Do you fancy owning your own Loch Ness Monster exhibition at Loch Ness? Then your chance has finally arrived as the Nessieland exhibition in the village of Drumnadrochit goes up for sale. Details of the sale are available here.
I have only visited the exhibition a few times over the years I have been at the loch, but on my last visit there had been a revamp and I posted my thoughts on it in a previous article. Of course, any prospective buyer has to take into account the fact that there is a competing exhibition about 100 yards up the road which has resulted in friction between the two as they both compete for the tourists pounds.
That competing exhibition is the Loch Ness Centre and the friction was evident in the charging of Nessieland's owner, Donald Skinner, over the theft of a Loch Ness Centre sign back in 2013. This followed a lawsuit some years before when the Loch Ness Centre owner, Robbie Bremner, sued over the names of the two centres.
The Loch Ness Centre was called "The Official Loch Ness Monster Exhibition" whilst Nessieland was called "The Original Loch Ness
Monster Exhibition Centre". This proximity in naming led Bremner to claim he was losing over a £1 million in revenues. The outcome was both centres agreeing to change their names to "Nessieland" and "The Loch Ness Centre".
My own thought was that the "Loch Ness Centre" suited sceptics better as it really did not have much for those who believed in the Loch Ness Monster (though an eyewitness testimony section has improved that). The "Nessieland" exhibition would suit monster believers more, though it was more family and kid oriented rather than dedicated to serious researchers.
So, in terms of balance, two exhibition centres would be best, but there is no need for them to be 100 yards apart as the history shows. I did think one in Fort Augustus would be better, though where to site it is is not clear to me and the town did have two exhibitions in decades past which have now closed down. Has the time come for another one?
There was chat about a community buyout of Nessieland, though that seems to imply a total revamp of the building into something more for the benefit of the locals than tourists. The trouble is Donald Skinner will be looking for a price which assumes it continues as a Nessie attraction with the commensurate revenues. Whether a community buyout can bypass that problem, I do not know.
Watch this space, I guess, but I am sure the Loch Ness Centre would want to see the end of the place, the end of a competing exhibition and therefore more tourist pounds coming their way. That is of course no surprise. Business owners are all for competition and free enterprise except when it comes to their own business, whatever the sector!
For me, the idea of a pro-monster exhibition is a must for the area. If Nessieland goes, the space needs to be filled and not left to an exhibition that has no belief in the thing that attracts people to the area in the first place. A pro-monster exhibition, properly done, could attract more visitors, especially if the recent idea of erecting sightings plaques around the loch takes off.
A brief history of exhibitions around the loch can be found here.
The author can be contacted at lochnesskelpie@gmail.com
There was chat about a community buyout of Nessieland, though that seems to imply a total revamp of the building into something more for the benefit of the locals than tourists. The trouble is Donald Skinner will be looking for a price which assumes it continues as a Nessie attraction with the commensurate revenues. Whether a community buyout can bypass that problem, I do not know.
Watch this space, I guess, but I am sure the Loch Ness Centre would want to see the end of the place, the end of a competing exhibition and therefore more tourist pounds coming their way. That is of course no surprise. Business owners are all for competition and free enterprise except when it comes to their own business, whatever the sector!
For me, the idea of a pro-monster exhibition is a must for the area. If Nessieland goes, the space needs to be filled and not left to an exhibition that has no belief in the thing that attracts people to the area in the first place. A pro-monster exhibition, properly done, could attract more visitors, especially if the recent idea of erecting sightings plaques around the loch takes off.
A brief history of exhibitions around the loch can be found here.
The author can be contacted at lochnesskelpie@gmail.com
Having been to both exhibitions and left them both with a deflated feeling, I believe a centre should be created which offers the tourist and enthusiast a lot more. Neither centre feels befitting of a globally recognised enigma. Loch Ness should be considered the epicentre of cryptozoology. I can’t help thinking that if our friends over the pond were in charge we’d see a far more spectacular visitor experience at the loch. Apologies to my fellow Brits, but I think we’re often guilty of thinking small, in a painfully modest way.
ReplyDeleteNaturewatch Eng: Over here in the states (across the pond), we have a silly amusement park in Kentucky devoted to the creationist theory of the flood and Noah's Ark, which has been a dismal failure. If we could only take the existence of some unknown creature extant at Loch Ness more seriously, maybe we could have a “Nessieland” of our own, and I would venture to say that it would be way more popular, given American's penchant for the spectaculer. And by the way, The Loch Ness Monster is the “Big Daddy” in cryptozoology!
