Pics of Par-a-dice/Golden Lady

Some more pics from Peoria, October 1991.

And still more from the beginning...

1. Southbound in Peoria Lake - October 1991.
2. Southbound through McCluggage bridge - October 1991.
3. Northbound in Peoria "narrows"- spring 1993.

1. & 2. Southbound in Peoria "narrows", Capt. Tobias Pacheco saw me taking pics on the bank and came full ahead to make the pic. better.
3. Tied up in East Peoria - Winter 1993.

1. & 2. Winter 1993 in E. Peoria.
3. Promotional shot taken after launching in Jacksonville.

Capt. John,

What is the TRUE story of the disposition of the GOLDEN LADY (PAR-A-DICE)? I have heard she was cut down to make a barge for the Amazon River, I have heard she is a Hotel Boat, I have heard she is in storage on the GIWW...whats the real story here?

Travis

More pics from the "narrows"in spring1993.

1. Returning to dock at the foot of Main street in Peoria, spring 1993.
2. Stern with Murray Baker bridge in background.

Par-A-Dice at dock in East Peoria, winter 1993-1994.

When I last saw her as the PAR-A-DICE she had the awning aft the pilothouse. I never liked that addition...but, I bet the pax did! Last time I saw this boat was in 2005 at Alton, IL. Her name was ARGOSY V. I still think she would have been the best conversion into an overnight boat there ever was. So what really happened to this boat? Anyone?

Travis, I've heard several stories of what happened to her. I'm going to call the broker that sold her, Lou Daleo, and get the real story...

Argosy V (Golden Lady/Par-a-dice) at Alton in 2005.

After leaving Peoria, the Par-a-dice went to Kansas City, MO. as the Argosy V before going to Souix City. Although she was named Argosy V, she also carried the name Belle of Souix City. The picture didn't scan very well because it is laminated, but it shows the boat arriving in Kansas City in 1994.

Par-a-dice post card showing the boat enroute to Peoria in 1991.

Post card of Argosy V as the Belle of Sioux City.

Where is Capt Toby now???? Randy Naker

[QUOTE=Capt John;23601]1. & 2. Southbound in Peoria "narrows", Capt. Tobias Pacheco saw me taking pics on the bank and came full ahead to make the pic. better.
3. Tied up in East Peoria - Winter 1993.[/QUOTE

I don't know where Toby is now. Last time I saw him, he was working on the Lady Luck in Bettendorf, Iowa. Haven't seen or heard anything about Randy since 1994.

Here's another pretty picture of the Par-a-dice (Golden Lady) I found online from when she was cruising in Peoria, Illinois.

Beautiful boat, the best-looking one of the bunch, with that extra length. I had heard this one was cut up for scrap -- is this true?

Cap,

I have always felt that way...she was a beautiful boat! Could have been one sweetheart of an excursion boat, too!

She was relocated to India back in 2009. Here is a picture of her in Panaji, India as the CASINO CARNIVAL. From what I can find, she is not currently in business and may have been taken, believe it or not, to Alang to be broken up. What a sad end for a beautiful boat built in Florida.

Casino Paddle Boat , Panaji, India

Travis

Lady Boats

In 1991, I sold my recycling business and high-tailed it to Natchez to get in front of the line for the hiring of a crew for the GL, but because the Mississippi gaming laws did not specify that the boats "had to cruise", it was interpreted they "didn't have to get underway". There I was in a strange land owning a house with no prospect for a job, but the company still had plans for some type of operation, and every time the GM posted a job ad, I replied with a resume to include "Sous Chef" and "HR Director". After a while we got to know each other and he invited me to apply at the Bettendorf, Iowa office... which I did, and was hired by Capt. Ken Murphy on the DIAMOND LADY after I assured him I had worked with Cap'n Howard Tate, Murf's first captain. So I can thank Captain Tate for helping me break into the casino boat bizz where I stayed a few months shy of twenty years.

Who knows... if the DL had operated underway at Natchez, I may have spent many happy days cruising between Silver Street and Magnolia Bluff and back.

I did a little digging and the Golden Lady/Par-a-dice has NOT been scrapped and is still operating in India. In the first two pics you can see that the stacks have been shortened and are now in the upright position.

Glad to see she is still around, just wish she was still in the U.S.A.

Here are a few more of the "Casino Carnival" in India. From what I've heard she is the best of the bunch over there.

1. Close up of boarding area.
2. Before the stacks were shortened.
3. Top deck party area.

Functions?

Glad to see she still exists, but these pictures puzzle me. Does she still cruise? It looks like she is tied off out in the harbor and people board by a water taxi or something? I don't see any dock in the background.