Diamond Lady / Emerald Lady / Golden Lady

You've come to the right place. People who participate in this forum will be able to answer your questions. One of them, the Emerald Lady, became the current Belle of Cincinnati excursion boat.

Thanks Darin. You have no idea how much time I have spent looking for these boats. I was in contact with Bernie Goldstien who is the CEO of Isle Of Capri who owned the boats a couple of years ago and I thought we had a deal to buy the "President" boat, but that deal went south somehow, so I began searching for the three boats.
I'm not looking to start a casino, what I want is a piece of history. As I believe everyone knows, the President boat is on the National Historic Registry, and has a great history, I believe That any of the Lady boats ( especially the Diamond Lady as she was the first casino boat to hit the waters) should be preserved.

The Diamond Lady is rotting away in McKellar Lake in Memphis. Now if you really wanted the PRESIDENT, why don't you contact her owner, David Campbell, who has plans for her, but obviously no funding - and his plans involve cutting her up and transporting her via land to her final spot, not a realistc idea. She is rotting away at Mike's in Wood River Il. on the UMR. If you have the financial means to do a realistic job, PLEASE go after the PREZ- she has much more historical significance than the LADIES.

Ernie,

The GOLDEN LADY (also known as the PAR-A-DICE and ARGOSY V) was cut up and the hull is now a barge as of fall 2006. Judy is right about the DIAMOND LADY and her sad disposition down in Memphis. I might see her in a few days. If I do, I will take a picture of her and post it on here. The EMERALD LADY is now the BELLE OF CINCINNATI, in Cincinnati, OH.

These 3 boats were the best of their breed in my estimation and I had dreams of owning one myself. Alas, I am not in the position to do so. However, should you be Judy is right again, go after the PRESIDENT as she would be the more historic boat to restore!

~Travis~

As much as the Diamond, Emerald and Golden Ladies were built as nice looking relpicas, in terms of real historical boats that need to be rescued, they don't hold a candle to the authentic boats that are in trouble. The PRESIDENT and BECKY THATCHER are examples. The latter is currently for sale, but the price is probably higher than the market will pay. I haven't heard anything new about the plans for the PRESIDENT.

There are other boats that are derelict, but perhaps still salvagable for someone with deep pockets. An example is the MAMIE S. BARRETT, which is also on the National Register, and has been beached at Deer Park, Louisiana since the '93 flood.

Thanks all... I tracked down the Presidents boat current owner Mr. Campbell, he told me what his intentions were and I agreed with him except when it came to the final resting place, " The President " needs to be on the Illinois or Mississippi or Arkansas rivers not in a pond somewhere off the Interstate. I was told it would take close to $15 million to restore it. If the Diamond Lady is in Memphis, then I think a road trip is in order.
I looked up the Belle Of Cincinnati, and was pleasantly surprised, the ole girl looked good. Mr. Biernstien said she had been upgraded and refitted last year before he brought her up to join the rest of his fleet. Too bad about the Golden Lady, it just goes to show some people have wayyyyyyy too much money and not enough sense. Why would anyone destroy that boat just to use the hull as a barge? Ones again, thanks for all your information.

And unless something drastic happens between now and November, 2008, you can probably add our dearly beloved DELTA QUEEN to the long list of historic boats that need to be saved! Congressman Oberstar needs to get a clue!

Hi everyone,

I am working with a group that is trying to establish an historic Riverboat park on the Red River. We have a good shot at realistically saving some of these vessels and returning a few to use. Can anyone provide me with contact information for the Diamond Lady? It would be very helpful.

Thanks

Drew

Judy Patsch;7189 wrote: The Diamond Lady is rotting away in McKellar Lake in Memphis. Now if you really wanted the PRESIDENT, why don't you contact her owner, David Campbell, who has plans for her, but obviously no funding - and his plans involve cutting her up and transporting her via land to her final spot, not a realistc idea. She is rotting away at Mike's in Wood River Il. on the UMR. If you have the financial means to do a realistic job, PLEASE go after the PREZ- she has much more historical significance than the LADIES.

If you are looking for an exhibit/attraction boat, the 1921 steamboat MAMIE S. BARRETT is beached only about 35 miles above the mouth of the Red River, at Deer Park, Louisiana. It would be a "project", but unlike the Diamond Lady, the MAMIE is on the National Register and an authentic steamboat. Among other things, President FDR was a passenger on the boat for several days in 1942, and a special elevator was installed for his use (it's still there). The boat hasn't been rescued due to the selfishness of the present owner. That is the biggest stumbling block. Here are some links:
MAMIE S. BARRETT on steamboats.org
Info on HSPS web site

If you need a boat that can be made operational for cruises, go for the contemporary Diamond Lady. It is listed for sale now and then in the "Boats and Harbors" magazine.

Drew, where on the Red is your park projected to be? I'm working on a directory of steamboats that operated on the Red River system and would be interested both in your project and in cooresponding with you. Please email me.

The President has gotten our attention too. However it is a bit too big of a project for us at first. I don't know if it's too big for the Red River from a cruising standpoint. If it were, we would have to look at restoring it to a stationary status. Either way, that poor boat has undergone so many remodels that we would need to spend a LOT of money to make it actually look historic again (like removing those goofy windows). If our project becomes a reality, providing a home for the President could be a great future expansion.

Steve Huffman;7192 wrote: The PRESIDENT and BECKY THATCHER are examples. The latter is currently for sale, but the price is probably higher than the market will pay. I haven't heard anything new about the plans for the PRESIDENT.

I may be looking in the wrong place, but I can't seem to find the Diamond Lady in or around McKellar Lake. Does anyone have contact info or anything on the boat?

Drew, the last time I saw the boat there she was in Memphis Marine Service's fleet at the upper end of Treasure Island. With this extreme low water, she may have been moved. Go to the dead end of the road there at River Cement dock (off Channel Ave.), look ot your left, and you will see it if it is still where it was the last time I saw it.