Derelict ship left for decades was once floating McDonald’s
- This barge was a McDonald’s on water back in 1986
- It’s not seen a Big Mac ever since
- Many attempts have been made to put the boat back to use
Published on Sep 21, 2024 at 8:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Sep 20, 2024 at 6:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This empty ship isn’t much to look at now – but over 30 years ago, it was a floating McDonald’s.
Yes, you read that right – a McDonald’s on water.
This ‘McBarge’ was opened in 1986 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, before being removed five years later.
It has a long and unfortunate history, spending most of its life not functioning as a restaurant.
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The origins of the floating McDonald’s
Amusingly, this isn’t the first time that the fast fast food chain has taken to the water.
The first was opened up in St. Louis, Missouri, US.
When the Canadian barge was opened, it was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication.
The plan was to continue using it as a restaurant once the fair had concluded, but it remained largely empty.
In 1991, the new owner of the grounds forced McDonald’s to remove it.
For the last 33 years, it has been anchored in Burrard Inlet, which is 14 miles north of the city of Burnaby.
In the years since, the barge has largely gone unused.
What a shame – it could be a nice place to enjoy this Cybertruck McFlurry.
One exception was in 2003, when Marvel Entertainment and New Line Cinema rented it out for the filming of Blade: Trinity.
Its role in the film? The lair of the Nightstalkers.
Given that the Nightstalkers are a trio of occult experts who fight supernatural forces, a derelict barge is a fitting setting.
Will anything be done with the boat?
Over the years, many ideas have been put forward on what to do with the disused vessel.
There were suggestions to turn it into a homeless shelter to help ease Vancouver’s overcrowded shelters.
In 2017, the idea was floated that it could become an attraction, but an event to launch a crowdfunder was cancelled due to bad weather.
Likewise, a petition to have it granted historical status only reached a meager 185 signatures.
A seafood restaurant was even raised as an idea at one point.
But all these years later, it still remains unused and in increasingly bad shape.
It’s been ripe for YouTube explorers over the years, who have been popping in to explore.
YouTube explorers love taking a look inside derelict vehicles – like this guy who headed into a RV that had been left on the side of a road.
