STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — More than 60 years after the John F. Kennedy was built, the retired Staten Island Ferry still looks much like it did during its days carrying commuters across New York Harbor.
Built in 1965, the ferry served Staten Islanders for decades before it was retired. In January 2022, the city placed the vessel up for public auction, reducing its asking price from $250,000 to $125,000 after an earlier attempt to sell it attracted no bids.
Staten Island natives Pete Davidson and Colin Jost ultimately purchased the decommissioned ferry at auction that year for $280,100, with plans to transform it into an entertainment venue.
That vision took shape Thursday night, when more than 250 guests boarded the ferry for a one-night comedy show presented by Snapple. But despite the temporary branding and equipment used to turn the boat into a venue, the ferry itself appeared largely unchanged.
The John F. Kennedy ferry in 1988.Staten Island Advance
Inside, rows of worn brown wooden benches still filled the passenger cabins, bearing scratches and other marks left behind by decades of riders. The walls, columns and window frames retained the ferry’s familiar blue-green color scheme, while chipped and peeling paint showed the vessel’s age.
Original safety features also remained in place, including life-preserver compartments beneath the benches and along the outdoor decks, as well as instructional signs showing passengers how to put on a life jacket. Other remnants of the ferry’s past, including old signage and equipment, could still be spotted throughout the vessel.
Even the ferry’s original identity remained visible.
The letters “J.F.K” could be seen beneath an upper-deck railing, while the full name “John F. Kennedy” remained painted on the exterior. Other markings from the boat’s time in city service, including “Dept. of Transportation,” were also visible along its orange exterior.
SI Ferry John F. Kennedy, commuters Anton Deflon, and his wife Jane Great kills, relax on thier commute, ferry was quiet, staten island advancestaten island advance
Together, those preserved details made the vessel easily recognizable despite its new role as an event space.
The most noticeable updates appeared to involve electrical work and lighting. Ceiling lights illuminated the passenger cabins, while additional lighting brightened the performance and gathering areas.
On an exterior deck, a lighted marquee announced the comedy show hosted by Davidson and Jost. Speakers and other event equipment were positioned around the makeshift venue.
Despite the added lighting, the passenger areas had no working air conditioning or fans. The hot conditions became a recurring topic for Davidson, Jost and the other comedians.
A Staten Island ferry, as viewed from the flight deck of the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier, makes its way in the crowded Harbor on Fourth of July – Liberty Centennial. Staten Island AdvanceStaten Island Advance
For the night, the boat was temporarily rebranded as the “Snapple Island Ferry.” Snapple signs, advertisements and graphics covered portions of the walls and exterior, while the former concession area was stocked with rows of Snapple bottles.
A temporary route map added to the joke, listing the ferry’s destination as “Pier 17” followed by “Still Pier 17,” a reference to the boat remaining docked during the event.
For former riders, the largely unchanged interior offered a familiar view of the ferry they remembered.
Lower deck – Kennedy Ferry – Ferryboats – “John F. Kennedy”. Staten Island AdvanceStaten Island Advance
Michael Harwood of St. George, who previously rode the vessel as a commuter, described being aboard as “nostalgic.”
“It’s nice to have people here, and it feels the same,” Harwood said.
That familiarity may have been the most noticeable feature of the night. While temporary signs, lights, speakers and a stage helped turn the John F. Kennedy into a comedy club, the 1965 vessel remained unmistakably a Staten Island Ferry.
Its original name was still there. So were the wooden seats, life-preserver compartments, safety instructions and decades of wear.
For one night, the ferry had a different name and purpose, but it largely looked the same.