stewords riverboat

Thanks for the memories…

Stewords Riverboat, 2001-2019

Virtual Tour

 Virtual Tour 

After thirteen good years at Marina South Pier, we were finally required to give up our berthing space in March 2019 to make way for increasing sea traffic. A long and arduous search for a new berth in Singapore turned up heartbreakingly futile, and with holding costs snowballing, we eventually decided to sell the Riverboat to an overseas buyer in February 2020.

We thank all our customers and friends for your support through the years, and look forward to continue serving you at our two related businesses:.

Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill

Enjoy the same delightful Tex-Mex fare that we used to serve on board the Riverboat, now at Santa Fe’s cozy new shophouse space in the heart of town. Same team, same taste.

6 Purvis Street, Singapore (opp National Library)

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Doulos Phos the Ship Hotel

A historic 1914 ocean liner now dry-berthed on land and transformed into a nautical-themed heritage hotel complete with an infinity pool and other resort facilities.

Bintan Resorts, Indonesia (5min from Ferry Terminal)

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Stewords Riverboat (CLOSED)

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Time Out says

This riverboat comes in the form of a three-decked, non-motorized replica of the Mississippi steam boats of the 1800's. For a quick escape from the city's hustle and bustle, travel back in time by dining in the quaint boat location, that houses Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill and Wood & Steel Gastrobar. If the weather allows, try dining at the rooftop deck to enjoy a cool sea breeze with your meal. 

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[Food Review]- Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill Onboard Stewords Riverboat @ Marina South Pier

Two weeks ago, we were extremely privileged to have been invited for a dinner at the Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill Restaurant onboard the Stewords Riverboat and we really enjoyed the entire dining experience.

When we drove to the Marina South Pier, we observed that there were construction works going on around the vicinity and public transportation were hardly seen. Hence, it would be a better idea for you to drive or take a taxi to the Marina South Pier. However, do take note that the parking rates at the Marina South Pier are outrageously expensive as it cost $2.00/hr for the first 2 hours and $3.00 for the next subsequent hour from 7am to 10.30pm !

A photograph of the Marina South Pier.

At the Marina South Pier, big ships and tankers are a very common sight.

As we walked towards Stewords Riverboat, memories of my National Service days came to mind because I remembered how my platoon mates and I used to dread boarding the Penguin Ferry at the SAF Ferry Terminal.

As Stewords Riverboat is non-motorised, it has to be towed by a larger vessel if it has to move from one location to another location.

When we arrived at Santa Fe, we were warmly greeted by the awesome service crews and were shown to our dining table.

Santa Fe Tex Mex Grill is a casual-dining family restaurant that specialises in serving authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. If you’re wondering what a Tex-Mex cuisine is, it is an Americanised version of Mexican food.

After placing our food and drinks orders, Daryl from Riverboat gave us a short tour around Stewords Riverboat.

This is the private function hall in the upper deck of the Stewords Riverboat and it can accommodate up to 200 guests in a theatre setup. For a long table banquet setup, it can accommodate up to 150 guests. Whether you’re looking for a unique venue to host a private function or a corporate event, the function hall at Stewords Riverboat is an excellent option to consider. Apart from renting the function hall, a wide variety of food and beverage packages are also available to help you plan your event.

The bridge deck is where you can find the al-fresco cafe, Breaking Bread. Breaking Bread is currently open for private events and there are plans in the pipelines to revamp the entire al-fresco area into a BBQ place. When the al-fresco cafe transforms into a BBQ place in a few months time, we’re 100% sure that it will be fully booked for private parties because the al-fresco area offers a beautiful scenic view of the sea. Furthermore, there are arrangements for live band to perform at the al-fresco area and this really calls for a chill-out party!

Guests at the al-fresco cafe can enjoy the scenic view of the sea in the evening.

Ahoy Captain!

Having said so much about the various venues onboard Stewords Riverboat, let us zoom in on Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill!

The dining ambience of Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill is extremely cosy and homely. Whether you’re going on a date with your partner or a gathering with a group of friends, Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill is definitely a unique and special place for dining.

If you wish to do some jamming, there’s a cosy corner that’s available and it even comes complete with a drumset.

The manager’s workspace at Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill adds a special touch to the dining area and it’s really cool!

Here’s the bar area where drinks and desserts are being prepared!

So how does the food fare?

We ordered quite a number of dishes to share with one another and here are all the food and beverages that we had for the evening.

Fruity Flavoured Margaritas [from left to right- Lime, Kiwi, Mango, Strawberry]

Seriously, what’s a Tex-Mex meal without Margaritas? We absolutely love the flavoured Margaritas that were served and they are a real treat! Taking turns to sip all of the Margaritas, we have to admit that they are really good. The flavour and sweetness are just right and a glass of Margarita is the best way to cool down the heat especially for the hot sunny weather here in Singapore!

Appetizers Combo!

We had Cheese Nachos, Chicken Chimichangas, Turkey Quesadillas, and Buffalo Wings for appetizers and they are oh so yummy! Although I’m not a big fan of cheese, my personal favourite is the Cheese Nachos and the Turkey Quesadillas.

Tex-Mex Grilled Chicken, $23.90

A rather sinful dish, the grilled chicken breast is spread with BBQ sauce and topped with bacon and melted cheese. Served with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables, the Tex-Mex Grilled Chicken is a satisfying dish for hungry people!

Blackened Salmon Veracruz, $23.90

The Blackened Salmon Veracruz is a very flavourful dish that tantalises the taste buds. Coated topside with crusted black pepper, the salmon fillet is then panfried and served with spicy rice and grilled vegetables with tomato compote. A dish for fish-lovers whom want to enjoy a little bit of spice in their life.

Santa Fe BBQ Ribs, [Half Rack]- $22.90 | [Full Rack]- $29.50

The baby back ribs are grilled to perfection and ladled over with Santa Fe’s signature BBQ sauce. Served with fries and house salad, the Santa Fe BBQ Ribs will definitely not disappoint.

Chicken Fajitas, [Half Pound]- $26.90 | [Full Pound]- $41.50

Santa Fe’s signature fajitas are served sizzling on a skillet, with tortillas by the side for you to self-wrap. A condiment set of shredded lettuce, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and pico de galo accompanies the dish.

