Remember the McBarge? If you lived in Vancouver during the eighties you might have heard of it. McDonald's had a floating restaurant at Expo '86. It was located near Science World on the fair grounds at False Creek, and you had to cross a pedestrian bridge to get on board.
If you've visited the False Creek area you'll know it's not there today. So where did it end up? It was floated up the Burrard Inlet, discarded in the eastern reaches of the inlet like some half-eaten Happy Meal. You can still see it from the Westcoast Express commuter train that runs along the water.
McDonalds wanted to keep it on after the fair, but discussions with the city didn't get anywhere. So it sits abandoned, although at least one movie has used the boat as a set. Every few years there is talk of resurrecting the barge for a variety of uses - everything from another restaurant to a homeless shelter.
The McBarge also plays a part in Exit Strategy, book one of the Katerina Carter suspense series.
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