If you consider yourself a swashbuckling, buccaneer type, you might want to set your sights on Winnipeg, where a pirate’s treasure could be yours without journeying to the bottom of the sea to claim it.
The Club Regent Casino is giving the heave ho to a large, replica pirate ship that’s been welcoming visitors in its lobby since 1999. The executive general manager of the casino, Rhena Bergmann, told CTV Winnipeg they are getting rid of it now, to make way for a Mayan resort theme.
“It’s a little bit sentimental to say goodbye to this,” Bergmann said.
Mathew Rurarz, the project manager for Paragon Industries, the company tasked with demolishing the casino’s interior, said he couldn’t bear destroying the battered vessel and decided to advertise it for sale online instead.
“The materials and the salvage that’s in the building becomes our property and we are able to sell it or take it to the landfill,” Rurarz said.
The Kijiji listing for the pirate ship, posted on Sept. 19, doesn’t list a price. Prospective buyers are directed to contact Rurarz for more information and to make an offer.
“We will be dismantling it (the ship) soon and will make it available shortly,” the ad said.
The size of the ship, which measures approximately 14 metres by six metres, may pose a problem for potential buyers.
Ed Janczyszyn, a Winnipeg resident, said he was interested in purchasing the vessel to use as a Halloween decoration. As soon as he heard about it, Janczyszyn said he immediately thought about placing the ship on his front lawn and building a Halloween theme around it. Unfortunately, Janczyszyn’s lawn is just too small to accommodate the wooden boat.
“It’s a great ship. I would hate for that thing to be put in the garbage,” he said. “Somebody with a huge yard or out in the country could put that to great use.”
Rurarz said they have received a few offers, but they haven’t settled on anything yet. He’s holding out hope that they will be able to find the ship a suitable new home.
“We think that it could definitely find a good home and set sail somewhere else,” Rurarz said.
With files from CTV Winnipeg