Grand Marnier Brownie, $14.90

If you’re a fan of orange liqueur, we highly recommend the Grand Marnier Brownie becuase the warm chocolate brownie that is infused with a little bit of Grand Marnier will send you through the roof. Served with strawberry sauce, slices of mandarin orange, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a cherry, there is everything to love about the Grand Marnier Brownie. You wouldn’t want to miss this lovely dessert that will complete your meal pretty well.

Walnut Brownie Sundae, $8.90

A real classic, the Walnut Brownie Sundae is a must-order for all chocoholics! Imagine biting into a warm chocolate brownie accompanied with some vanilla ice cream and chocolate fudge that melts in your mouth. The feeling you will get will be one that makes you go oomph with satisfying pleasure!

Truly, we had an enjoyable time dining at Santa Fe that is onboard Stewords Riverboat . Though the pricing may be slightly on the higher-end, the dining experience is one that you will find unique, special, and ideal for that one special moment.

If your partner or friends get seasick easily, they might want to consider popping some seasick pills before going onboard because the occasional waves from the surrounding sea vessels would send the riverboat rocking from side to side. Even for myself, my head was spinning a little when I went onboard but gradually, my body kinda acclimatised to the surroundings [or maybe it was the effects of the magaritas].

To ease your pockets a little, Jacqueline found a really awesome deal on Groupon where you can just pay $20 for $40 worth of food and beverage at Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill . This  deal is currently available for the next 3 days and the voucher is valid till 18 October 2013 .

Alternatively, you might want to visit Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill on Tuesdays because the main courses are going for a special 1-for-1 price!

[Image Credits to Stewords Riverboat Facebook Page ]

For more information and promotional updates from Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill, do “like” Stewords Riverboat Facebook Page !

Last but not the least, we would like to conclude this blog post by taking this opportunity to thank the wonderful and awesome staffs at Stewords Riverboat for hosting us. We would also like to thank Daryl from Stewords Riverboat for showing us around. We are truly humbled by the warm hospitality that we received. If you’re planning a visit any time soon, do take note that the operating hours are from Tuesdays to Sundays [6-10pm] . Reservations are highly recommended and you can drop them a line at 6278-5775 .

Melvin is an Entrepreneur, Life Coach, and Chinese Metaphysics Practitioner. He holds an EMBA and he is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for his unique combination of science, research, and spirituality.

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is that a half pound or full pound of fajitas you ordered? thanks!

Hi Melsa, we had the half pound portion. 🙂

[…] The baby back ribs are grilled to perfection and ladled over with Santa Fe’s signature BBQ sauce. Served with fries and house salad, the Santa Fe BBQ Ribs will definitely not disappoint – Jul 23, 2013 – A Winsome Life […]

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• Stewords Riverboat

Stewords Riverboat - CLOSED

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Came for a birthday dinner, was looking forward to it given the novelty of the location. Food was pretty average and overall disappointing. Portion sizes were inconsistent, the appetiser of nachos came with a grand totals of four single Doritos-sized nachos with melted cheese topping... (cost was above $10). The portion of ribs was decent. Service was average - drinks orders were forgotten and had to be reordered. The jug of frozen margarita was only 3/4 full. More

We were promised that this will be exciting experience and great food. Unfortunately service and food was average. Several items on the menu were not available. It was challenging for vegetarians to find dinner choices.

Visited during Christmas 2018 for dinner. They provide excellent service with tasty good food. Need to book online. Buffet was arranged for dinner. Varieties of pasta available and cooked in front of us upon order. Ship won’t move. This is a restaurant on stationed ship.... Only basement and first floor were opened during our visit. Different experience and enjoy dining over sea. More

It’s a nice sunny Sunday, you decide to try something new, you travel for an hour by MRT from Punggol to have lunch at Steword’s Riverboat. You enter the Sante Fe Tex-Mex Grill, place your order, and wait. Up until here the experience is ok... - you even feel a bit of excitement. It’s going to be a good day. We ordered 2 soups of the day, 1 mushroom soup, 3 appetizers, 3 mains, and 2 extra sides. We kept ourselves busy by surfing on our phones - there’s free WIFI after all. And then you start to realize that some time has passed and no food has come yet. We followed up on the soup twice and then the mushroom soup came. We asked the lady server (no nametag) about the soup of the day we ordered and she say’s “it’s coming”. After 5 minutes she comes back and tells us there’s no more left, would we want the mushroom soup instead. A vein popped inside my head. We said no thinking it will take another half an hour. Then after 5 minutes the 3 appetizers came and another 5 minutes then the mains came. This restaurant does not understand the concept of the appetizer. First of all, the soup of the day is supposed to be cooked in a large pot so it was really strange for us to wait for so long to find out that they were out of it. I feel very wronged by what has happened and yet there was no apology. Secondly, the appetizer should be eaten while the mains are being prepared. You need to serve them fast to keep your customers busy. Not make them wait long and then serve the mains immediately right after. Overall, the taste of the food is good. But not good enough to risk another visit and go through the same bad service again. I understand Mr. Douglas was not in that day. There were only 2 servers, 1 cashier who did not do a lot - maybe she should also help?, and God knows how many cooks - my guess is 2. I also find the food slightly overpriced. The mashed potato, the size of a kid’s fist, costs $5. I do not think it’s attributed to the fine dining experience - this is a casual establishment. I think it’s more to keep this whole ship afloat. You come here for the gimmick and once is enough. Thanks for the memories. It’s our 7th anniversary. We will never forget this. More

Meals on a riverboat is indeed an interesting & novel place. It is even better with the S$10 nett promotion for the month of May in conjunction with Labour Day. Their main meal is going at that price till 31 May 2018. No hard selling... or advertisements but received the promotion from a friend. One can enjoy their signature roasted spare ribs, San Francisco seafood cioppino, tex mex grilled chicken at this very affordable price. Staff are friendly n helpful. Location is very accessible from Marina South Pier MRT station. However, seasickness can kick in if there are many boats crisscrossing the area where the Riverboat is parked. If you are prone to seasickness, they even offer you a pill. Worth trying before end May comes round! More

Looking for a place to host an event for 65pax, chance this location, is actually a boat, we had wine and food pairing event.The owner of this “boat” is very accommodating,interesting the way he present and share how to appreciate wine. Want something different, have... a look at this places. More

STEWORDS RIVERBOAT, Singapore - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

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Stewords Riverboat

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Description

• Cuisine Fusion
• Monday: 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.00
• Tuesday: 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.00
• Wednesday: 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.00
• Thursday: 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.00
• Friday: 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.00
• Saturday: 12.00–15.00
• Sunday: 12.00–15.00, 18.00–22.00

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Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill (Stewords Riverboat)

recommended menu

Special conditions.

