Photo: Sherrill Witt, President - Trolley Tours
CLEVELAND - After 37 years in service, the Trolley Tours of Cleveland will officially end operations in late May 2022. Upon the announcement, the Trolley Tours Of Cleveland released a statement and some interesting facts that you can read below.
TROLLEY TOURS OF CLEVELAND
Facts & Figures for 37 years in business:
Years in Business: April 15, 1985, to May 30, 2022 – 37 years
Number of Trolleys in service: As many as 15 vehicles, but reduced to 8 over the last 20 years to better meet demand (Even owned the old Buzzard Bus!)
Number of miles covered in 37 years: 3.1 million miles
Number of Employees who worked at Lolly the Trolley: Approx. 150 people
Number of people estimated to have ridden the trolleys: 2.5 million people
Number of Weddings Lolly attended: 4,000+ (including children of people we married in the 80’s and 90’s)
Number of School Children who saw Cleveland: Approximately 300,000+
Favorite Annual Event: The St. Patrick’s Day Parade with all 8 trolleys in it!
Most Meaningful Participation: The Annual Peace Officers Memorial Parade carrying families of those who gave their lives in service to our community.
Biggest Parade for Lolly: The 2016 NBA Championship Parade in Downtown CLE
Oldest Celebrity on Lolly: Playwright George Abbot’s 100th Birthday in Playhouse Square in 1987
Most exciting new aspect of business: Touring thousands of visitors from Great Lakes Cruise Ships around our city in 2017-2018-2019
Biggest Changes: Cell phones & computers to make business easier
Regrets: None
TROLLEY TOURS OF CLEVELAND
May 13, 2022
CONTACT: Sherrill Paul Witt
CLEVELAND, OHIO – A beloved icon of the city since 1985, Trolley Tours of Cleveland, will officially end operations in late May 2022, announced owners Sherrill Paul Witt and Peter Paul.
Known affectionately as “Lolly the Trolley,” the cheerful red trolleys have served as the city’s ambassadors, welcoming visitors and Clevelanders alike to experience Cleveland’s past, present and future in a positive light. Trolley Tours of Cleveland offered sightseeing tours and special event transportation at a time when downtown Cleveland’s burgeoning revitalization was just beginning to unfold.
Sherrill Paul Witt reminisced, “There were few people living in downtown in 1985 and there was no Rock Hall or Science Center. Baseball and football were at the old Municipal Stadium and the Flats, Ohio City and Tremont were just developing with urban pioneers working on rehabbing homes and loft spaces. Playhouse Square was in its infancy and the Cleveland Clinic was bringing Euclid Avenue back to life. In spite of it all, we entertained people with Cleveland’s colorful history and future predictions of what was going to come, all said with our fingers crossed!”
During the past 37 years, Trolley Tours of Cleveland has served more than 2.5 million people including visitors and locals, from elementary, middle school and university programs to alumni events and personal events like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and family reunions, as well as corporate events, community events and Lolly’s perennially popular Holiday Lights Rides.
No matter what the major community event, Trolley Tours was there. Whether it was the MLB All-Star Games, World Series, NBA Finals and Championship Parade, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, Sparx in the City, Gay Games, Children’s Games or the Republican National Convention, to name just a few, Lolly was always invited to attend. People exiting the trolleys at these events often commented on the beauty of Cleveland and how much they had learned.
“Our company from Day One has always been the people we hired from all walks of life who had a passion for Cleveland. Over the years, this talented, loyal and enthusiastic family of employees helped carry our mission forward…to provide a fun, educational experience and, in the process, totally change people’s opinions about Cleveland,” Sherrill Paul Witt said. “We will always be proud of what we did to help Cleveland become the dynamic city it is today” she added.
“Though it saddens us to end this wonderful 37 year love affair with Trolley Tours and with Cleveland”, said Sherrill Paul Witt, “It is time for us to move on to our next adventures in life.”
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