Betty, THANKS for pointing this out — I had *no idea*. Wow, what a location for a movie, huh? 🙂
What a treasure, and what a shame it was gutted.
Yea, I just put Windmill Point on my to-go-to list as well.
I am saddened to report that the Windmill Point Restaurant in Nags Head, NC is closed.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/investor-sought-keep-nc-restaurant-site-going
I had the privelage of dining there once back in 1996 or so, when I was in the Navy stationed in Norfolk, VA. Being a fan of the SS United States, I med the long drive down with my girlfriend (now wife) and was amazed by the SS United States memorabilia.
We dined on tables, sat on chairs and I believe even ate off of original ships china and flatware. And the food was spectacular too!
UPDATE! Hooray! Thanks to kind contributor and ship scholar shipgeek I am happy to report:
“Not to worry, the collection was donated intact to the Mariners’ Museum.
It’s a pretty significant collection, and it’s good that it wasn’t
sold off piecemeal and scattered across the globe.”
You can see a photo of a fork that was purportedly used by Cary Grant on the SS United States, part of the collection at The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News VA right here:
Thanks for the video – that was fantastic!
The 1st episode of last season’s Cold Case (“The Crossing”) took place on a ship clearly based on the SS US. They changed the name to the SS Americana for the show. Unfortunately, the YouTube clip has been removed.
I had the joy of sailing to Europe on the United States. Fabulous time.
Mark Eichelberger
January 4, 2010 at 11:13 pmI too have passed by the United States many times when I lived in Philadelphia. From what I have read, the interior of the ship was completely gutted as it was supposed to be sold for scrap. Therefore, restoring the ship would be outrageously expensive. But it is sad to see it just sitting there and rusting away.
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
January 5, 2010 at 9:50 amMark- According to Wikipedia “In 1984, the ship’s remaining fittings and furniture were sold at auction in Norfolk. Some of the furniture now represents a substantial portion of the interior of Windmill Point, a restaurant in Nags Head, North Carolina. These items include dining room tables and chairs in the main restaurant and the bar and lounge tables and chairs in the upstairs lounge as well as other items.” I may just have to check out Windmill Point!
It would be expensive to restore it, but I think it just screams adaptive re-use, or something.
The thought of a once grand United States now dry docked and rusting away is too sad, and too symbolic!