Here’s what Vancouver’s McBarge looks like today

The way forward for one of many stranger relics of Expo 86 continues to be unknown, however a brand new brief documentary examines the slowly decaying floating former restaurant.

The doc, produced by Brilliant Solar Movies (which makes a speciality of deserted or forgotten issues) explores the McBarge the place it sits immediately, on the Fraser River in Maple Ridge. 35 years in the past it was one of many many highlights at Expo 86 that was docked at False Creek.

Filmmakers are given an inside tour of the massive, floating construction and discover the previous kitchen and eating areas inside (although a lot of it has been eliminated).

Not solely do you get on board the Friendship 500 (the actual identify for the McBarge), however they interview the present proprietor of the massive floating metallic construction.

Within the video McBarge Proprietor Howard Meakin notes that he by no means anticipated it to take 30 years to get again up and working. Over time there have been some concepts like a museum in regards to the ocean (which he discusses within the doc) however nothing has come out.

He and enterprise colleague Larry McGuiness Talk about the construction that you just discover over-engineered for the wants of the time (it was constructed particularly as a McDonald’s restaurant for Expo 86) and observe that whereas some elements have fallen into disrepair, the superstructure continues to be in is in good situation. Whereas they’re exploring McBarge, the filmmakers additionally observe that whereas some items are in poor form, the principle items seem strong.

Though they’re unable to announce the present plan on account of unfinished enterprise offers, Meakin notes that there are new plans for them McBarge as a part of one thing greater. It could additionally include artifacts from Expo 86 on a renovated higher deck.

“I’d say that inside two years we hope that the barge will likely be relocated and redeveloped.” Meakin says within the documentation.

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