Hall of the Mtn King--an underground dwarven faire?

[Tremayne]

So how many of you would go to an underground faire with a dwarven theme?

The question arises because there is land around here with an old mine on it that Alphonse the wizard knows about. Neither he nor I have the resources to purchase it but it became a curious question for me. Are many people too claustrophobic to go to an underground faire? Or would the novelty of it bring you in regardless? As Alphonse pointed out, the great advantage of an underground faire is the "fairground" temperature would remain the same (about 60 degrees) all year round.

So give me your gut reaction--way cool or "OMG, I'd never!"

[theChuck]

haha. that sounds kinda fun. not sure how i'd dress for the occasion, but could be neat.

[Queen_of_Navarre]

What a wonderful underground faire the tunnels of the unfinished Super Collider would make.

[tigrlily64]

It does, of course, depend on the individual, but I know quite a few people who would not enjoy being underground, regardless of anything.  But if these are large tunnels, then I would say most people would find it enjoyable.

[CatAshtrophy]

I think if done well it could be really neat. As long as it was lit well enough and didn't feel too crowded and cave like, I would go to something like that. With an old mine, safety would be an upmost concern of mine before I went though.

[Once Debauched]

That would simply ROCK! (get it? dwarves, mine, rock?)

That would be total Dragon Lance/Forgotten Realms.  OOOoo do it, DO IT, DO IT! (right after you win the lottery that is)

[renfairephotog]

That'd be cool. I worked at a haunted cave one halloween. The temp was very comfortable.

I think you'd have to do some above ground for the surface dwellers.

[DeadBishop]

I think that would be fun, depending on the condition of the tunnels.  You'd need a good deal of head room and room to wander about for the crowds.  Most manmade tunnels/mines I've been in don't have much room for maneuvering, so unless it actually resembled the halls of Moria, it would get quite cramped.  The other thing to consider would be breathable air.  With a large amount of people, fresh air would have to pumped in for that.  None the less,  I love the idea!

[Black Armor]

Very cool idea but you'd probably have to have a lot of it above ground and make the mine part of the attraction.

[volans]

haha, at the Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, they have a formation called the hall of the mountain king. http://www.asergeev.com/pictures/archives/compress/2007/601/08.htm

[Lady Nicolette]

Personally, underground isn't my thing at all, unless we're talking music.  
However, I can see that it would certainly be a novelty.  I liked the idea of having the Faire on the outside with the caves having a part of the experience.  Air availability was a great forethought!!!
When I lived in Oregon, one of my friends was a tour guide of the Oregon Caves, they would sometimes have musicians come and play in the largest of the caves for an added aural dimension.  I did take the cave tour, once, btw.  The caves weren't all that scary, as there was a lot of room in them, only a few spots you had to really kind of squeeze through.  What got to me the most was the giant spiral staircase into the largest cave (I have vertigo to a degree) and the idea that we were in earthquake country.

[Var Greyshadow]

If we were talking about large caverns, nicely lit, I'd probably do it.  Tunnels seem like they'd get too cramped with a lot of people in them (too many memories of NYC at rush hour).

[Tremayne]

Alphonse will probably get on here to describe it in more detail at some point. He said two buses could drive side by side down the tunnels and that there were bays large enough for stages.

Certainly the structural integrity of the site would have to be given thorough evaluation and the whole thing run with conduit, etc. So no small undertaking, which is what makes one wonder whether you'd recoup the investment. However, there are numerous cave attractions in TN & AL that have done just that (albeit plugging a natural wonder). Sometimes, though, they've purchased the cave from the state (or run it as a concessionaire), which had formerly run tours and thus provided the infrastructure for it.

RFP, Alphonse had had that halloween idea as well . A cave we visited in TN had a large chamber they used for weddings and other private gatherings, so there would be other potential ways to make use of the space.

[Lavender]

It sounds like a novel idea if the space were large enough.  The sanitation issue is something to keep in mind.  These portable toliets smell bad enough, imagine a row of them in an enclosed space.

[Once Debauched]

It sounds like a novel idea if the space were large enough.  The sanitation issue is something to keep in mind.  These portable toliets smell bad enough, imagine a row of them in an enclosed space.

Oooo you dwarven buzz kill you!

[DonaCatalina]

I think it would be a blast!

But imagine how much it would cost to shore up all those tunnels to current safety standards. 

[Cobaltblu]

It sounds fun except for cave-ins, bats, spiders, no fresh air and poisonous gases, trip and fall hazards, power outages and no one being able to see to get out, etc.

But other than that it would be cool.

Regards,

CB

[Tremayne]

It sounds like a novel idea if the space were large enough.  The sanitation issue is something to keep in mind.  These portable toliets smell bad enough, imagine a row of them in an enclosed space.

That's definitely one thing that would be left outside. 

