The McBarge, officially named the Seaborne II (formerly the Friendship 500), was a former McDonald's restaurant, built on a 187-foot-long (57 m)[1] barge for Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia.[2] Moored on Expo grounds in Vancouver's False Creek, it was the second floating McDonald's location in the world (the first being in St. Louis, Missouri), intended to showcase future technology and architecture.[2][3] Although the floating design allowed for the barge to operate in a new location following the exhibition, the derelict McBarge was anchored empty in Burrard Inlet[4] from 1991, amid industrial barges and an oil refinery,[2] until it was moved in December 2015 to Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Apart from brief use as a McDonald's restaurant in 1986, the McBarge has never actively been used for anything and was drifting from owner to owner for 34 years. By the end of March 2025, the McBarge had capsized and partially sank into the Fraser River in Maple Ridge.[5][6]
History
[edit]The floating restaurant was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for Expo 1986 and was one of five McDonald's locations on the Expo grounds, all of which were constructed for a total of $12 million.[3] McDonald's originally intended to continue using it as a restaurant after Expo 86, but the barge remained empty at the Expo grounds until 1991, when the new owner of the grounds forced McDonald's to remove it.[7] It was then anchored derelict in Burrard Inlet, north of Burnaby, British Columbia.[4][8]
In 2003, Marvel Entertainment and New Line Cinema rented the barge as a filming location for the 2004 film Blade: Trinity.[9] In June 2009, the McBarge's owner, Gastown developer Howard Meakin, submitted a proposal to the Mission city council for a waterfront development on the Fraser River, with the former McBarge as the centrepiece. Named "Sturgeon's on the Fraser", the development would include multiple restaurants and a marina complex, including paddlewheeler excursions and float plane service to Victoria and Nanaimo.[2][10] Concerns over float plane noise and other environmental issues meant the development was ultimately rejected.[1] Another proposal that had been put forward without owner interest included using the barge as a homeless shelter to alleviate overcrowding in Vancouver's temporary shelters.[11]
In December 2015, Meakin announced that the barge would soon be leaving Burrard Inlet after nearly 30 years. It was moved to Maple Ridge, British Columbia on December 22. The barge was scheduled for a $4.5-million refit there before being relocated to an undisclosed location.[1] In 2017, the barge's owners, alongside diving pioneer Phil Nuytten, announced plans to convert it into an attraction called the Deep Ocean Discovery Centre.[12][13][14] An event was planned for 21 October 2017 to launch a crowdfunding campaign, but was cancelled due to weather concerns.[15]
In 2020, it was reported that there were plans to refit the barge into a seafood restaurant, though a location had not been secured.[16] Later in 2021 it was reported that an undisclosed site had been selected but was awaiting government approval.[17] On March 26, 2025, it was reported that the McBarge had partially sunk into the Fraser River in Maple Ridge.[5][18] Transport Canada was unable to locate the current owner at that time, because Meakin died in April 2025, shortly after the vessel capsized.[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Brend, Yvette (December 21, 2015). "Derelict Expo 86 'McBarge' to set sail for mystery port after 30-year retirement - British Columbia - CBC News". CBC.ca. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Toth, Christina (August 20, 2010). "McBarge, a floating relic from Expo 86, gaining new friends on Facebook". Abbotsford Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ a b Rudolph, Barbara; Stoler, Peter (April 28, 1986). "Westward Ho to Expo 86". Time. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
- ^ a b Sandals, Leah (January 13, 2010). "The innocence of a newborn McBarge". National Post. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b Judd, Amy (March 26, 2025). "The McBarge, a former floating McDonald's, is sinking into the Fraser River". Global News. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Carrigg, David (March 26, 2025). "Transport Canada called in as McBarge sinks quietly into the Fraser River". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ "McBarge floats to new site". Kitchener-Waterloo Record. July 11, 1991. p. B.4. Archived from the original (Pay-Per-View) on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
- ^ Lee, John (2009). Walking Vancouver: 36 Walking Tours Exploring Spectacular Waterfront, Dynamic Neighborhoods, Hip Hangouts, and Tasty Diversions (Google Books search). Wilderness Press. p. 106. ISBN 9780899974903. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
- ^ Jessen, Mark (March 20, 2019). "Whatever Happened to the Abandoned McBarge?". Man of Many. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
- ^ "Gastown developer eyes Mission waterfront". Abbotsford Times. Canwest. July 27, 2009. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
- ^ Howell, Mike (January 8, 2009). "Of Olympic promises, shelter stats and the McBarge..." Vancouver Courier. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Lindsay, Bethany (October 15, 2017). "From Expo to exploration: McBarge to find a new purpose at sea". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ "The McBarge, once a floating McDonald's, preps for a new look under the sea". Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ Lindsay, Bethany. "From Expo to exploration: McBarge to find a new purpose at sea". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Bring Back McBarge Kickoff Event Postponement Notice". Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
- ^ "Future of McBarge parked in Maple Ridge revealed". Maple Ridge News. March 10, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ "Expo 86 icon closer to finding permanent home, owner says". Surrey Now-Leader. February 5, 2021. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ Carrigg, David (March 26, 2025). "Transport Canada called in as McBarge sinks quietly into the Fraser River". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ Judd, Amy (March 31, 2025). "Owner of sinking McBarge still yet to be found, Transport Canada says". Global News. Archived from the original on April 5, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
49°11′03″N 122°34′03″W / 49.184197°N 122.567424°W / 49.184197; -122.567424