*Kindly take note of Special Festive Menu (if any)

Established in 1999, Santa Fe Tex Mex Grill was among the first to bring Texan-Mexican cuisine to Singapore’s culinary scene. Diners get a distinctive waterfront dining experience on a non-motorised three-storey riverboat, Americanised Mexican dishes like avocado prawn tacos, Tex-Mex grilled chicken and classic beef fajitas. Located at the Marina South Pier, the restaurant also has a kid’s menu, ensuring the hungry little captains are well catered to.

operating hours

• 31 Marina Coastal Drive Berth 1, Marina South Pier, Singapore 018988

facilities/services

• parking (chargeable)

payment options

• Master Card

atmospheres

• Casual Dining
• Romantic Dates
• Family Friendly
• Large Parties (>12)
• Private Functions
• Quiet Dinner

spoken languages

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• Stewords Riverboat

Stewords Riverboat - CLOSED

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Came for a birthday dinner, was looking forward to it given the novelty of the location. Food was pretty average and overall disappointing. Portion sizes were inconsistent, the appetiser of nachos came with a grand totals of four single Doritos-sized nachos with melted cheese topping... (cost was above $10). The portion of ribs was decent. Service was average - drinks orders were forgotten and had to be reordered. The jug of frozen margarita was only 3/4 full. More

We were promised that this will be exciting experience and great food. Unfortunately service and food was average. Several items on the menu were not available. It was challenging for vegetarians to find dinner choices.

Visited during Christmas 2018 for dinner. They provide excellent service with tasty good food. Need to book online. Buffet was arranged for dinner. Varieties of pasta available and cooked in front of us upon order. Ship won’t move. This is a restaurant on stationed ship.... Only basement and first floor were opened during our visit. Different experience and enjoy dining over sea. More

It’s a nice sunny Sunday, you decide to try something new, you travel for an hour by MRT from Punggol to have lunch at Steword’s Riverboat. You enter the Sante Fe Tex-Mex Grill, place your order, and wait. Up until here the experience is ok... - you even feel a bit of excitement. It’s going to be a good day. We ordered 2 soups of the day, 1 mushroom soup, 3 appetizers, 3 mains, and 2 extra sides. We kept ourselves busy by surfing on our phones - there’s free WIFI after all. And then you start to realize that some time has passed and no food has come yet. We followed up on the soup twice and then the mushroom soup came. We asked the lady server (no nametag) about the soup of the day we ordered and she say’s “it’s coming”. After 5 minutes she comes back and tells us there’s no more left, would we want the mushroom soup instead. A vein popped inside my head. We said no thinking it will take another half an hour. Then after 5 minutes the 3 appetizers came and another 5 minutes then the mains came. This restaurant does not understand the concept of the appetizer. First of all, the soup of the day is supposed to be cooked in a large pot so it was really strange for us to wait for so long to find out that they were out of it. I feel very wronged by what has happened and yet there was no apology. Secondly, the appetizer should be eaten while the mains are being prepared. You need to serve them fast to keep your customers busy. Not make them wait long and then serve the mains immediately right after. Overall, the taste of the food is good. But not good enough to risk another visit and go through the same bad service again. I understand Mr. Douglas was not in that day. There were only 2 servers, 1 cashier who did not do a lot - maybe she should also help?, and God knows how many cooks - my guess is 2. I also find the food slightly overpriced. The mashed potato, the size of a kid’s fist, costs $5. I do not think it’s attributed to the fine dining experience - this is a casual establishment. I think it’s more to keep this whole ship afloat. You come here for the gimmick and once is enough. Thanks for the memories. It’s our 7th anniversary. We will never forget this. More

Meals on a riverboat is indeed an interesting & novel place. It is even better with the S$10 nett promotion for the month of May in conjunction with Labour Day. Their main meal is going at that price till 31 May 2018. No hard selling... or advertisements but received the promotion from a friend. One can enjoy their signature roasted spare ribs, San Francisco seafood cioppino, tex mex grilled chicken at this very affordable price. Staff are friendly n helpful. Location is very accessible from Marina South Pier MRT station. However, seasickness can kick in if there are many boats crisscrossing the area where the Riverboat is parked. If you are prone to seasickness, they even offer you a pill. Worth trying before end May comes round! More

Looking for a place to host an event for 65pax, chance this location, is actually a boat, we had wine and food pairing event.The owner of this “boat” is very accommodating,interesting the way he present and share how to appreciate wine. Want something different, have... a look at this places. More

Stewords Riverboat, Singapore - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

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Stewords Riverboat Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill

*Media Invite*

This has got to be one of my more unique media tasting locations, how many times does one get to dine on-board a boat? It was fun looking through all my pictures again and I wish I was amongst the sea breeze and blue-skies again!

My food blogger turned bimbo beauty blogger pose for a second before we boarded the ship!

Chicken Beef Fajitas Half-Pound $27

Have you tried Tex-Mex food in Singapore? Apparently it’s not all that common here according to our host for the evening, Daryl Saw, the Business Development Manager and also son of the owner of Santa Fe and Stewords Riverboat. Santa Fe was amongst the 1st to introduce Tex-Mex cuisine in Singapore when they first established in 1999. I tried to throw up a couple of names such as Chili’s and Planet Hollywood, where I recall I had Fajitas and quesadillas. It seems those are not really authentic ”Texan Mexican”, as ”Tex-Mex” isn’t as spicy. Ah well, I’m really not an expert in the area of Mexican cuisine or Texan cuisine and their variations so I will just leave it as that.

