Ben Stevens, known for capturing the eerie beauty of abandoned places worldwide, recently embarked on an intriguing adventure aboard an abandoned casino ship in Florida.
Once bustling with gamblers, the ship now stood eerily quiet, frozen in time.
Inside the Blue Horizon casino cruise ship, docked at the Port of Palm Beach, Stevens found himself amidst rows of untouched slot machines and deserted roulette tables.
The atmosphere was hauntingly preserved, as if the gamblers had vanished overnight.
Amidst the silence, Stevens documented the scene: intact playing cards, stacks of casino chips, and even cash covered in mold.
He described the ship as a “ghost ship,” where the remnants of a vibrant casino life remained undisturbed.
Creepy Yet Fascinating
For Stevens, the experience was both unsettling and captivating.
He recounted how every corner held relics of a bygone era: from forgotten poker chips to abandoned furniture.
Yet, the oppressive heat and pervasive smell of mold added to the ship’s eerie ambiance.
Rise and Fall of the Blue Horizon
The Blue Horizon, launched in 2015, operated for a brief five months before legal changes in Florida’s gambling laws dealt a fatal blow.
The allure of high-stakes gambling on land eclipsed the appeal of the once-thriving casino ship, leading to its closure.
End of an Era
Robert Weisberg, managing director of PB Gaming, lamented the ship’s fate, noting how changing laws stripped it of its uniqueness.
Former captain Mark Wilkerson reflected on the challenges, acknowledging the difficulty of competing with land-based casinos during the ship’s brief tenure.
Troubled Waters
Prior to PB Gaming’s ownership, the Blue Horizon had faced financial woes under two previous operators.
Maintenance costs, including extensive repairs to its engines, further strained its profitability, marking a turbulent chapter in its short-lived history.
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