The Emerald Queen, a 300-foot Mississippi-style paddlewheel riverboat that served as a floating casino in Tacoma, Washington, for 25 years, has been relocated to Seattle for repurposing. The iconic vessel was recently sold to Spectral Crane and Marine, a Seattle-based equipment rental company.

The Puyallup tribe purchased the vessel for $15 million in 1997, operating it as a casino until 2004. Built in 1995 by a Louisiana shipyard, the boat was designed to replicate the classic Mississippi River paddlewheelers of the 19th century. While floating casinos were mandatory in states like Louisiana and Missouri, the Emerald Queen was unique in Washington State.

The vessel played a crucial role in the Puyallup tribe's economic development. In 2004, the tribe agreed with the Port of Tacoma to close the floating casino to allow for commercial waterway development. As compensation, they were permitted to construct a land-based Emerald Queen Casino in Fife, followed by a larger venue in Tacoma in 2020.

Boyer Halverson, owner of Spectral Crane and Marine, has indicated the vessel might be converted into a barge, though final plans remain undetermined. Despite being unused for nearly two decades, the boat has been maintained in pristine condition.

The Puyallup Tribal Council acknowledged the riverboat's significance, stating it "served our Tribe well and laid the foundation for us to open and operate the two premier casinos in the Northwest."

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