Lt. Robert E. Lee riverboat to be auctioned off
St. Louis Business Journal
The Lt. Robert E. Lee riverboat, used for decades as a restaurant and nightspot along the Mississippi River, will be auctioned off Dec. 19.
The 19th-century replica riverboat is located about a quarter mile south of the Gateway Arch on the St. Louis riverfront.
The 39-year-old vessel was renovated in 2000 and is 213 feet long, 54 feet wide and 72 feet high from the waterline to the top of the smoke stacks. It is 17,000 square feet, with four outdoor decks, multiple bars and dining areas with room for 500 diners, a saloon with a stage and several commercial kitchens.
Although used as a floating restaurant, it could also serve as a hotel, crew quarters or sales office for a marina, said Bill Manley, one of the riverboat's four owners.
"We have invested a lot in the boat to make it structurally sound and return it to its former glory,” he said. “We're sorry to be selling but look forward to seeing the riverboat up and running again.”
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will sell the riverboat, along with a selection of heavy equipment and trucks, at its unreserved public auction at 8 a.m. Dec. 19 at 1400 Shapiro Drive in Festus.
"Most locals and many tourists have enjoyed dining and dancing to live Dixieland music on the Lt. Robert E. Lee — including me,” said Nick Pacino, Ritchie Bros. territory manager, in a statement. “It's a local icon."
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