As abandoned boat remains on Milwaukee’s lakefront, people gather to celebrate it with ‘funeral’

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – It’s been days since city leaders in Milwaukee said the abandoned vessel left stranded on Milwaukee’s lakefront would be removed, and people have continued to gather in honor of it.

On Saturday, a group of people held a so-called ‘funeral’ for the boat that’s captured the attention of southeast Wisconsin, becoming a tourist site, a pin on Google Maps, and even the background for photoshoots and parties.

“It’s brought a lot of people together, it’s brought playfulness, togetherness,” said Alex Minik, the organizer of Saturday’s event. “Every ending is a new beginning. I hope that this boat and these kinds of absurd get-togethers create some energy around people finding different ways to connect and play.”

On Wednesday, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said an anonymous donor who has come forward to cover the removal cost of the now heavily graffitied and torn apart boat

"It's a spirit of collaboration and wanting to see Milwaukee be the best city that it could possibly be,” Mayor Johnson said. “This is a point of pride for our community, and to have a nuisance like this on the beach is not a good look for Milwaukee."

"Deep Thought" washed ashore between McKinley and Bradford beaches on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, after its Mississippi-based owners ran out of fuel. It remained beached for over six months before removal efforts began.

Jerry Guyer, the owner of Jerry’s Silo Marina, said weather conditions made it difficult to get the boat out of the water this week. On Saturday, he told CBS 58 he expects it to be out on Monday.

Guyer estimated he and his workers have spent about 100 hours and nearly $25,000 on removal efforts.