DeleteI agree, I wonder if anyone has done something at Lake Champlain for comparison?
DeleteWhat, bigger than Bigfoot, John?
DeleteYes!
DeleteDon't forget Ogopogo in British Columbia Canada.
DeleteYes? I think Bigfoot is bigger than Nessie going by the number of forums, books and TV programmes?
DeleteYeh gotta agree totally with Naturewatch Eng some 'attractions' are painfully poor in the UK.
DeleteWell, to me the LNM is a big thing, secondary to Bigfoot. But I still think Bigfoot exists! I love the speculation that goes on about Nessie, Bigfoot and other bizarre cyptid creatures being brought here by aliens (Are they their pets?), fascinating and very strange. On the strangeness meter, Ill give it a 10. This other idea of portals and interdimensional openings into our space time continuum is also very strange and bizarre. As I go through life and realize that my life is finite, I wonder were I will go. But that's another story. Metaphysics is probably involved here.
DeleteNot much at all about Champ as far as info in Burlington, which is on one of the widest parts of the lake. A few businesses with a Champ theme, but it is not part of the town at all. On the New York side of Champlain, and much further south, Port Henry has a "welcome to Port Henry home of Champ" sign with appropriate image, as well as a sign listing Champ sightings. I think they still celebrate Champ Day, but as far as I know there is no information center...
DeleteThere was an exhibition set up in the old Abbey back in the late 90s I recall, but it folded and the building is now a collection of flats.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to add a bit of trivia regarding Noah's Ark, since I mentioned it and I can't roll back the clock. I am a big space nut and an Apollo moon landing aficionado, at least I fancy my self as such! LOL Jim Irwin was an Apollo astronaut moonwalker ( Apollo 15, 1971) who was soo convinced about the realty and the it's existence regarding this fable, that he went searching for it in some expeditions. He also stated that he had felt the presence of “God “ while he was on the moon. But, he was also firm believer and a christian in his life, draw your own conclusions. He died in 1992. Anyway, it's not there. Well, only in the fairy tales told in the bible. OK don't flame for this!
ReplyDeleteThe Loch Ness Monster is also very embroiled in fables and hearsay. But I think that we can take this reality a little more seriously.
I love programs where they go off in search of big ticket items. You know, curse of oak island, hunting hitler and the Ark is no different.
DeleteI'm pretty sure Hitler was fried in his Berlin Bunker, good riddance. That other bastard Mengele enjoyed living out his life in Argentina.
ReplyDeleteCuruiosly, Hunting Hitler claims Hitler lived on the shores of lake Nahuel Huapi, home of the cryptid Nahuelito.
DeleteI'm familiar with that other cryptid.
DeleteEditorial time. Please allow this Roland. Comment on the LNM to follow. This is relevant to my previous post and and I have a comment regarding the LNM to follow.. So please bear with me. Gosh... I was just thinking... yeah, a big effort for me. Anyway, I was just sitting here, sucking on some whiskey and Coca Cola (Killing some brain cells LOL) pondering my place in this whole wondrous universe and my place in it and also my purpose for being, and it occurred to me, 'You know, WWII wasn't that long ago' My mom is still alive, she is 84 years old and was a little girl when this madman Hitler and his henchmen declared war and tried to take over the world. Americans, Brits, Scots, Aussies and others helped in wiping this scourge from the face of the Earth. But for them, I and some of you would not be here enjoying the pleasures and liberties we enjoy and our way of life. Oh my goodness, I wish that I could live a thousand years as a mediocre person and have more time to experience all that life has to offer and experience as much as I can. Our life spans are too short, and that is what I find regrettable. And there are veterans that are still alive. So please appreciate what I have said. No offense to the German people, I was in Germany for two years during my time in the US Air Force and they are a very fine people with a rich culture, we owe some of the technology we have to some of their best scientist and their culture has also been a big influence in our world. The Loch Ness Monster saga goes back to some of this time frame and all this craziness and human tragedy.
