So here's the story...

 

About a year and a half ago I'm down in Covington at the "landing." I snap this photo:

 

- Pardon the awful lens flare.

 

Now, I had thought that the Covington Landing was just like a riverfront area and that the pad from the photo was just a viewing area. Back in January, jmecklemborg and I are shooting an event at the NKY Convention Center and go for a walk to grab some food on our lunch break. We start talking about the Covington Landing and he mentions that there used to be a "floating mall" of sorts there with a T.G.I. Fridays and stuff.

 

I remember seeing the TGI Fridays as a kid, but don't remember the Covington Landing at all.

 

So would anyone mind cluing me in to exactly what this place was? I did some research before work this morning and came across a few articles, but not any really good photographs. Apparently they had a water taxi to Reds games and such?

 

Interesting note: One of the original investors was Gary Wach's who was the first GM of Kings Island Amusement Park.

 

Any info anyone wouldn't mind sharing would be great, I'm fascinated by the fact that this thing only lasted a decade.

Used to go there as a kid. I have a mental picture of the place but unfortunately not a physical/digital one. Quick google search found me this: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n48_v24/ai_9225018/

 

Covington Landing plots next growth phase: booming attendance encourages developers of Kentucky entertainment complex

by Carolyn Walkup

...

Current highlights of the complex include seven restaurants and four nightclubs. Scheduled to open next spring are The Pilot House, a private dining room atop the Spirit of America, a replica of an 1880s steamboat; The Sand Bar, an outdoor patio with live entertainment; and a kitchen for the outdoor Moon River Cafe.

 

The Moon River Cafe is a top-deck lounge featuring live Dixieland and jazz combos on the Spirit of America. The 272-foot ship also houses Stobart's, a fine-dining restaurant; Belle's River Saloon, a Gay '90s-themed dance hall live entertainment; and Steamboats Steakhouse, a casual steak and burger dinner house.

 

Additional attractions are located on The Wharf, a turn-of-the-century-themed floating barge connected to the Spirit of America by ramps. Restaurants and nightclubs there are The Howl at the Moon Saloon, featuring two baby grand piano players; T.G.I. Friday's; City Lights rock-'n'-roll dance club; Pizza Hut, TCBY Yogurt and Skyline Chili.

...

 

Yucatan Liquor Stand. 

There were two floating barges.  One was made to look like a riverboat, the other was sort of like a building.  Each were about 3 floors high and were accessed from the point in that photo.  I'm not sure it even lasted 10 years.  One of the barges was sold off within about 5 years, then the other left without anybody noticing, maybe right when NOTL was breaking ground. 

I remember TGIFridays, Applebee's, and Yucatan Liquor Stand.  Yucatan Liquor Stand was a dance club.

 

One of the barges was sold off within about 5 years, then the other left without anybody noticing, maybe right when NOTL was breaking ground. 

 

I thought one was sold as scrap metal, and then it sunk to the bottom of the Ohio River while in transit.  I agree that people in general did not seem to notice that it was gone.  I remember people telling me about how there was more to do in Northern Kentucky, and they cited Covington Landing as an example.  People were stunned when I mentioned that it had sunk to the bottom of the river.