|
||
| Lava
Lamp seen as way to light up Soap Lake economy By Kathleen Gilstrap, World staff writer SOAP LAKE - Hey gang! Let's put on a show to raise money and save our town! No, wait. Let's build a giant, 60-foot Lava Lamp instead. Sound silly? Maybe so, but in Soap Lake, silly may lead to serious business. Some of the town's leaders, business owners and residents are looking into the possibility of building the world's largest Lava Lamp, hoping such a whimsical landmark would draw tourists - and their money - into town and spur a much-needed community revitalization. For many years, the town's economy relied on a steady stream of visitors who came to soak in the mineral-saturated waters of Soap Lake, attributed with the power to heal aching bodies and crippling illnesses. But during the 1950s, interest in natural healing waned and the city's population and the number of tourists began declining. Since, residents have pondered a way to recapture those halcyon days. If the Lava Lamp idea is feasible, and is built, officials hope it could also renew interest in the lake and attract a high-class spa and other development. Don't dismiss the idea because it sounds goofy, Lava Lamp supporters say. George Sharp, a tourism development account manager with the state Business and Tourism Development Office, said having a huge Lava Lamp in town could be as big a draw as Leavenworth's Bavarian Village or Winthrop's Old West theme. He's helping the community look for funds for a feasibility study. "There is a market for the unusual and unique," Sharp said. Consider the allure of the world's largest egg in Winlock, or the world's largest ketchup bottle in Collinsville, Ill. Or look to Darwin, Minn., where the world's largest ball of twine resides and Twine Ball Days are held the second Saturday in August. Sharp is the former director of Pullman's annual lentil festival, where the world's largest pot of lentil chili is cooked up each year. The chili draws 5,000 to 6,000 people each year. "If you can promote lentils as a festival-type event, you can promote almost anything as an event," Sharp said. Sharp said the idea has received the support of Soap Lake's City Council and from the Grant County Economic Development Council. Those endorsements got the project on the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team list, which means they qualify for technical assistance from Sharp. Terry Brewer, executive director of the county development council, said the project has his full support, and he has no doubt people would make the trek to see the Lava Lamp. "We're all in favor of it," Brewer said. "Anything that would get the attention of outsiders and bring them to Soap Lake is a good thing." Vanessa Patrick, spokeswoman for Haggerty Enterprises Inc., the only manufacturer of Lava Lamps in the United States, said the company is aware of the Soap Lake project and is excited about it. "We would definitely work with them in any way we could to maximize this," Patrick said. Using a giant Lava Lamp to stimulate Soap Lake's foundering economy was the brainchild of Brent Blake, an architectural design consultant who lives in Soap Lake part time. The idea just popped into his head during a community revitalization conference for small towns in Port Townsend last spring. "Where this idea came from I'm not really clear," Blake said. He said he'd never owned a Lava Lamp, but he ran out and bought one and started "observing it." "It seems a little whimsical, an odd idea," Blake said. "But at the same time if you take a Lava Lamp and look at it and imagine one on a giant scale, it would be pretty cool." Blake's good friend, Soap Lake resident John Glassco, is working with him to make the Lava Lamp a reality. Glassco, who owns a company that does environmental assessments and is active in the community, said it wouldn't be unfair to say the town has experienced a decline in its fortunes. "We're the only town in the area without a grain elevator or a railroad spur and no potential to compete for industry," Glassco said. "The only source of revenue this town has ever had is tourism." With its close proximity to Grand Coulee Dam, which draws 1.5 million visitors a year, Glassco and others believe the lamp could entice those same people to make a slight detour to Soap Lake. Glassco, who is a member of the Masquers Theatre and was the group's president for 10 years, said live community theater, musical entertainment, some good restaurants and facilities could get those tourists to stay once they've seen the lava lamp. Glassco said he's lived in Soap Lake for 22 years because of the quality of life, unique geology and access to wilderness and hiking. Why ruin a good thing then? Glassco said the town will continue to lose ground without some changes. "Without a continuation of the economy, we won't be able to support the town's infrastructure," Glassco said. "We spent $4 million to upgrade the water system and now we can't afford to upgrade the sewer system to match." Blake estimates it would take at least three years to bring the Lava Lamp project to fruition. A feasibility study would determine the cost, and how the structure would be engineered and manufactured. Blake said he knows the world's largest Lava Lamp wouldn't fly in some communities. But he thinks it would blend right in with Soap Lake's eclectic atmosphere. "People there definitely have a sense of humor and the city is made up of a lot of interesting people, lots of artists," Blake said. "You could build on that." Blake said he's heard from people from as far away as Japan and England since a Web site about the project was set up. Many, he said, have promised to visit if the Lava Lamp is lit. And yes, it's OK with Blake if people laugh when they first hear the idea. "Laugh? That's a good thing," Blake said. "I think of how dreary the news is, it's been a pretty depressing period of time. The idea that people can smile about this thing makes me happy." Kathleen Gilstrap can be reached at 665-1164 or by e-mail at gilstrap@wenworld.com *** Lava Lamp facts: Height: 60-plus feet Width: 18-plus feet Structure: 4- to 6-inch-thick reinforced glass with a metal base and top; contents similar to regular Lava Lamps Features: A large searchlight would be located in the top and, at night, would shine straight up and be visible for more than 50 miles. At the mid-point of the lamp, where the base and glass container meet, a catwalk would be built. Access to the catwalk would be via a circular staircase. People would pay a fee to go up on the catwalk. Where: Undecided, but possibly near City Hall in a park setting with walkways. Financing: To be determined. Web address: www.giantlavalamp.com A 60-foot-plus Lava Lamp is just what Soap Lake needs to attract tourists, some say. -PHOTO ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF BRADEN BLAKE The Wenatchee World Online - http://www.wenworld.com |
||
| Discuss this topic in the forums - Click here |