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Delta Queen may find new home
Published Monday, August 25, 2008
Natchez — When the Delta Queen’s congressional exemption ends on Oct. 31, its history will live on if the city of Alexandria has its way.
The city is looking to form a partnership with Majestic America Cruise Lines, or whoever purchases the line, to permanently anchor the historic steamer on Alexandria’s Red River, economic development head Bill Hess said.
“If it does stop sailing because of the non-certification placed on it we would be interested in doing a public-private deal where they would continue to own and operate it as a stationary type of boutique hotel and dinner theater,” Hess said. “That type of thing is similar to what was done out in California with the sister ship, The Delta King. Basically we would operate it as what it was, except it wouldn’t sail.”
The Delta King has been very successful as a hotel and mirrors the plan of Hess has for Alexandria.
The ship has traditionally been given an exemption from a congressional act that prevents a vessel with that much wood from sailing with overnight guests. This year the Delta Queen was denied this traditional exemption.
However, Hess and other are still fighting to keep the boat on the water.
“We want it to stay on the rivers,” Hess said. “We want it to keep coming back to Natchez and to keep coming back to Alexandria as a sailing vessel. Our biggest fear is we don’t want to see the Delta Queen in a marina somewhere rotting.”
Majestic America Lines is also fighting to keep the ship sailing, Public Relations Director Vanessa Bloy said.
“The company is evaluating its strategic alternatives, but the primary goal is to extend the congressional exemption and find a way where the Delta Queen’s rich heritage can be celebrated for generations to come.”
In the event that their efforts fail, the company is looking for alternatives for the Delta Queen.
“Several credible parties have expressed an interest in acquiring some, parts or all of Majestic America Cruise Lines,” Bloy said.
Natchez residents also hope that something can be done to save the Delta Queen.
“I would love it if it would continue to sail, both because it’s good for our town economically and it’s a part of history,” Natchez Pilgrimage Tours Director Marsha Colson said. “It would still be wonderful for us locally to have it as close as Alexandria.”
Beyond the historical significance of the ship, it has had a large economic impact on city.
“Any time you bring a vessel through that may have hundreds of people on it, even if they don’t stay overnight, those people come in town, they come into the shops, sometimes during the Pilgrimage they would stay over night and spend money there,” Colson said. “I’d say it’s a significant impact.”
While Natchez residents have joined the effort to save the ship, no one has made an attempt to bring it to the city permanently, Colson said.
Tony Byrne, former mayor of Natchez, said he wished the boat could be docked here.
“It’s a shame it can’t be here in Natchez,” Byrne said. “I’m not knocking Alexandria, but it’s no Mississippi River.”
Bee Byrne, a Natchez Pilgrimage Tours guide, has shown many Delta Queen guests around the city and would love to see it preserved.
“I think it would be a excellent idea,” said Bee. “It’s a remnant of our history that certainly should be preserved.”
Whatever happens to the Delta Queen, it will stop in Natchez on its tribute tour Nov. 3.
Comments
Posted by sterlinged (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 1:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hats off to Alexandria for being industrious in courting the
Majestic American Cruise Lines to permanently dock the Delta Queen in their city... As Tony Byrne stated, the Red River is no Mississippi River, and with Natchez attempting to become more of a tourist destination, we are dropping the ball on this one.... Our prized Silver Street could really be developed, and could resemble Savanah, GA.'s riverfront---talk about a tourist draw... Unfortunately, we can't seem to see the forest for the trees... and we have people who are too selfish to let something like that happen... Can't you see Silver Street bustling again with shops, restaurants, and the Delta Queen permanently located there??? The 20 years I have lived here, I keep telling myself that Natchez is a diamond in the rough, with so much potential... It's time to let that diamond shine!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 4:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sterlinged, If Natchez has a masterplan for riverfront development that includes more than casino, casino, casino, then it has been wonderfully hidden from the public. Casino dollars seem to have blinded some folks to the potential beauty of the type of development you describe.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great thinking Alexandria...
I agree with both comments...
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To sterlinged and OGD...like they say...money talks and you-know-what walks! One man (Under the Hill) and one industry (gambling) has been allowed to monopolize Natchez...that's why yall ain't getting a new rec center for the youths, no new industry (other than casinos), and no new growth, except for that which has been banked on from the casinos. Too much selfishness and "who is who" going on across the river to achieve doodley-squat for the regular folk (the majority).
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe Butch Brown could buy the Delta Queen since he is constantly wanting to "do good" for the city of Natchez and he certainly has the money.
Posted by BeautifullyDefined (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NEW MALL WITH NEW STORES, IT'S A SHAME WHENEVER I WANT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING NICE I HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GET IT, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT NTZ.? OR ON THE OTHER HAND I CAN TAKE BEING SOMEONE'S TWIN AT A LOCAL EVENT.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can't make a city build the retail shops you want. People with money who want to invest and think it is a good idea have to want to do that. I've seen it time and time again. People froth at the mouth for you to open a business and then they forget about you once you open the doors. There is not enough money moving around the Natchez economy to justify more of the same. Industry and job development should come first and the rest would ultimately follow.