The Chicken Beef Fajitas above are served on a hotplate together with this side dish of fresh salad. One thing I like about Tex-Mex dishes is the substantial use of raw vegetables in their dishes, be it in the fajitas, quesadillas or tacos. Not only do they add sweetness to the dish, they help to cut through the heaviness from the meat, resulting in a very balanced and juicy bite.

Mushroom Rib-Eye Steak $34

The Partner ordered the Rib-Eye steak, not exactly the most Tex-Mex dish on the menu, but he had totally no regrets because the mushroom sauce was really delicious! The steak was cooked perfectly, with a nice char-grill flavour. If anything, a little bit more veggies would have been appreciated.

Santa Fe BBQ Ribs $22 Half-Slab $29.50 Full-Slab

I ordered the BBQ Ribs. Ok, also not the most Tex-Mex selection, but hey, I love ribs! It was a pity the ribs were only mildly warm, but otherwise, I did enjoy the ribs thanks to the deliciously sweet BBQ sauce.

Cheese Nachos 4 pieces $7.90 — Crispy corn tortillas spread with refried beans and covered with melted cheese.

Chicken Chimichangas 4 pieces $8.50 — Diced chicken, beans, vegetables and Jack cheese rolled in flour tortillas and deep fried

Turkey Quesadillas 4 pieces $8.90 — Flour Tortillas packed with smoked turkey slices brushed with BBQ sauce and garnished with sautéed onions and melted cheese

After ordering our main courses, we did feel as if we hadn’t really been properly introduced to the Tex-Mex cuisine, so Daryl helped us solve our dilemma by asking the chef to specially prepare some authentic Tex-Mex starters for us to try. Above picture is a selection of the starters available but if you’re ordering off the menu, it will be on a per dish basis.

I think no one needs any introduction to nachos, but nachos slathered in that much cheese until you can’t see the nachos is something I haven’t seen in a long while, and a dream come true for a cheese lover like me! Just don’t think about the calories when you’re chomping down on the gooey cheesy goodness.

The Turkey Quesadillas were also very good, but really, the highlight for me, even more so than the cheese nachos, was the Chicken Chimichangas. I’ve never heard of chimichangas up until that point, but ever since, I’ve been having this word in my mind every time I step into a restaurant that is remotely Texan/Mexican. So far, Santa Fe seems to be the only place I know that serves them. These were fried crispy, and full of good stuff like chicken, beans, more cheese, and a good dollop of cream to tie it all together. DELICIOUS.

We also got to take a quick tour of the Stewords Riverboat. If this boat looks familiar, it’s because it used to be the one sitting at the ferry terminal of Sentosa Island! That was before the Saw family bought over the boat and established the Santa Fe Restaurant back in 1999.

It is apparently not that easy to just set up a restaurant in a ship. First, you need to find a ”parking lot” for the ship! We’re talking about the 2nd ship that the family has bought, which is now stranded somewhere out there…

There is a private room, if you so wish to have your very own romantic time.

This is the topmost deck of the ship. We were told that there are plans to convert this area into a sheltered area and start a cafe concept of sorts, maybe already in progress as I write this. I think it’s a brilliant idea and a very unique location to boot. The view of the waters would be better too from this height. Can’t wait to see their concept come into fruition.

View of the Stewords Riverboat at night.

No one knows of this secret ulu yet romantic location that overlooks the seas. I’ve been here several times but I’ve never once seen any smooching couples.

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Stewords Riverboat, Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill

31 Marina Coastal Drive Berth 1, Marina South Pier Singapore 018988

Tel: 6278 5775 Fax: 6273 5775 Email: [email protected]

Operating Hours

Tuesdays-Sundays 6-10pm (Closed on Mondays)

http://www.riverboat.com.sg/

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A Nautical Wedding for Liqun and Regina at Stewords Riverboat

Singapore lovebirds Ker Liqun and Regina Teh say 'Ahoy matey!' on board the Steword's Riverboat located at Marina South Pier.

The couple, who met on dating site Lovestruck Singapore, chose a nautical theme for their wedding befitting of the sea-faring venue. The riverboat has special meaning for Regina because it reminds her of her time there spent as a child when it was an A&W outlet located on Sentosa back in the 90s.

With the help of Hellen Lie of Rosette Designs, the venue came alive with blue-and-white décor and complementing accents like a nautical cake and pirate cookies baked by The Delights Heaven. The couple also added their own props and accessories sourced online, and on a Bangkok buying trip. They even spent the past year collecting over a hundred scallop shells for guests to write messages in!

Sporting guests came dressed in shades of blue or stripey sailor-inspired outfits, while Liqun threw on a pirate costume for the gatecrashing activities. They tied the knot outside on the deck of the riverboat, and then everyone proceeded to the dining hall for dinner, where a delicious Tex-Mex spread was served.

The pair made their grand entrance belting out a romantic JJ Lin and Jin Sha duet. And the rest of the evening, professional musician Khairi, and his band serenaded guests with pop tunes and Chinese songs.

Both the bride and groom really wanted a wedding that reflected their personalities. Their advice is to start planning early and always try to incorporate DIY elements to the décor. "Putting in effort makes you treasure your wedding and your partner more," says Liqun.

Vendor yang mungkin anda suka

Ikuti akun Instagram @thebridestory untuk beragam inspirasi pernikahan

Founded in 1996 through the merger of two organizations, the Guadalupe Gardens Corporation and the Friends of the Guadalupe River Park, the Conservancy has continually been involved in completing the master plans for both the park and gardens, promoting park access through educational programs, increasing awareness of the Park & Gardens, and developing membership and volunteer opportunities to increase public support and involvement.

Historically important as the river on which el Pueblo de San José was founded in 1777, the Guadalupe River was neglected for many years. Our modern city was developed with its back turned to the river, reminded of its presence only when the river swelled with winter rains and spilled over its banks. Many times in the past century the river has flooded adjacent homes and businesses, causing human suffering and economic loss. The most recent of these floods occurred in the winter of 1995 and created an estimated $6 million in damage. The first effort to provide flood protection began in 1941 when a study was authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Stopped and started many times over the next four decades, the flood control plans were finally linked to the dream for an urban river park in the 1960s.

