The owners of
sightseeing company Kitsap Tours have set their
sights on retirement.
Founders Jean and Jim Boyle plan to step away after their tour season ends in November. They hope to sell the company before then.
“I’d like to see someone take the business and do a lot more with it, rather than shutting the doors and selling the bus,” Jean said. “There are so many more opportunities.”
Kitsap Tours picks up passengers from the Bainbridge Island ferry and shuttles them to popular West Sound destinations. A video monitor in the bus plays interpretive footage along the way.
The company’s three main tour packages include a visit to Bloedel Reserve, an excursion around Bainbridge Island, and a foray from the island into Poulsbo, Port Gamble and Suquamish.Trips to the Olympic Peninsula and local farms are offered periodically. The business operates four days a week.
Jean sees potential for a new owner to expand Kitsap Tours with more vehicles (it currently has one bus) and a broader offering of tours and shuttle services. She said the company grown steadily since launching in 2010 and drew more than 1,000 tourists to Kitsap last year. It’s well reviewed on sites like TripAdvisor.
The Boyles are looking forward to spending more time in their garden, but they’ll also miss life as tour guides.
“It’s just fun,” Jean said. “It’s a fun business.”
Read our 2010 story on the launch of Kitsap Tours here. For more on the sale of Kitsap Tours, click here.
