The long lost remains of the sunken ‘sin ship’ SS Monte Carlo have appeared in South Coronado Beach, California, thanks to the power of El Niño storms.
The ‘sin ship’ was destroyed by a storm in 1936 and the wreck only reappeared 80 years.
The 2016 El Niño storms cleaned up the shore and the SS Monte Carlo is more visible than ever. Excited tourists and locals have seen walking, climbing and even exploring the wreckage.
Wreck of ‘sin ship’ SS Monte Carlo resurfaces after the storm
The 300-feet SS Monte Carlo was once anchored in international waters to bypass US laws during the Prohibition Days.
It became the host for illegal activities such as gambling, prostitution and notorious drinking.
During it’s peak, the ship held 2,000 passengers on a weekend and a total of 15,000 people a week playing blackjack, roulette and slot machines.
The SS Monte Carlo was swallowed by the ocean waves after a terrible storm around New Year’s Eve back in 1937
The ship was anchored three miles away off Coronado Beach where it lost control and drifted off the beach
Joe Ditler, Coronado historian and also executive director of the Coronado Museum of History & Art, said there were rumors that at least $100,000 worth of silver dollars was buried with the wreckage.
According to Ditler, a huge storm in Monte Carlo on Dec. 31, 1936, crushing the ship from its moorings three miles from Coronado’s shore.
“In the Prohibition days, the ship was anchored in international waters to avoid U.S. laws. People searching for gambling, prostitution or bootleg whiskey would take smaller boats out to the ‘sin ship’ for a night of revelry,” he told NBC San Diego.
Catch some of the footage in the video below:
