The Kalakala, a ferry that was once the pride of Washington State's extensive ferry system, will soon be scrapped at a graving yard in Tacoma.
The current owner, Karl Anderson, a Tacoma industrialist, attempted to save the ship but has instead spent money making sure she will be safe to tow to the demolition site.
The Kalakala was launched as the Peralta in Oakland in 1927. She sailed Puget Sound for 32 years, and was at one time the symbol of the city of Seattle. It featured a radio station, two restaurants, and midnight dances, and was a pivotal attraction for residents and businesses alike. However, as a small vessel, she could not hold more than 60 cars, and as larger ferries went into service, the Kalakala was used for other purposes, until she became a rusted hulk. Estimates are that it could take as much as $25m to make her seaworthy again, and no one has expressed interest in the project.
She is now anchored in the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma, and will be towed to the scrap yard on high tide, January 22, bring a close to this chapter of Pacific Northwest History.
The ferry has many fans who might be interested if Anderson were to work with brochure printers to produce a booklet on the history of the ship.
