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

The Puyallup tribe purchased the vessel for $15 million in 1997, operating it as a waterfront casino until 2004. Built in 1995 by a Louisiana shipyard, the boat brought a unique Mississippi River charm to Washington's waters, standing out as a novelty in the state's gaming landscape.

In 2004, the tribe reached an agreement 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.

The vessel, maintained in pristine condition throughout its retirement, may be converted into a barge according to Spectral Crane and Marine's owner Boyer Halverson, though final plans remain undetermined.

The Puyallup Tribal Council acknowledged the riverboat's significance in their statement: "The riverboat 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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