26/07/2011 11:27 am
former MISSISSIPPI BELLE
This was the Clinton gambling boat MISSISSIPPI BELLE. Schadlers of the CELEBRATION BELLE had bought her and converted her to a dinner boat here in Moline. She then went to the Harvey Canal where they installed an elevator and other amenities before taking her to Philadelphia. I posted a thread on this last year... what a shame, how can you blow it in less than a year?
26/07/2011 11:46 am
She was based just downriver from me, at a quite visible spot at Penn's Landing, easy walk from Independence Hall, etc. With no inside information, I'd call it being undercapitalized at a bad time. Despite the great location, advertising seemed non-existent. I read the newspapers and watch some TV but never saw a single ad or commercial for her. Hard to get the public to consider booking on you if they don't know you exist ...
Mean time, the sealed-up, space-ship-looking SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA had ads all over the 24-hour news radio station about their "million-dollar renovation".
Sounds like BELLE shot all their money on the fixup and repositioning. Shame - not a bad-looking vessel and we need everything we can to remind the public there's a nice river here.