Kalakala Not Dead Yet (But adjacent to hell in Tacoma)

For years it was an eyesore/interesting feature of Portage Bay. Just blocks away from Gasworks Park, the Kalakala stood bow to shore for quite some time with its bulk jutting out into the lake for kayakers to paddle around and yachts to navigate by. Seattlest would occasionally run into some unpaid nautical artisan who lived and worked on the thing at area bars, but nothing ever seemed to get done. The Kalakala always looked like its dilapidated self.

It was in Seattle's best interest to get the Kalakala restored and cruising, but even through the boom years money for the project was tight. Word on the dock was that owner Peter Bevis was very reluctant to trade influence in the project's direction for money. Aren't artists cute, with their integrity and all? The ferry spent its time in Lake Union growing rust and moorage bills at prodigious rates and the Department of Natural Resources even chimed in with a few fines of its own.

When the Kalakala was sold at auction in 2003 the lucky winner purchased a package deal that included the boat itself, the outstanding moorage, and the fines. The parking spot was not included in the contract, though, and the Kalakala bounced around a bit after it was purchased by the Kalakala Alliance Foundation. Port Angeles was the first ill-fated home and then Neah Bay. The ferry was chased out of both locations by a renewed hail of fines. The port du jour is Hylebos Bay in Tacoma.

Some good news finally came down the pipe for the Kalakala, though. The state Department of Natural Resources is dropping its $20,000 claim against the foundation. Seattlest hopes that this is the first of a flurry of dropped lawsuits against the Kalakala, because that's the obvious first step in getting it restored and in a state that would allow Seattlest to sip a cocktail on its deck as it slices through the Sound in its peculiar art-deco fashion (which is a dream of ours). Unless it's in Tacoma. We'd rather see it on the bottom of the Sound than in Tacoma...

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Dan in Miscellaneous on February 22, 2005 11:02 AM

Comments [rss]

Beth

Nice! I can dig that ... just float around and get all your Seattlest stories from on board, as long as you allow guests of course :-)

Dan

We sent contributor Jonathan into the future to get a snapshot of the restored Kalakala.

This is what he brought back!

Dan

As a transplanted Midwesterner, there's a place in my heart for floating casinos. In the Midwest, "the boats" is synonymous with casinos. "I can't afford it - I've been losing my ass at the boats all weekend."

Of course I wouldn't want that to be the fate of the Kalakala. I'm not sure I'm very excited about the mundane task of regular ferry service either...

Beth

Ok, so we know we don't want Casino Kalakala... so Bill should just give *me* the money and I'll fix it up :-) I would love to commute on the Kalakala everyday. Bliss. And I'd design seats that are actually *comfortable*. And serve gourmet coffee and tea. Dream on...

Editor Democracy for Puget Sou

Oh come on. Tacoma has been the blunt of Seattle based jokes from Almost Live for years.

We joke because we love.

Seriously I wonder what they are going to to with the Hyak. I met my girlfreind on that boat.

handpuppets

Sure sure, pick on Tacoma. Maybe you should come visit sometime. All of the sound views, none of the overpriced condos blocking the view. And you can actually witness what it's like to have light rail.

-Signed a former Seattlite living large in Tacoma.

susan

Here's the dark side of what can happen to these cool old art deco boats--the Admiral in St. Louis. Here it is, in historical perspective: http://www.steamboats.org/gal-admiral.htm

And here's what St. Louis did with it:

http://www.presidentcasino.com/stlouis/

Be careful what you wish for!

Dan

I completely agree. How can a monstrosity like the EMP get built with the shell of the Kalakala sitting right there?

Beth

What I don't get is why Paul Allen or Bill Gates or someone like that doesn't just fork over the cash. I mean the Kalakala is COOL. And look at all the tourist dollars the ferry system brings in. If I had as much money as Paul or Bill I would just donate it. The few hundred thousand it will take to get it fixed up and working again, even if it's a couple mill, that's like a drop in the bucket for these guys.

Oh well.