Wharves board calls special meeting to resume discussion over future home of Battleship Texas

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Discussions are expected to resume on where the historic Battleship Texas new home will be. This comes after the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees announced a special meeting Monday, just weeks after suspending the year-long negotiations with the ship's foundation.

Battleship Texas was first commissioned in 1914 and fought in both World War I and World War II. Over her 34 year career, she housed tens of thousands of sailors and marines from all around the world. Right now, she is currently sitting at the Gulf Copper Shipyard on Pelican Island in Galveston.

The Battleship Texas Foundation has been trying to find a permanent home to preserve the ship's legacy, while making $21 million worth of repairs and upgrades to the ship over the last two years. It was previously at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for more than 70 years.

The most recent proposal suggested docking the ship near Pier 20 at the Port of Galveston. However, Derrick Gutierrez of Katie's Seafood House told ABC13 back in May that he had several concerns. One is that the ship would block his customers' waterfront view and the other is about whether there would be enough ticket sales to keep up with the cost of maintaining the huge ship.

"It's inevitable it will corrode again, and the fact ticket sales are paying for its maintenance doesn't make me feel good. One bad year of ticket sales and you can't afford maintenance on a ship that is in the channel," he said.

Nonetheless on Aug. 27, the board still voted 4-2 in favor of having the ship relocated from the repair dock to Pier 20. The two trustees who were in opposition said they do want the ship in Galveston, but just not in that location.

"I think it needs to move west. I have talked to all the parties at Landry's and also talked to the Battleship people to express that that's going to be a hang-up for me," said trustee Sheila Lidstone.

A stalemate came on Oct. 22 when the Wharves Board of Trustees voted unanimously to halt negotiations with the Battleship Texas Foundation.

RELATED: Galveston Wharves Board terminates negotiates over Battleship Texas plans

On Friday, the foundation announced on its Facebook page that the Wharves board had called for a special meeting on Monday at 8 a.m. to discuss the historic ship's future.

"The Battleship Foundation looks forward to Monday's special meeting called by the Wharves Board to resume the conversation for a possible agreement for berthing the Battleship Texas at a location under the control of the board. We see this as an opportunity to find the ideal home for the Texas - for both Galveston and the ship," the Facebook post said.

ALSO: Battleship Texas takes another step toward its permanent home in Galveston

Battleship Texas has been undergoing extensive repairs since August 2022 to become a museum ship again. The foundation said in August that 700 tons of steel have been replaced so far, the hull has been painted, and nearly 300,000 working man hours have been logged on it.

Repairs will continue, and the foundation has already started selling tickets for the restoration tours, which will begin on November 24th. The foundation said they are projecting a grand re-opening in the later half of 2025.

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