There are people-moving logistics in an underground facility that aren't present in an open-air faire. Could be that the limited numbers of people allowed through caves at one time has to do with ventilation as DB cautioned. And there would have to be adequate escape lanes should it need to be evacuated for any reason.

[Tremayne]

It sounds fun except for cave-ins, bats, spiders, no fresh air and poisonous gases, trip and fall hazards, power outages and no one being able to see to get out, etc.

But other than that it would be cool.

Regards,

CB

Well, we won't be expecting YOU to buy season tickets CB 

Of course, some people love bats. The other issues mentioned other cave attractions somehow manage to get around and still attract people and make a go as a business--often in even more out-of-the-way places than we're in.

[Alphonse]

Well, I just read up the thread, first thing, this place I had mentioned to Tremayne is not a natural cave, it is a mine that was dug during WWII for what I am unsure, they said it was for limestone but that can be gotten easily enough with out tunneling.

But the place is huge. The Tunnels are wide enough that two semi sized trucks could pass and the roof is a good 20-30 ft high.There is one main tunnel with very large galleries off to the sides the tunnel ends in a large room with an opening that leads to the surface which also works to allow for good ventilation.

When we were teens my friend's and I would often meet here when the weather was cold or rainy outside, to party and hang out. I remember once at one of these impromptu parties counting 16 cars parked in the back room of this "cave".

Some folks noted that it would likely not be the best idea to have the whole fair inside, I agree completely but couldn't help but thinking that it would make for an excellent location for a fantasy themed faire. I doubt that few would find it claustrophobic and the cave like area would definitely add an air of mystery and offer shelter and a stable and comfortable temperature which would be suitable for garbing even in the dead of summer or winter for that matter.

[DeadBishop]

But the place is huge. The Tunnels are wide enough that two semi sized trucks could pass and the roof is a good 20-30 ft high.There is one main tunnel with very large galleries off to the sides the tunnel ends in a large room with an opening that leads to the surface which also works to allow for good ventilation.

Now that is exactly the right kind of cavern for a "dwarven keep".   

[VIII]

Cumberland Caverns in Tennessee has a "Hall of the Mountain King" in it.  We camped there several times as Scouts.  There were several large caverns, big enough to hold a Festival.

Most of the place was "look, but don't touch" so a mine would be better.

Can you imagine the resounding echo of bagpipes underground?!?

I would go!

[Gimli]

It's about time you men see our wisdom! Now that you get it let me know when you start this is a job I can get behind!

[Alphonse]

It is more an ideal then an actuality but if it ever were to happen and I had any say in it, you would hold a place of honor as one of the Kings.I have been to a good half dozen faires and haven't ever seen anyone approach the quality of portraying a dwarf as you do.

Tremayne and I have been to the cave that you mentioned VIII, it is the only cave that I have been in that had a chandelier. The idea of bagpiping in a cave and it's acoustics is definitely the sort of thing that I would love to one day hear 

[LadyMorna]

Being a fan of Tolkein, I could go for an underground fantasy faire!  The 60 degree temperatures especially appeal to me.  Though I'm more a Hobbit at heart, I'd like to visit a dwarf realm sometime.

Lady Morna

[Tremayne]

Alas, the potential of the mine may never be realized. I seriously doubt it's part of the property for sale--not to mention we have yet to win the lottery. 

We visited Catherdral Caverns State Park Sunday, which is a 15-20 minute drive from the mine. It's another extremely spacious underground space with an impressive room of stalactites/mites/columns. The perfect secondary attraction to the dwarf hall (or vice versa).

Anyone ever hear of a harmonic convergence working? We need to set a time for everyone interested to simultaneously think this thing into purchasability and financial viability    --Or anyone know any rich venture capitalist dwarves?

[Alphonse]

I am unsure but it is looking like it maybe TVA land.Convincing the government to allow it to be leased for a faire is likely an impossibility but we will keeping following the trail where ever it leads and not give up on the idea until we know it is doable or not.

While it is common knowledge that wizards do on occasion take certain liberties with their perception of events, generally for dramtic licence, it would be considered bad form to exaggerate something like the dimensions of a mine or cave.Especially when hoping to lure fellow adventures down into to the depths of the earth.

[Alphonse]

Well, we have figured out that the T.V.A. does in fact own the land and are not against the idea of permitting someone to use the land.The problem lies in explaining to them what a fantasy faire is and what would be needed to conduct one there.What's more a private company owns the land adjacent to the site and wants 500,000$ for 13 acres which one might use as a parking area.That land is not worth it, I doubt it's value to be much more the 10,000$ an acre. Still there are options, it might be possible to lease the land from both parties involved.The next step is to write up a plan for this whole crazy scheme and submit it to the T.V.A. and see what they think of it.

This reminds me of a quote from the movie Animal House, "the situation requires a desperate and truly futile gesture... and we are just the kind of guys to do it!" 

[CatAshtrophy]

Good luck coming up with your plan and presenting it. I hope things work out because this is such a cool idea.