The McBarge (a.k.a. the McDerelict) is a Floating McDonalds Abandoned Since the 1986 World’s Fair
The Vancouver Expo featured a floating McDonald’s restaurant in 1986. A one of a kind attraction that easily became the star of the show with people lining up to see it. After all the crowds had left, the restaurant unfortunately closed. It now sits in the waters of Burrard Inlet, abandoned, neglected and unused. Here are some amazing before and after photos featuring the “McBarge” and the incredible decay that has occurred. Take a look:
Originally opened during the 1986 Vancouver Expo, it was one of the most popular attractions at the time.
The floating restaurant cost $8 million to build. It was marketed as a luxury dining experience for 1980s yuppies who were increasingly rejecting fast food.
… and the interior featured hardwood floors, potted plants, and spectacular views from large bay windows.
Adding to the experience of a “high class establishment”, the kitchen was hidden from sight, and food arrived on conveyor belts.
Sadly, once the Expo ended, the restaurant was quickly forgotten, and was abandoned to drift and decay in Burrard Inlet.
Today, photographers and urban explorers sometimes take pictures of the crumbling condition of the “McBarge” (aka “The McDerelict”)…
The insides have been stripped of all salvageable materials, and the rusty hull sits unused and exposed to the elements.
There have been proposals to turn it into a homeless shelter or a recreational paddlewheel boat, or even a riverfront destination with a seaplane terminal.
Meanwhile, this former spectacle of 1980s consumerism floats on the water, a silent reminder of another century’s vision for the future.
Heavy repairs, remodeling and restoring would likely be needed after so many years of neglect. But you would think turning it into something useful like a homeless shelter would be better than just leaving it sit and rot like this. A lot of potential just going to complete waste.
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