Today the Guadalupe River Park is being developed by the City of San Jose and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Jose in cooperation with the flood control efforts of the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The area known as Guadalupe Gardens lies south of the San Jose Airport and immediately west of the river park. Beginning in 1975, over 630 homes were removed from this 240-acre area because of airport noise and safety concerns. Funding was provided by the Federal Aviation Agency. In 1986, Mayor Tom McEnery proposed the creation of an open space and recreation area within this airport approach zone. A Citizens Task Force formed in 1990 developed a Master Plan for the land that calls for extensive gardens that reflect the history of San Jose as the Garden City, promotes environmentally-sensitive gardening, and recognizes the need for low density, passive development.

In May 1999, a special team of archaeologists, coordinated by Caltrans archaeologist Mark Hylkema, led an excavation of a locally-important historic site along the Guadalupe River at Taylor Street. The occasion for doing the excavation at this time was the construction of the new Taylor Street bridge and a three-mile extension of the Guadalupe Parkway from downtown to the airport and Highway 101. The excavation was timed so as not to interfere with the construction schedule. Local historians have always been aware that a settlement known as the Woolen Mills Chinatown was located near Taylor Street between 1887 and 1902. The local Chinese population was burned out of their home on the site of the present-day Fairmont Hotel in 1887 and many of the people, mostly single men, moved to this location by the Guadalupe River where they were employed at the Woolen Mills. The archaeological team did months of careful planning and research, prior to actually working on the site, as a guide to where they were most likely to find evidence of the settlement. During the excavation itself, remnants of building foundations, front porch piers, redwood water pipes, and streets, confirmed the layout of the town. Artifacts discovered in the excavation, together with what can be found in historical records, will tell the experts much about the life of the residents.

During the excavation, volunteers from the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy had the unique experience of working with the archaeological staff in sifting dirt to discover small objects (mostly ceramics, household utensils, shells and animal bones) and in carefully sorting these objects for future study and documentation.

Excavations such as this are tightly controlled to preserve the context or setting for the artifacts that are found. “Provenience”, knowing the exact location of where an object comes from, is essential to an archaeologist’s work. Without direct associations to historic events or people, objects from the past have a limited story to tell.

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The Guadalupe River and the Hidden Heart of San José

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To hear Roger Castillo tell it, all of the City of San José—its million inhabitants, its sprawling residential neighborhoods, its glittery glass high-rises and office-park tech campuses—is more or less floating around on the backs of a bunch of salmon.

Jump to the map

Trace the path of the Guadalupe River along cartographer Ben Pease’s 2018 map for Bay Nature.

This is not so implausible as it sounds. San José is a river city, split neatly from north to south by the Guadalupe River, a 14-mile waterway that can flood with 14,000 cubic feet per second of water in the winter and shrink to mostly dust in the summer. Over the years the water that flows inevitably from the hills and reservoirs in the Santa Cruz Mountains northward into the San Francisco Bay has been diverted into culverts and storm sewers to tame the river’s once vast, wandering path. But the water flows nonetheless. And where there is flowing water, there might be salmon.

Castillo describes times of wading hip-deep through the underground storm sewers of the city, amid a thousand juvenile salmon fry. A monster fish he rescued from a pump station near Great America is now taxidermied and hanging on the wall in his small office; in 1996 he caught a 30-inch Chinook in a drainage channel near the Norman Y. Mineta international airport. (“People don’t know the airport was built on top of the river system,” Castillo told me. “In wet years, the runway floats.”)

Castillo, a lifelong San José resident, semi-retired semiconductor assembler and forklift driver, and recent board president of the Guadalupe-Coyote Resource Conservation District, took me a few months ago to a spot where Highway 101 runs through a deep road cut just east of Interstate 880. Tenth Street crosses over this, and from just on the shoulder of the overpass, Castillo dropped to his knees over a storm drain leading into a gushing sewer. I found it physically disorienting in an M.C. Escher sort of way. Like, you are standing looking down at an open eight-lane freeway of rushing cars two stories beneath your feet and then somehow also peering down six feet into a sewer full of rushing water where, Castillo says, he saw several dozen baby salmon just last week.

People ask, and argue, about what it means that there are imperiled fish living in the San José sewers, says Castillo, but at heart it’s simple. It means that where water flows everything is connected. In his head Castillo carries a map of the entire network: The old river and its pathways, the new river and its drains and ponds and pumps and how it is all one big web of interconnectedness. The historical ecology of the Guadalupe River is never far from the surface.

This spring, I decided to hike and bike San José by following its river. I started by walking north from the Tamien Caltrain station, where quiet suburban pocket gardens overlook the river. At West Virginia Street the beginning of the Guadalupe River Trail is commemorated with a salmon bas-relief on a bridge and a sun-shape cut into the base of a balcony overlook.

A shady hiking and biking trail leads north along the riverbank for about a quarter-mile through a eucalyptus grove. As you approach the Highway 87–Interstate 280 junction, the river enters a constricted channel that also marks the river trail’s unofficial entrance to downtown. The pillars of the freeway overpasses sprout like giant trees, and the calm water meanders through this shady forest, reflecting a sort of shimmery concrete white.

Historically this stretch of the river was the heartland of the Tamien-speaking Ohlone, and it passes through what once would have been a vast freshwater meadow fringed by several miles of sycamore groves and a dense willow forest now named, unsurprisingly, Willow Glen. The Guadalupe once began in this willow grove, merging several smaller creeks, springs, and wetlands that then flowed north with the more forceful intent of a river. “It is no coincidence that San José is located immediately north, just downstream of the perennial water that emerged from Willow Glen through the Guadalupe River,” wrote Erin Beller, Micha Salomon, and Robin Grossinger, historical ecologists at the San Francisco Estuary Institute, in a 2010 report about the history of the West Santa Clara Valley waterways.

These former meadows were rich agricultural land, and the first instinct of white settlers was to drain the swamp, plant agricultural crops, and build levees to prevent the river water from coming back. Subsequent generations continued to tighten the straitjacket.

