morning that he and Gary Reyome had been riding on the George LaPan Highway, going toward River Street, when the Fina truck passed them. At the time, he said, they commented "They're never going to make that corner," and a few moments later came upon the accident.
He said the truck evidently had knocked down two large tanks of bottled gas and that the fumes were so strong he and Reyome feared there might be an explosion. They hurried into the back door of the truck and found Gauthier behind the front seat and Fina on the seat. They carried the two injured boys across the street, still expecting an explosion.
Phelan, who was recently discharged from the Army and knew something of first aid, tried to make the injured comfortable and they asked a man who was walking nearby to go for the police. The Saranac Lake Rescue Squad took both the injured youths to the hospital.
Saranac Lake Police said today charges against Fina are pending.
Mrs. Joyce Tyson, who runs the restaurant, said this morning that she was unable to estimate the damage until insurance adjusters arrive this afternoon. She said that although the door to the building can be opened, she was afraid to enter because it appears that the building has been so weakened by the accident, a cave-in might be imminent. The truck had not been removed because it is believed to be supporting the structure.
"Everything in there looks as if it had been stirred up with a big spoon,"' Mrs. Tyson said.
This morning as word of the freak accident spread, a line of cars began to file past the restaurant. Persons who saw the damage expressed relief the gas tanks had not exploded and that the restaurant was closed at the time of the accident. Had it occurred at another season of the year, they theorized, there would have, been customers in the building and consequently more serious injuries.
Fina had purchased the truck from the John Brewster Service Station and had never painted over the Brewster sign.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 31, 1965
Joyce Tyson Buys Thomas Livery, Makes Plans to Resume Boat Tours
The Thomas Boat Livery, which dates back to 1900, was sold last week to Mrs. Joyce Tyson, manager for 14 years of Joy's Drive-in restaurant at 35 River Street, Saranac Lake. The new owner plans to carry on the livery service, making few changes from former days.
The boat landing, was bought in 1900 by Mr. Elmer Thomas, and lake tours have been a feature ever since.
Last week, the livery was sold to Mrs. Joyce Tyson for an undisclosed sum. Mrs. Tyson, who has leased the "Joy's Drive-in" restaurant from the Thomas' for 14 years, is now owner of the boats, the landing, and the restaurant.
The name of the livery has been changed to "Saranac Lake Boat Line," Mrs. Tyson said, and the "Nancy Carol" has been renamed "The River Queen." Otherwise, there is no immediate changes planned, she said. The livery will be run in much the same way it was by Mr. Thomas.
According to Earl Stott, managing partner in the business, no major overhaul of boats or landing is necessary. "Just re-painting and general sprucing up,” he said.
Eventually, "we plan some expansion of buildings and modernization," Mrs. Tyson continued," and it is planned to step up publicity for chartering. "Many local residents have never been up the river,” Mr. Stott said.
Except for “The River Queen” which embarked last night on its maiden voyage around the lake this season, it is not yet sure which boats will be in the water this fall.
"The Blue Heron," a smaller Chris craft cruiser, may be available next weekend. The "Miss Saranac" will definitely not go into operation until next spring.
Mrs. Tyson pointed out that in any case "The River Queen" will be available for tours along the lake to see the fall foliage.
Robert Vaughn, a resident of the area has been hired to pilot cruises. Mr. Stott will also acquire a captain’s license. When the business is again in full operation, Mr. Stott said, tours will start at 10 a.m. daily and run every hour, as they always have.
Next summer… [illegible section] …livery in 1937. That same year, the "Miss Saranac," a sight-seeing pleasure boat was. acquired from Clayton, N. Y. Mr. Thomas who had served in the navy as a boatswain's mate, second class, from January, 1943, to April, 1945, ran the Thomas Boat Livery from 1937 until his death on January 9 of this year.
Featured cruise has been that of the "Miss Saranac," which sailed for 34 miles from Lake Flower, through the Saranac River, Oseetah Lake, and State Locks into Lower Saranac as far as Gull Rock.
The livery also offered charter and speed boat rides.
Since Mr. Thomas' death, his wife, Mrs. Ruth Tower Thomas, has managed the business, but the larger boats have not been in operation.
Mr. Thomas had built a new addition to the fleet in 1958. This was the "Nancy Carol "
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 19, 1967
Boat rides, soda pop, potato chips and lollipops. — for the kindergarten children at the village and outlying districts. They were the invited guests of Joy's Drive-in Marina during the past two weeks, and, this week, those who were rained out will sail up Lake Flower on the River Queen. Teachers in charge of the excursions were: Mrs. Donald Eldrett, River St. School; Mrs. Merle Smith, Lake Clear and Broadway Schools, Mrs. Fred Ayvazian, St. Bernard's School; Mrs. Thomas Reiss, Vermontville School; Mrs. Rutherford, Easy St. School; and Mrs. Louis George, Petrova Ave. School. Last year after the boat trips, Earl Stott received many delightful letters of appreciation with original sketches done by the children of their versions of a paddle wheel boat and the popular, bearded captain.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 1, 2002
Man sets record straight on 'River Queen'
To the Editor:
First of all I would like to thank the Enterprise for its wonderful tribute (Saturday, July 27 edition) to my father, Roland Thomas, and the boat he made famous that was most commonly known as the "Nancy Carol," named after my two sisters. It was my father's dream to build a replica of a famous Mississippi sternwheeler, and after two years of hard labor and help from his friends, his dream became a reality. At this point, however, I would like to point out some inconsistencies in the narrative for historical reasons. The picture being displayed was not taken in the mid 1950s. The Nancy Carol's maiden voyage was on Aug. 13, 1958. The gentleman driving the boat is not my father, but an elderly man named Phil, who worked for my dad and drove the boat part time.
When my father passed away in the mid '60s, the business was sold to Joyce Tyson and Earl Stott, who later named the boat the "River Queen." Phil continued to work for the couple up until the demise of the tour business. Unfortunately, the River Queen was allowed to sink at its dock a couple of times, and the once famous "Nancy Carol" met its fate at the local landfill where it was burned along with a pile of scrap lumber.
Sincerely,
Steve Thomas
Saranac Lake
