Old Argosy Riverboat Preparing To Leave Lawrenceburg

By Mike Perleberg The Argosy Casino riverboat is moored on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River as it is prepared to travel out of the area. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The old Argosy Casino riverboat will soon be towed down the Ohio River. The three-story riverboat has moved from its river inlet in Lawrenceburg to the Kentucky side of the river. The riverboat became the home of Argosy Casino Lawrenceburg in 1998. It was replaced in 2009 by the new, bigger Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg barge. It had sat vacant and moored in its original location in Lawrenceburg up until last week. Tom Schneider is a local representative for the new owner who purchased the riverboat 2 ½ years ago. He said preparations had to be made to the boat and the river’s water level had to be high enough before it could be moved from the inlet. Schneider would not identify the vessel’s owner. He said he is also unsure what the boat’s future use may be, but mentioned that it will be destined for “New Orleans or lower.” He says preparations are still being made to prepare the boat to navigate the river as it is tied up on the Kentucky banks of the river. That includes the removal of the old gangways customers and employees used to use to access it. Schneider says the inside of the boat is in much the same condition on the inside as it was when Argosy moved to the new Hollywood barge about nine years ago – minus the slots and table games. The engines are in working order, he adds. It could depart for its new home within a week, depending on weather conditions and river levels.