San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) San José Director Teresa Alvarado grew up in San José just down the road from here and says she first noticed the river the way a lot of residents did back then—when it flooded. In March 1995 a massive storm led the river to overtop its banks. A pool formed along the Highway 87 embankment downtown. A Water District report measured a flow of 9,000 cubic feet per second under the St. John Street bridge. “We could not travel east on our street because of the floodwaters,” Alvarado says. “That was the first time I was aware of the river, and it blew my mind.”

After those floods the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Army Corps of Engineers spent two decades rebuilding the edges of the river, widening the channel in many places to increase capacity and support a more natural river system. Now, as that work nears completion, people have caught on to visions Castillo, Alvarado, and many others have put forth to bring the Guadalupe back to prominence.

River advocates see the period of rapid development and transportation investment downtown as an opportunity to capitalize on the river’s new edge and to revitalize the once-and-future natural heart of the city. “We want to create a place that’s a central green space in San José, that’s built for people, that gives people an opportunity to connect with one another and with nature,” says Alvarado, who is working with San José Mayor Sam Liccardo on a new design vision for the Guadalupe and downtown. “We want to create a central focal point, a stronger sense of place for San José.”

San José was one among many cities to successfully pave and forget its river in the 20th century. Los Angeles did so too, but on a much larger scale. In Los Angeles, as major restoration work began to bring the 51-mile L.A. River back to life, a UC Berkeley team led by Marcia McNally surveyed people who lived near the river. Only 31 percent said they knew it was there. But in Studio City, where the edge of the river had just been turned into a natural park, the number of people who knew about the river jumped to 78 percent. River parks, McNally concluded, could both create a reminder of nature and improve community health.

San José’s Guadalupe River advocates, particularly SPUR’s design group, watched and learned from Los Angeles. SPUR has since conducted its own surveys among San José residents. Support for revitalization is high, but only 37 percent say they’re proud of the river. “They don’t feel proud of it as it currently is, but they do feel invested in the future of the park,” Alvarado says.

One reason people still shy away from the river is obvious. This neglected space through the city’s core is also where booming Silicon Valley pushes the societal injustices it wants to ignore. San José estimates more than 4,000 homeless people live in the city, and many of them make a life along the river. Walk or bike the trail, and you see tents under every overpass. Makeshift shelters grow thick in the willows lining the east bank of the river near downtown. It is clearly an environmental concern: Roger Castillo told me he sees homeless people poaching salmon and disturbing redds, leaving trash in the river, and digging into restored banks. Others told me people avoid the river because they fear the encampments. The 2017 SPUR survey showed that members think the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, which cover the two miles from the Children’s Discovery Museum north to Hedding Street, is the most unrealized gem in the city; solving the homelessness problem there was by far the members’ highest concern.

You can only ignore the presence of the homeless along the upper Guadalupe River if you ignore the river itself. It works backward, though: Now that more people are paying more attention to the river, the extent of the problem in San José becomes inescapable.

“By placing all of these people into the hidden reaches of the waterway, it really masked the severity of the problem we had in homeless population numbers,” says Steve Holmes, the executive director of the South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition. “The creeks are a subset of a larger problem, the homeless problem, but why can’t we have better streams and housing for the homeless?”

Castillo, as we drove around, echoed the same thinking. “I’m finding all these miracles, but meanwhile the city is using the streams to hide social problems,” he said. “I’m running around trying to save this river system, but we’re using the river system to house people.”

There is no obvious answer here, no particular wisdom from the river. But the river is a reminder that nature connects everything and that restoration projects are as much about people and our society as they are about fish.

The river runs along a deep, narrow channel through downtown. But for the tenth largest city in the country, downtown is deceptively relaxed. In one spot near West San Carlos Street, I stopped to watch a merganser paddle in the shade of a California bay laurel. It is surprising to contemplate the natural placidity of the ivy-tangled banks, the water and the ducks, and think of the human energy all around: The riverside park meanders around grassy lawns past the Children’s Discovery Museum and the San José Center for the Performing Arts. The Convention Center, on the east bank, was hosting the F 8 Facebook developers conference ; SAP Center, on the west bank, was hosting a San José Sharks playoff hockey game.

I walked along the flood-protecting, restored bank of the river, decorated with cutout salmon art, under banners celebrating San José’s Little Italy. I passed the Piazza Piccola Italia. Then I crossed to the east bank, where bike paths dance north through a forest of sycamore trees, to the city’s historic orchard, heritage rose garden, and river-themed children’s Rotary play garden.

On signs dotting the riverwalk, the city labels the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens as a “2.6-mile-long oasis of discovery, peace and pleasure.” It is close to achieving that feel. Since the main park opened in 2005, additional pieces have come online, like the Rotary play garden in 2015. Now that the park exists, Teresa Alvarado says there’s another lesson to learn from Los Angeles. “How do we enhance what’s happening,” she says, “but really pump up the volume and call attention to the fact we have an urban river there in our midst?”

Alvarado imagines the parks with live music, outdoor events, and festivals. “When they step off the high-speed rail or Diridon, we want to see folks walking around,” she says. “You want to hear music, see young people doing whatever they’ll be doing in 10 years—hovercrafting. You want to see a place that feels fun, invites people to be creative. You want to hear laughter.”

And, as Castillo has always emphasized, you want to see fish. You want to know about the beavers that returned to live in a pond downtown, and the dozens of species of birds that rely on the river’s riches. For Stephanie Moreno, the executive director of the Guadalupe-Coyote Resource Conservation District, community interest will follow as ongoing restoration and investment increases. “If the river supports fisheries again, it naturally supports other wildlife and makes it healthier for people who want to recreate,” she says. “I wish we could get more corporations interested in the river. It’s a quality of life issue, and for their employees to have a healthy river system they could walk along, bike along, paddle down—it’s a different dimension than being in a concrete jungle.”

North of the park and gardens I picked up a rented bicycle to navigate the next seven miles of the Guadalupe River Trail. A continuous paved pathway, opened to the public in 2013, connects downtown San José to the Alviso Marina and the restored wetlands beyond. From Hedding Street and the end of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, the river runs north for about three miles past the airport, then under Trimble Road, where Castillo had shown me one of his most special sites.

