ludlow bromley yacht club

860 Elm Street Ludlow, KY 41016 (859) 291-8132

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Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club: See ya on land until river operations resume

The Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club says on Facebook  that it hopes to open across the street at The Lagoon Saloon in Ludlow this summer "with some big changes outside" as it works to resume operations on the Ohio River.

Before a barge slammed into the yacht club last October and the novel coronavirus shuttered much of the country, it had planned to kick off its 2020 season on April 23.

With that not being an option, the club said on Facebook, it has made plans to operate at The Lagoon Saloon at 859 Elm St.

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Once coronavirus-related lockdowns and closures are lifted, yacht club customers will be able to tie up at transit docks at the club and walk across the street to the saloon.

"While it is with a heavy heart and hard to imagine not being able to have the 24th LBYC season this year we look forward to opening the LAGOON as soon as mandates are lifted and seeing everyone with a very large outside area to spread out in," the yacht club said on Facebook.

"We will continue working on getting LBYC made whole and with any luck that mess along with COVID-19 can be put behind us soon.

"You may even see STEAK NIGHT, CHOP NIGHT and RIB NIGHT until we can get back on the river," the club said.

The yacht club’s restaurant and marina were ripped in half by the barge last year.

The U.S. Coast Guard concluded after an investigation that a person on the barge fell asleep at the controls.

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Ludlow bromley yacht club a total loss after barge crash.

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The iconic Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club is a total loss after a barge slammed into the riverfront bar and restaurant, U.S. Coast Guard officials said Wednesday.

The barge slammed into the structure, obliterating the popular Northern Kentucky eatery and marina, located at 860 Elm St. along the banks of the Ohio River.

"The barge was heading northbound on the river, upstream, and at 6:05 am. Something happened and it collided with the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club," said Coast Guard Lt. Jim Brendel.

A large portion of the restaurant is slowly sinking and the other half had been dragged upriver early Wednesday.

The barge, carrying mostly gravel, slammed into the structure while coming upriver.

Authorities are not speculating on what caused the crash, but said the massive barge slammed into the restaurant while failing to turn along the riverfront.

“Its just destroyed the place,” said Keith O'Banion, who owns a boat that was docked at the club. “I’ve never seen anything like that and I’ve been keeping a boat down here since the 70’s.”

After the crash, the barge took part of the restaurant with it upriver, dragging it about a half-mile. The barge itself was not damaged.

Debris from the collision is scattered throughout the area, and crews are working to clean up.

Several boats were also set adrift, as the restaurant and marina also provided docking space. Officials said six boats at the yacht club have been separated from the dock and are adrift on the river due to the crash. Officials said they found three sunken boats on sonar.

Boat owners spent the day inspecting what could be repaired and documenting what cannot be.

Chris Hollon owns a boat he believes is a total loss.

"I knew when I saw the restaurant gone and the barges gone that my little boat wasn't going to stand much chance," Hollon said.

He said it is not uncommon for several of his friends who dock at the same place to sleep on their boats. He said he is relieved no one was on their boats Wednesday morning.

"Crazy things can happen and change in an instant," he said. "Don't take it for granted."

No injuries have been reported, officials said. Staff was scheduled to show up at the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club just 45 minutes after the crash.

Investigators at the scene said they do not believe toxic materials leaked into the river as a result of the crash.

The cause of the accident leaves dozens of questions. Among them is how a barge ended up so close to the riverbank.

Officials with the Coast Guard and the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife said they are questioning the captain.

The channel of the river was narrowed coming out of the turn about a year ago after a barge that sunk years ago shifted. The Coast Guard is investigating to see it that had an impact on the crash.

River traffic has been halted in the area as crews work to salvage the remains of the restaurant and marina.

WLWT will continue to update this story with more information as it comes in.

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