DeleteI'm following this thread since you brought it up and just as an aside for ****s and giggles . I warned you Roland, that when I returned, I would be making some outrages comments and taking on any Nessie haters! It's all in fun, I hope you and the readers realize that. Well, so far it's been quite tame. No Haters. The Nessie Hater Repellent has taken effect LOL . OK, I wonder if I had met Hitler, Mengele, Himmler, that fat slob Goring or that rat faced Goebbels in a bar without knowing who they were (This is just a supposition of course) would they be good bar buddies, personable and engaging? Hmm.... maybe. Once they started spewing their sick plans for an Aryan nation and elimination of other races, I would punch them in the face, and try to escape before I got shot. by the accompanying SS. LOL. Oy... this is too scary
DeleteI'm not sure about the others, but dictators tend to be very charming and charismatic. People are a sucker for that, hence our continued blindness to bad politicians.
DeleteI was watching the movie Taxi Driver (1976) and was taken by the very similar slogans in the fictional election, to the ones being used recently. 'We are the people' and 'Become great again'. Same old nonsense and we fall for it. Unfortunately this charm and manipulation leads us to electing psychopaths from time to time. It could all happen again if we don't wake up.
I would like whoever buys it to turn it into a really good pro Loch Ness Monster Exhibition that gives the story from the believers side of the story as a counter balance to the Loch Ness Centre & with a decent shop that sells a good selection of'nessie' books dvd's etc & no tat ! perhaps you could buy it yourself Roland !!
ReplyDeleteI would love to be involved in a proper Loch Ness Monster exhibition. I suspect I would have to buy a stake in one to get involved. I think Gary Campbell is the consultant for Nessieland. If a new one opened up in Fort Augustus, I can think of a few who could get involved.
DeleteIn my view, a pro Nessie exhibition, with the best facts available, could never be a bad thing. I am into journalistic freedom, but unfortunately in this case many sceptics manipulated facts, so on the whole cannot be trusted to give a true picture.
ReplyDeleteJohn, your two pending comments look as if they were typed under the influence of much whisky. Do you want to drop them?
ReplyDeleteWhich John? To be honest I like the contributions they both make!
DeleteYep
DeleteI thought you were referring to John Alvarado or John Rutherford, both of whom I find contribute highly interesting comments.
DeleteRoland was referring to me Naturewatch Eng LOL I was just following the thread about Hitler and being a dreadful comedian. I hope everyone took it that way. And yes I overstepped in my indulgence of the happy juice. I really have to stay away from the sauce when I commiserate here with my fellow Nessie fans. And I also agree that John Rutherford can be quite an amusing chap and a bit of a wit in his own right!
DeleteYes, sorry Roland. Thanks for putting up with me and not banishing me from here for being such a lush. I'll try to be more circumspect in the future. Don't mean to offend anyone here.
DeleteOr make myself look and sound more of a fool than I really have to. LOL
DeleteThe comparison between Bigfoot and Nessie is interesting. The Patterson/Gimlin film is either a hoax or is the real thing, there is no room for ambiguity here. Nessie may or may not have been filmed by Tim Dinsdale, whatever Dinsdale filmed he presented it without any intention to deceive. A film of Nessie with the clarity of the Patterson/Gimlin film is what we need.
ReplyDeleteThe Patterson/Gimlin film (whatever it is) usually provokes the response that it is a man in a suit. That explanation is difficult to maintain when the film is analysed with an open mind.
I watched a program in which that film was analysed. The comementator suggested that the animal's gait was not unlike that of a great ape, in the way it turned the upper half of it's it's body. Not conclusive, but interesting. But still, clarity and all, what people don't want to believe, they don't. It's a great human skill, and maybe a protection mechanism. I'm slightly fixated at the moment by the irony that if you choose to believe in a god, that's an honourable decision. But if you choose to believe in these tangible mysteries, you're a raving lunatic. How did this situation come about?
DeleteIt was Ray Wallace in a body stocking costume.gian quasar blew up the photos and you can see the padding aparratus in the arms..
Deletewww.thequestorfiles.com. Bigfoot
Well that's bad news. I never believed in Bigfoot anyway.
DeleteOn a practical level a pro Nessie exhibition would probably make a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteI know tourists are wiser than they used to be, but I'm sure a lot of footfall is not particularly planned. Meaning I'm not sure if tourists would know the difference in advance. I wonder what went wrong with this one.
DeleteLOL! Touche John
ReplyDelete