Santa Clara Valley Water District controls the release of water through the river’s many pumps, and Castillo compares following its rhythms to watching a heart monitor. On a summer day in 2005 he saw what looked like cardiac arrest and went down to the river to explore. A massive water release had scoured the bank and exposed some animal bones. Castillo called a geology professor, who in turn called the assistant director of UC Berkeley’s paleontology museum. Excavations over the summer turned up a femur, pelvis, toe bones, rib bones, and part of the skull of a juvenile Colombian mammoth. The bones are on display now at the Children’s Discovery Museum, and a silver mammoth statue guards the Trimble Road bridge over the river.

Right around here the river picks up a tidal influence from the Bay and, on a typical day, a sea breeze. The river trail swings with the waterway past low corporate offices and apartment complexes and grows crowded at lunchtime with walkers and bikers. A mile and a half north of the mammoth you reach the best stretch of the trail for natural history lovers. At Riverview Park on the east bank, a bike and pedestrian bridge crosses over into Santa Clara at the site of the onetime mansion of wealthy 19th-century businessman, land baron, and science patron James Lick. From there it’s another three-quarters of a mile to the Ulistac Natural Area, a 40-acre refuge of native plants, birds, and butterflies.

A ramp drops down from the levee into the natural area and immediately you’re in among California sagebrush and flowering buckeye. Mockingbirds and woodpeckers dart through the canopy and a variety of butterflies patrol the flowering meadows, while giant tiger swallowtail butterflies flit through sun and shade. Parallel trails lead through Ulistac for about a third of a mile before rejoining the Guadalupe River Trail on the unpaved west bank.

The river itself grows wider and marshier as it nears its mouth, although nothing like what it once was. Two centuries ago the Guadalupe spread into a vast wetland fringing the Bay. It would have been hard to pick out the main channel amid acres of dendritic outlets. You can still get some feel for this by continuing past the end of the Guadalupe River Trail and into the restored salt ponds of Alviso.

But I chose to stop where the river trail did. At the edge of the Bay I turned away from the sea breeze and pedaled it all in reverse: past soccer fields and apartment complex pools and a cormorant surveying the lower river from a wire, past the 49ers stadium and the Ulistac Natural Area and the mammoth discovery site, past the airport and the jail and the heritage park, past the rose garden and the tent camps and the hockey arena, past the skyscrapers and the museums and the freeway interchanges, to the train station.

For all the individual things to see along the way, it was ultimately that final 10-mile ride that I found maybe the most remarkable piece of the whole day. You can traverse, without stopping, 10 miles of a city built to be navigated by car. Driving across the city is inconvenient now, a story of stops and starts and impediments and missed connections. Meanwhile nature has resurfaced, and in a few hours of following the water you chart the complex and diverse systems of the South Bay: geographic, social, environmental. The Guadalupe River, as we sometimes need reminding that rivers did and do, brings the big city together.

Trace the Path of the Guadalupe River

Map by Ben Pease, 2018.

About the Author

Eric Simons is a former digital editor at Bay Nature. He is author of The Secret Lives of Sports Fans and Darwin Slept Here , and is coauthor, with Tessa Hill, of At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans .

Every story from Bay Nature magazine is the product of a team dedicated to connecting our readers to the world around them and increasing environmental literacy. Please help us keep this unique regional magazine thriving, and support the ecosystem we’ve built around it, by subscribing today—you’ll get Bay Nature four times a year in your mailbox!

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The River Church Community

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“ Starting January 26, The River will have worship services from 9-10:30 and another from 11-12:30. ” in 6 reviews

“ I told my wife that if we live in the San Jose area , I can see us being part of this community. ” in 2 reviews

“ This church is welcoming to all regardless of their faith background -- whether you are just checking out the Christian faith or have been a believer for many years. ” in 2 reviews

About the Business

The River is a non-denominational church in the midtown area San Jose (surrounded by Willow Glen, The Rose Garden, and the Washington Neighborhood). We are a diverse community - different in age and cultural background. But, we are unified by our quest to know the fullness of life that Jesus promised and to make his goodness tangible in our community . . . and around the world. We hope you'll come check things out on a Sunday morning. Come as you are. And enter into a worship experience that is Biblically thoughtful, spiritually powerful, and relevant to the challenges of life in our current Silicon Valley context. …

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670 Lincoln Ave

San Jose, CA 95126

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Writing a review for The River Church Community feels like writing a review for your own home. I feel a little biased. But perhaps the fact that a Midwesterner from a large mega church can feel comfortable here and STAY here for over ten years is testimony alone. There is much that is endearing about this church, but perhaps the best thing about this community is its heart for the local community. Everyone I have known here has a heart of generosity -- generosity of money, time, and skill - and is devoted to making a difference and sharing the love of God. The River has strong partnerships internationally and locally, and the stories are inspiring! This church is welcoming to all regardless of their faith background -- whether you are just checking out the Christian faith or have been a believer for many years. To really experience all that is wonderful about this church, you must get involved! Take the time to chat with people instead of leaving right after service. Attend a parenting seminar or book study. Join a small group. Volunteer to serve somewhere. Get to know yourself through "The Healing Path." I guarantee you that each of these experiences will change your life!

It's official, The River Church Community is expanding to two Sunday morning services. Starting January 26, The River will have worship services from 9-10:30 and another from 11-12:30. See you there! Did you know they have a Twitter account? Check them out @theriverchurch2.

