In a major power play that's set to revitalize San Antonio's tour bus scene, Historic Tours of America has officially pulled into town, ready to take over where City Sightseeing has left off. The national tour company announced plans to quickly launch trolley bus tours come March, after purchasing some assets from City Sightseeing, according to the San Antonio Report. City Sightseeing, once recognized by its iconic red double-deckers, closed down on January 9.
Historic Tours is seemingly ready to not only fill these vacant streets but to notably enhance the experience with stadium-style trolleys under the Old Town Trolley Tours banner. "We have been looking to expand and the opportunity presented itself in this amazing city," Historic Tours CEO Chris Belland said, signaling their commitment to their new San Antonio operations. The intended expansion isn't solely about routes; the national tour company has also invested in the local community, setting down roots with a 4.6-acre property to house offices and a maintenance barn for their fleet, as per the San Antonio Report.
As part of the take-over, Historic Tours is incorporating the former City Sightseeing workforce into its operations. Roughly 20 employees will be donning new uniforms and training to operate the orange-and-green trolleys. The revamped tour routes promise to deliver an extended reach across the city, allowing tourists to absorb the rich history and visit attractions as far north as the San Antonio Zoo and the Witte Museum, declared Stephen Burress, regional manager at Historic Tours.
Dubbed "The Nation's Storyteller," Historic Tours seems intent on weaving its narrative of American heritage into the fabric of San Antonio's already vibrant tourist tapestry. The company boasts a variety of themed tours that span across several U.S. cities—and plans to bring that same dedication to storytelling to this Texan city. From ghosts and the Boston Tea Party to President Harry Truman’s "Little White House," they aim to cover subjects sure to capture the imaginations of their passengers.
The transition from City Sightseeing to Historic Tours also illuminates the shifting tides of local business alliances. David Strainge, the former owner of City Sightseeing San Antonio, has tipped his hat to the new fleet and is moving on different ventures, including ownership stakes in establishments near Alamo Plaza. Strainge commented to the San Antonio Report that his bars are "ticking along rather nicely," marking a calm handover in the changing landscape of San Antonio's tourism sector.
