Giant Tiki at THE HUT in Tucson with its new warm scarf (Photo by Fini Finicial)

The Giant Tiki Head, from the old Magic Carpet located at the popular nightclub THE HUT, got a surprise gift recently  to help him handle the cold climate we have been having lately.

Some of our compassionate and artistic Tucsonans appear to have spent a lot of time knitting a large warm scarf together and in the cover of darkness wrapped it around our favorite TIKI (Moai) to give it some warmth against our desert chill.

Douglas “Fini” Finicial, one of the operators of the hut and a major Tiki collector, believes the scarf was knitted and placed on the Tucson landmark as a venue for a “renegade art installation”, a peaceful movement to place positive projects around the nation.

The giant sculpture was a significant part of the former Tucson icon, Magic Carpet Golf property, on Speedway here is Tucson. The majority of the statues created by the late Lee Koplin were saved from demolition and can be seen in various businesses and homes around town. The giant Moai, now in its permanent home at The Hut, seems to have a smile on its face now that it has a new warm scarf around its neck.  How many Tikis have you seen with a hand-knitted scarf?

If any of you get to the Seattle area there are some sculptures at a bus stop in Wallingford, there that the residents of the area decorate often depending on the season. They are concrete sculptures of people and a dog or two that have received lots of loving care by the town. Sometimes they get raincoats other times warm clothes and at Christmas a little Christmas decoration.

Old Stump from Magic Carpet Flying

On Saturday August 15 Tucson’s historic Valley of the Moon is having a birthday celebration at its children’s fantasyland and the public is invited. It will be the first opportunity for visitors to see the newly relocated sculptures from the closed Magic Carpet Golf property. The Pygmy Hut, The Castle, The Old Stump and The Spider Web are now concreted into their permanent location in the front part of the park.

Magic Carpet Castle Being Cut From Site

Valley of the Moon is in the middle of some major renovations. The work continues with the planting of a lawn, trees, shrubs and decorative ground cover for the front acre of the park.  Since 1923, Valley of the Moon has been spreading the message that Kindness to All is the Golden Key to Happiness.  Since the closure of over 30% of the park in 2008, many of the original works of George Legler have not been open to the public.  The Magic Carpet statues give The Moon a much needed facelift and an area to have weddings, birthday parties, and public events, with all proceeds dedicated to keeping the gentle dream of George Legler alive.

Spider Tree Flying From Magic Carpet

The film crew of  FOX 11  TUCSON TREASURES television show with Gina Trunzo will be at the event filming the entire fantasyland for an upcoming episode.

The public is invited to this unique event. Cake, music and good times will be furnished as well as a tour of the historic fantasyland led by the legendary Angus McDougal.

This is a one-night only family oriented event Saturday, August 15th from 7:00PM till 9:00PM. ADMISSION IS FREE, but donations are always welcome. All donations benefit the preservation of Valley of the Moon. Location:  2544 East Allen Road or for more information call 520-323-1331.

Web site: http://www.tucsonvalleyofthemoon.com

Magic Carpet Bull

The forty-year old BULL from the closed Magic Carpet Golf on Speedway found a new home last week.  The 3000 pound, 13 foot long, 9 foot high sculpture, created by the late Lee Koplin, was removed from its No 1 hole on the East course by a giant crane. It was lifted into a waiting stake-bed truck to be transported to its new home a few miles away.  The Penhall Company using a diamond blade chainsaw had cut the hoofs of the Bull away from its concrete base a few days before.

Bull flying by crane

Bulls are stubborn as anyone knows that has been around them and this concrete and steel creature is no different. It insisted that it be taken to listen to some country music at the nearby Maverick, King of Clubs on its way to its new home.  The Bull named Tucson Toro wanted to meet some of the Toros baseball players signing autographs that day at the club. Toros’ owner Jay Zucker owns the nightclub.                  

Bull listening to country music at the Maverick

With lots of Toros’ fans at the Maverick that day the Bull was very happy and even let the Toros’ Mascot “Tuffy” ride on its back while it’s new owner Sam O’Saughnessy watched. After forty years of being in the same place this day was a real treat.

