The Delta Queen might be sold to a hotelier in New Smyrna Beach, FL who intends to convert her into a floating hotel, much like her sister ship, the Delta King in Sacramento, CA. Very likely this will make it impossible for the boat to ever sail again.
What makes the Delta Queen so special is the fact her original steam plant is completely intact unlike any other overnight passenger boat, but if the Delta Queen’s fans don’t act quickly her uniqueness may be lost forever.
In order for deal to go through the potential buyer must obtain approval from several agencies. The Save the Deta Queen Campaign recommends supporters to take a couple moments to review this information and contact the agencies listed below to express your concerns. The boat’s wooden superstructure was not designed for salt water environments and will probably not survive long there. The National Trust for Historic Preservation would also like to hear from you regarding the Delta Queen as she is designated a National Historic Landmark.
According to Smyrna Beach’s City Manager Pam Brangaccio the commission will consider the proposal for the Delta Queen at its Sept. 11, 2012 meeting.
For more details about the plans regarding the Delta Queen at Smyrna Beach, see the full article the Daytona Beach New-Journal: “Delta Queen riverboat hotel remains sole proposal for NSB land”.
The Delta Queen needs your support. Please call, write, email and fax your concerns.
The following is contact information for the entities that have to give their approvals:
City of New Smyrna Beach Council
http://www.cityofnsb.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/722
New Smyrna Beach City Hall
210 Sams Avenue
New Smyrna Beach, Florida 3216
Phone: 386.424.2112
Fax: 386.424.-2109
City Officials:
Mayor: Adam Barringer (abarringer@cityofnsb.com)
Vice Mayor: James Hathaway (jhathaway@cityofnsb.com)
City Commissioner: JS Grasty (jgrasty@cityofnsb.com)
Commissioner: Lynne Plaskett (lplaskett@cityofnsb.com)
City Commissioner: Judy Reiker (jreiker@cityofnsb.com)
US Army Corps of Engineers
Jacksonville Regulatory Division
Cocoa Section
400 High Point Drive, Suite 600, Cocoa, FL 32926
Fax: 321.504.3803
Contact: Irene Sadowski, Section Chief (irene.sadowski@usace.army.mil)
US Coast Guard
Station Ponce De Leon Inlet
Atlantic District 7 – Sector Jackonville
USCG Station Ponce de Leon
2999 N. Peninsula Ave.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32169
Phone: 386.428.9085
Fax: 386.428.0188
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
Southern Region
456 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Contact: Nancy Tinker – Senior Field Officer (nancy_tinker@nthp.org)
Phone: 843.722.8552
Fax: 843.722.8652
Headquarters Office:
1785 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036-2117
Email: info@savingplaces.org
September 26th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
City of New Smyrna Beach FL has voted NOT to buy the Delta Queen! Both the Vice Mayor Judy Reiker & the lady Commissioner voted against, saying this move was in the best interests of neither their city nor the Delta Queen.
We may yet be able to Save the Delta Queen!!!
comment left 9/26/2012
September 26th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Unfortunately, there were three others who votes FOR the Delta Queen project – it was a 3:2 decision, so this is not over yet. There are some more steps to go and all this is far from being determined. But fact is, this project is still alive and may result in the Delta Queen going to New Smyrna Beach eventually.