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Not Quite A Floating Brothel, The Boggsville Boatel Is A Hit

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: Marina 59, near 59-14 Beach Channel Dr [map], Far Rockaway, NY, United States, 11692
July 26, 2011 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

Only yesterday were we telling you about a new flophouse-turned-boutique-hotel set to open on the Bowery in Manhattan. Today, we direct your attention to an even cheaper alternative located in Far Rockaway, Queens. Somewhere between an artsy pop-up restaurant and a no-frills budget motel lies the Boggsville Boatel, an interactive art project by Constance Hockaday (above).

Now, we've covered hotel art installations here before, but clearly, this one's a little different. In the case of the Boatel, the floating hotel itself becomes the art.

As whimsical as the whole thing sounds, it seems that at the heart of the project is some solid, hard work by Hockaday and her team of volunteers. NPR got a tour of the place, and posted their findings yesterday:

"Using lumber she found in dumpsters, donated building supplies and funds from her own pocket, Constance Hockaday has transformed five abandoned vessels into a boat hotel attached to a floating platform with a movie screen on it. Hockaday, 29, makes no secret that the Boggsville Boatel, as she has dubbed it, was inspired by a 19th century madame who presided over a floating bordello in Oregon."

Joking about her inspiration for the project, Hockaday added:

"I did throw around the idea—for a second—of creating a floating brothel, but I don't know if I'm quite madame material."

Though hotel guests must hunt for their own electricity and—yes—bathrooms, Jamaica Bay provides welcome solitude for New Yorkers needing a retreat from the city. Reservations start at a suggested donation of $50, but if you're feeling extra generous, the not-for-profit Boatel could certainly use the extra cash to keep the whole operation running!

Apparently, the project has done so well that rooms are booked through Labor Day, when the Boatel is scheduled to end. If you happen to be one of the lucky guests, tell us about your aquatic stay in the comments below!

[Photos: Jon Kalish / NPR]

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