Toros mascot "TuffY" riding Tucson Toro

That evening Tucson Toro was transported to its new home at O’Shaughnessy’s Supper Club at 2200 Camino Principal a few short blocks north of the Maverick.  The next day it was lifted into its permanent home where it is now enjoying itself listening to the “singing” waiters and waitresses at the supper club.

Bulls new home at O'Shaughnessy's

O’Shaughnessy has all the arts covered now…. visual, musical and culinary. It is one of the only dinner theater restaurants in the western United States with singing waiters and waitresses enjoyable to all ages. It will soon add a sign near the Bull. “The Bull needs to stay outside.”

Sign at O'Shaughnessy's Restaurant

Thanks to Sam O’Saughnessy, another Tucson icon has been saved for future generations to enjoy.

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/art/2009/07/26/magic-carpet-bull-finds-new-home/feed/ 1 http://tucsoncitizen.com/art/2009/06/11/two-giant-sculptures-find-new-home/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/art/2009/06/11/two-giant-sculptures-find-new-home/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:42:39 +0000 Charles Spillar http://tucsoncitizen.com/art/2009/06/11/two-giant-sculptures-find-new-home/

June 11,2009 by Charles Spillar

Yesterday, two more of the giant sculptures from the closed Magic Carpet Golf property on East Speedway were headed to their new homes. The smiling SUN sculpture and the giant KACHINA were removed from their places on the miniature golf course. They had been there for the past 40 years and brought joy to thousands of Tucsonans. The giant figures were transported to a new location in East Tucson.

Attached are some photos of the two unique creations of the late Lee Koplin as they are being moved.
For those that are not aware of these unique hand built folk art pieces, they were part an important part of Tucson’s history and actually achieved icon status in the community. The quirky creatures brought smiles to many visitors.

Lee Koplin was responsible for actually changing the face of miniature golf in America by creating a literal fantasy world on his Magic Carpet courses. There are only a few of these original courses left in existence.

Local individuals and companies wanting to preserve a part of Tucson’s history for future generations have saved almost all of the unique statues. These concrete and steel structures will be around for a few more generations for the enjoyment of the community once their new owners restore them.

If you weren’t in Tucson in December and missed all the media coverage you will be happy to know that the tallest sculpture in Tucson was saved and will soon be unveiled August 29.

Giant Tiki from the Magic Carpet by John Meyer

The three stories Tiki head from the closed Magic Carpet golf property on Speedway was rescued by the nightclub The Hut located at 8th St. and 4th Ave. At a cost of over $30,000 to remove and transport it to their location they are now spending another $30,000 to build a new base. (Required by new city building codes) They have started construction today. The August event will be the unveiling day with a traditional Tiki ceremony performed along with a closed street celebration. The public is invited.

Funding for the rescuing of the giant folk art sculpture has been done through personal funds, community donations, T-shirt sales and fund raisers. June 20 The Hut is hosting a “Raise the Tiki” golf tournament at the Star Pass Resort. All proceeds go for erecting the giant Tiki on the newly constructed base. Information on the tournament can be found at http://www.rescuethetiki.org/golf.php

The Magic Carpet Golf property located at 6125 Speedway Ave. in Tucson had become a real Tucson icon for the last 40 years. Literally tens of thousands of individuals and families enjoyed miniature golf among the unique hand crafted sculptures created by the late Lee Koplin. Mr. Koplin was responsible for changing the look of miniature golf courses throughout America and had several Magic Carpet parks in the U. S. There are only a few courses left today.

When the late Mel Williams, partner and operator, passed away in late 2007 the property was sold to the Chapman Automotive group. Chapman had plans to extend their nearby Mercedes dealership on the property and offered the historic Valley of the Moon an opportunity to use the facility as a fund raiser and to find homes for the unique statues saving them from demolition.

State Representative and artist Steve Farley made the community aware of the need to save the statues and asked me to represent the Valley of the Moon and find homes for all the statues saving them for future generations of Tucsonans to enjoy. We have found homes for all except the Sphinx. Care to adopt it?

*Note pictures and locations of other Magic Carpet sculptures will be featured in future articles.