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“God save the queen” has taken on new meaning for Southern Californians as the Queen Mary tourist attraction in Long Beach finds itself struggling to stay afloat financially.
Operators of the historic attraction are now looking at adding a $250-million entertainment complex on the waterfront property next to the cruise ship in order to keep the attraction ship-shape.
The entertainment complex is planned to provide additional dining, shopping, concerts and activities for guests visiting Queen Mary. The activities are not of the everyday variety either. Ice climbing, zip-lining, simulated skydiving, surfing, kayaking and a trampoline park are all intended for the space. An additional 200-room hotel is also a part of the picture. It is hoped that revenue from the new development would help finance necessary repairs and maintenance for the luxurious vessel.
The announcement of these plans follows an engineering report that stated the 81-year-old ship was in need of repairs that would total $289 over the next five years. Without assistance, Urban Commons, the real estate firm that operates the Queen Mary, has reported it would be nearly impossible to generate enough money to meet this need. The firm is hoping that transforming the 65 acres of land adjacent to the luxury liner into its own attraction of sorts will provide the needed assistance.
Urban Commons is hoping to create a complex that evokes the era of Queen Mary’s glory by combining Great Britain and Southern Californian sensibilities from the 30’s-60’s in architecture and ambiance. Work on the project will begin after approval is secured from the city of Long Beach and the California Coastal Commission and would extend for several years.
