Former Trump casino boat on the move
SARNIA, ON – The casino boat Majestic Star II has been towed from her home of the past two years, BayShip at Sturgeon Bay, by the tug John Marshall. The two, assisted by the local tug Welland, stopped at Sarnia on Sunday. Waterfront reports indicate she will be there for six month. John Marshall dropped the tow off and was headed up Lake Huron later in the day. Majestic Star II (first named Trump Princess) was a floating casino that operated from 1996 to 2021 at Gary, IN. The casino was opened in 1996 by New York–based Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. In December 2005, the Trump Organization sold the casino and hotel to Majestic Star Holdings, which operated the Majestic Star Casino next door, after Indiana eased the state’s casino restrictions in 2015 when a bill was passed authorizing land-based casinos. Another casino boat, Majestic Star, remains at Surgeon Bay for now.
Obituary: Capt. Pat Nelson
Patrick James Nelson, known affectionately to friends and family as Captain Pat, embarked on his final voyage on May 29, 2024, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Born on October 10, 1952, in Port Huron, Michigan, he was the son of the late Gordon and Elizabeth Ann (Cantrell) Nelson.
Captain Pat’s journey began as a deckhand at the age of 18, and his passion for the maritime life led him to a distinguished career as a captain of freighters on the Great Lakes. He retired in 2018 after nearly 50 years of service, with his final years spent with the American Steamship Company. Some of his favorite ships to command were The Wolverine, Sparrows Point, Indiana Harbor and Burns Harbor, each vessel holding a special place in his heart and a story in his captain’s log.
When he wasn’t at the helm or charting courses, Captain Pat could be found using his drone to film the freighters on the Great Lakes, a hobby that combined his love for technology and his lifelong maritime passion.
A gathering and viewing will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Grace Memorial Life Celebration Center, 4521 Ravenswood Road, Kimball, MI 48074. Funeral services will be Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Memorial with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services and interment will follow at Riverlawn Cemetery in Marysville. A reception will conclude in The Lindke Hall at Grace Memorial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Red Cross or the Port Huron FC Sherman Division – U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps – Youth Program.
Make Your Plans Now for Soo
Boatnerd Picnic, Freighter-Chasing Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River during the annual Engineers Day weekend at Sault Ste. Marie June 27-38. Find details on both events here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/boatnerd-soo-gathering-june-27-28-2024/