See all photos from Lorianne L. for The River Church Community

I did not grow up in the church, so all I really knew about church was from what I saw on TV or in the movies, none of which were flattering. From the first time I visited The River, I knew it was the place for me. There was none of that craziness I saw on TV. The teaching was always biblical and relevant to our 21st century life here in the Silicon Valley. Since my first visits, The River has continued to offer truth-filled messages in a casual environment (God doesn't care what I wear to church). Many of the contemporary worship songs would be familiar to anyone who listens to KLove or Air 1. The River is filled with people who know and love Jesus. It is also a safe place that welcomes anyone who is seeking or just wants to check things out. There is a large contingent of families, and The River places a lot of emphasis on the growing children's ministry. Church is so much more than something that happens on Sunday mornings. One of the aspects I have appreciated the most about The River is its healing and prayer ministries, led by Pastor David Alvarez. The River values transparency and wholeness. God has been so good, working through The River to bring emotional and relational healing to so many. God has also stretched those of us who call The River home to serve the least, the last, and the lost. I admit it was hard for me to get out of my comfort zone, but in the safety of community, I was able to do so. Now, I actually lead a small group with a missional component built into our group's identity. The River used to be a tear-down and set-up church, but thanks to God's provisions, we recently found a permanent location. I am so pleased to say The River has a brand new home! The building is easy to get to at the intersection of Lincoln and Parkmoor. Right now The River has one worship service on Sunday mornings from 10-11:30. Rumor has it we will expand to two services, but I haven't heard when that will be happening yet.

I did not grow up going to church so I really did not know what to expect when I first came to the River. It ended up being a really great place that I have been going to for over 12 years. I have always really enjoyed the messages and music over the years. The message always seem to be relevant to every day life. I love the music and am glad that its a rock band playing and its not just singing hymns. I really love the staff at the River and am on a first name basis with most of the staff. The pastors are not just these boss type people at the front of the church. They are actually friends. I have gotten to know many of them over the years and they are all great people with a lot of great knowledge to share. I have been very active in the church as its not just about what happens on Sundays. They have many ways to get involved. You can join one of the home bible study groups. You can attend a short term learning or book series. You can volunteer on Sundays in one of many positions available. I have been active in Kids Community (where the kids go during Sunday services) in the infant room. You definitely can participate as little or as much as you want. I call the River home and hope to continue going there for many years to come.

The River Church does a few things well. 1. Free New Members lunch in order to get to know the staff and other members 2. Have a post modern looking and feeling place for worship 3. Have Groups, Prayers and Studies for people to get involved What they don't do well 1. Train or Educate their paid, volunteer or lay staff that this is not their church. It's God's and it's not about a personality or their agenda 2. Can be restrictive and not welcome people in who want to get involved in a smaller setting for interaction or fellowship 3. Not showing true care and understanding in someone's needs. By saying they do but not taking the action in showing that they do 4. It can be more of an exclusive place than inclusive outside of Sunday's I also see post about how great the Pastors are. Probably from 2007-2018 they all were great. However they should all be on the same page when ministering and out reach to others which they aren't I'd caution people if your looking for a church were you are welcomed in beyond Sunday's, then you probably should look elsewhere. There are members and staff there that demonstrate what Jesus Christ wants the church to be. However if you meet one of those that don't it won't be a good experience. I see good reviews on here .no doubt there are good people that attend there. However my post is from 2019 and if your looking for a Starbucks type church this is it. Get your caffeine fix feel good and see u next time. However ,if your looking for a Jamba Juice type place; that is healthier for you long term this isn't To invite someone or attend where you are welcomed with actions, not just words this isn't it. A place where Everyone is welcome with their actions not just words, This isn't it. They offer and will restrict at their discretion so please take head

I am so honored to be the first to review The River. I have been calling this church home for the past 7 years, and it's been an awesome journey. I love the beautiful hearts of the people who faithfully serve. The pastors and staff are absolutely amazing people -- I love that they are real people who share honestly about their own struggles. The people are great as well...there's one service on Sundays (10 am) and it feels like family. I can't imagine going anywhere else (but I'm okay with it if God calls me elsewhere).

The River is a really great place to find community and rest. I enjoy the music a lot, they are very talented and I can feel a lot of peace whenever I am there. Great decor and good messages. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a church.

My family has been attending The River for about 4 1/2 years now. We joined the church in part because of some pre-existing friendships with folks who attended, but also because of the values and personality of the church as a whole. We have found The River to be a welcoming group of people who are trying to understand what it means to live out the Christian faith in the setting of San Jose and Silicon Valley. We also have two young children, 3 and 5, who enjoy the kids' program (Sunday school) and have a real sense of belonging with the other children and the adult volunteers. There is a large number of children at The River, and the church places a high priority on serving them well. The River also has a vibrant set of home groups ("small groups"), and this has been particularly enriching for us over these several years. Many of these are organized around particular topics or phases-of-life (young adult, singles, families, etc). Notably, the church also has established long-term partnerships with local organizations as well as overseas ministries. These relationships enrich our understanding of how God is at work in the world. Last, but not least, I would say that the leadership of the church is authentic, approachable, and caring. Their goal is to provide a place for folks (including themselves) to grow and learn together.

Sunday morning

Outdoor service on our first Sunday at the new location

I've attended for over a year. It's a large church that's multiethnic and people from all walks of life. People are genuinely seeking God and are kind. There are a lot of tech workers. There are Bible based sermons and the Pastors are very educated and go deep into the word. There are also classes on topics and various community-styled events. I'm a young professional and there is a good number of young professionals who attend. The demographic is well balanced. If you are new to the church, I recommend talking to one of the Pastors to see what Christianity is all about and joining a small group to explore and discuss the material. If you are already part of the church and visiting, I recommend joining a small group and serving to connect with people, get a feel for the church, and find out if it's the best fit for you. Keep in mind that there is no perfect church and the church isn't composed of perfect people.

TIME: Aw they used to have a late 11am service, but now it's only at 10? SPEAKER: I always found the messages to be relevant. :) Very well written and delivered. They have a good team. MUSIC: Good, but a little bit commercialized. SEATING: Regular hard chairs. VISUAL: They add in clips of movies. Pretty cool. PEOPLE: Very mixed. ATMOSPHERE: It's in SJSU's second floor of Student Union, so it has a transient kind of feel. Pretty good sized. Convenient for students or people living in downtown. Parking, is mostly at the 10th street garage, so that's like a block of walking.

Been attending the River for the past 5 or so years. I simply love our church! The pastors and staff are incredible people, and you will get to know them personally. The River church challenges me, gives me hope, and has nurtured my relationship with Christ. I can't believe the growth i have experienced in the past 5 years. The Holy Spirit is alive and and doing amazing things through the River.

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