Posted by sayitlouder (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey sayitloud, maybe Butch could buy the boat and get on it and leave this area with all the sorry buildings he had built. Pretty soon we will have more employees at the convention center than worked at IP.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My thoughts exactly!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For all you Butch bashers -- what have YOU done! Nothing but run your mouths. At least Butch looks to Natchez to support it and improve it. So He has more money than you and me -- that is what America is about. Quit bashing and be supportive.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's bashing? Suggesting dahlin, that's all.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Passing thoughts...
A New Mall? I do not see that happening. The population in Natchez has shrunk, not increased. The mall that is there now is at the edge of closing all the time.
A riverfront develpoment would be wonderful, include in it an area that people could walk along the riverfront all the way from one street (Silver) to the next( Roth Hill) ..maybe even some area where you could fish from the pier in the river.....like San Diego and Savannah.
A new recreation Center would be enormous for younger families. If the casinos really want to raise funds for something that would draw in younger families, they would back this all the way to the bank....(wink wink)
How about some small industry with great potential, like a plant that makes Bio-fuel...Like Rentech...lol...or one that makes windmills....these would work along the top of the river all the way from Woodville to Vicksburg.......
Have a great day.
Posted by mudd (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
didn't someone buy up the property on silver street to make it his residential area?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One of the Biglanes I think.
Posted by BeautifullyDefined (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SayItRight, sry but I never said anything about making the city build a new mall. It was only a suggestion.
Posted by livelaughlove (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am good friends with all of the Biglanes and do not know of any of them buying property on Silver. Sayitloud, please do not start rumors using names. And your sarcastic comments concerning this area aren't appreciated. You should be asking God for forgiveness.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For what exactly? Nothing I said was even close to being sarcastic.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So who do you think lives over the gift shop down there since you are such big friends of theirs??
IROTFLMAO!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been wanting to take a cruise on that boat, guess I had better hurry up.
But then I got to thinking about if it would really be that much fun, all those old folks, no gambling, no drinking, no dancing, no band....... lot of ugly old women, alright I take it back, that was mean. Trapped on that boat on the river for two weeks would be boring as hades most likely, maybe I'm wrong.
And it does cost a lot of money and it's hard to work out their schedule, you have to get on at certain points and then how to get back home. You can't board here at Natchez, I always thought that really sucked. If they don't want my business, they can take their boat and shove it over to Alex. I've been down there to talk to anybody about a cruise, hell those lame riverrats on that boat wouldn't/couldn't give me any info on the cruises and actually seemed to me they couldn't care less. They practically tried to run me off cause I didn't have a ticket already. They were pretty rude to me I thought. So why should I give a hoot what happens to that boat the way they treated me. But for the city and riverfront it would be cool if one of the casinos, or Vidalia (they have sense enough to make an offer to the boat maybe?)or Natchez (guess it would be up to Middleton to show some initiative on that) would get it docked here or on the other side.
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry Mr Rogers but the boats, the Delta, the Miss, or the American bring tons of money into the town of Natchez with the people taking tours, riding on the carriages, shopping in our shops, eating in our restaurants,etc. I think maybe you are perhaps mad at them for being "too old" to take karate lessons from you?
Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
James Biglane does own a large portion of the land Under The Hill on Silver Street.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RIGHT! SO maybe they aren't telling you everything about them livelaughlove!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yeah I guess you're right gottabehappy
I think I'm just in a bad mood cause I'm tired of the rain
I have wanted to take that cruise for a long time though, I think it would be fun, they just rubbed me the wrong way when I tried to board the boat and talk about a cruise
Please Lord let us have some sunshine!!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gottabehappy
do you really think they spend a TON of money
maybe a few drinks at the Saloon, but I don't think they really spend any money, they're off and back on the boat pretty quick aren't they? How long do they stay onshore here?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You gotta love and admire a guy like Krogers that can admit when he is wrong! Good for you Krogers!!
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree sayitloud! It takes a big man to stand up and admit that so kuddos to you Mr Rogers!
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Delta Queen is quite a paddle-wheeler, and well worth preserving, unless she has deteriorated considerably since the last time I saw her. In years past in Kentucky, we used to watch her routinely "thump" the Belle of Louisville, in the annual steamboat race, part of the festivities leading up to the Kentucky Derby. It only seems fitting for a craft named the Delta Queen to be moored in Mississippi; absent that, its great that Alexandria is willing to oblige...
Posted by watcher (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck Alex, the Delta King is in a city of 400,000 and a short drive for MILLIONS. Hardly a fair comparison.
Posted by Keith (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While it would be appropriate for the area, chances of obtaining the DELTA QUEEN are probably very remote. However, the old steamboat BECKY THATCHER, formerly the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sternwheeler MISSISSIPPI, which worked the rivers from 1926 until 1961, is available on Ebay. She's been converted to restaurant/bar/showboat/museum/gift shop use and has been available for several years now. The boat is moored at Marietta, Ohio on the Ohio River.
It would be nice to have a riverboat, other than a casino, at historic Natchez-Under-The-Hill, which is certainly NOT what the tourist brochures advertise any longer. Silver Street needs HELP!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just don't see UTH ever being a tourist spot again. The city has allowed one man to rake his possessions greedily into one tight wad, thereby ruining the flavor of the place. From the way it's marketed to tourists, you'd expect UTH to take you back in time to a rough and bawdy spot on the river. But nope...you drive down, get your hopes up with Andre's saloon, but then it's all over. Might as well stop and get a beer, watch the sun descend, then roll 'er on home.
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