A Fort Lauderdale icon is entering a new era.
Credit: Jungle Queen
After carrying generations of locals and visitors through Fort Lauderdale's waterways, one of the city's most recognizable attractions is entering a new ownership chapter.
Jungle Queen, the beloved sightseeing and dinner cruise that has been under varying family ownership since 1935, has been sold to South Florida hospitality veteran Bill Fuller, owner and managing partner of the legendary Mai-Kai Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale and co-owner of Miami's famed Ball & Chain.
For many in Broward, Jungle Queen is woven into childhood memories, family visits and celebrations. Its signature cruises along Millionaire's Row, dinner shows on its private island and annual appearance in the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade have made it a fixture of Fort Lauderdale life for decades.
The attraction traces its roots to 1935, when founder Al Starts introduced guests to South Florida with alligator wrestling demonstrations and Native American craft markets before expanding into sightseeing cruises and barbecue dinners. The Faber family took ownership in 1958 when Earl Faber purchased the business, bringing his vaudeville background to the entertainment.
After Earl's passing, his son Jerome guided Jungle Queen for decades, commissioning the 400-passenger Jungle Queen IV in 1971 and growing the attraction into an enduring local institution. Mike Faber later continued that family stewardship, preserving both its traditions and its distinctive island experience.
Now, the next caretaker comes with an impressive résumé of preserving South Florida icons.
Fuller has earned widespread praise for restoring the Mai-Kai, one of the country's most celebrated Polynesian restaurants, while helping Ball & Chain remain one of Little Havana's signature destinations.
The common thread connecting all three destinations is their place in South Florida's cultural fabric. Each has welcomed generations of guests while maintaining the traditions that made them local favorites in the first place.
