The 'USS Intrepid' Weathered Hurricane Sandy and is Ready for Reopening

December 18, 2012 at 10:25 AM | by JetSetCD | Comment (1)

Hurricane Sandy was not kind to many areas of New York and New Jersey and, if you were a tent trying to ride out the storm, well...you can guess how that went. The photo above is the tented Space Shuttle Enterprise Pavilion onboard the Intrepid aircraft carrier, docked on Manhattan west side. Not only did the West Side Highway flood during the storm, but the winds destroyed the multi-million dollar enclosure and exhibit around the Space Shuttle, closing it down until further notice.

Here's what they had to say about damages:

The rise in the Hudson River due to Hurricane Sandy caused flooding and damage to our Welcome Center and Intrepid�s power sources. While the pier was designed to withstand the 100-year flood, the unprecedented levels of water flooded the entire pier including the main electrical transformers and our backup generators. As a result, loss of all power caused the Space Shuttle Pavilion to deflate. The space shuttle Enterprise sustained only minor damage. The Intrepid, Growler, Concorde and balance of our aircraft collection were not damaged.

Thankfully, we've just received that reopening notice; the Intrepid will again open its hatches to the public on December 21. It's not clear if the Space Shuttle will be ready by then (we're guessing not), but the airplane and helicopter collection and meandering through the interior of an aircraft carrier is worth it alone.

To celebrate and attract tourists during this chilly winter season, they've also just launched a two-for-one ticket offer, which is great because a family visit to the ship gets pretty expensive. Buy one admission and get another one free, from December 21 through February 15, using code FFHOLIDAY12.

[Photo: Emily Wilson]

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