Comments on: Tacoma Underground: Never Never Land Figures

By: joni

joni — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:48:00 +0000

i loved never never land it is a special place in my heart, my grandparents would take me and my 2 sisters every summer, we each had our favorite ryhme. I still have my never never land piggy bank with humpty sitting on the stack of books. are any of these for sale and how much?

By: Traci

Traci — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:33:04 +0000

Hi Mr. Alexander, I was wondering where these figurines are? I remember some of my fondest memories of the Point were going to never never land with my grandma and granpa now both dead I would love to contact this owner to buy the billy goats gruff because I was enthralled by them when I walked through the never never land exhibit. I hate that they are sitting around in some dusty basement and I’d love to give one of them a new home. It sounds stupid but it would make me really happy. So if you have contact info – on the owner just let me know and I’d follow up from there. thx

By: Bill Barnett

Bill Barnett — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:44:52 +0000

Morgan – is it possible to see these statues? I have a friend who would love to see them.

By: casey

casey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:41:36 +0000

i wrote the city and people in charge of point defiance on how they should bring the park back and make it better than ever. i would pay to visit. i wish i could bring my kids to it (how it use to be). now its very sad. a couple of trails and dilapidated small toy houses. i was always excited when i was younger to go. it was magical i agree.

By: Dave_L

Dave_L — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:30:25 +0000

Cheryl Siegel, Librarian at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC kindly offered this additional information:

“When I first looked at these works, I was ready to dismiss them as Imredy’s work. He works primarily in wood or bronze and I’d never seen a painted sculpture by him. What an interesting find! In the book called “The Sculpture of Elek Imredy” there are illustrations of some of the “Nursery Rhyme Characters”. Here is the text from an interview with Ilek Imredy :

‘In 1965, I had two different commissions to make a series of nursery rhyme characters, Jack and Hill, Little Bo-Peep, Mary in her garden and so forth. Each set had about 40 life size figures all brightly painted. They were made for amusement parks in Washington State and on Vancouver Island. Both places are now closed and I don’t know where the figures got to. These figures were primarily for young children, and they can be the most discerning of all critics! (a smile) But when I do a job, I try to do my best and that is what I did here also. I am a professional sculptor.’

In the book the sculptures are illustrated with the notation –”Location Unknown”. You seem to have solved a mystery! ”

I hope the importance of these works will continue to be understood and appreciated. Many thanks to the staff at the Vancouver Art Gallery for answering my inquiry. http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/

P.S. – According to Cheryl, Peggy Imredy still resides in Vancouver, BC.

By: Cheryl Fuller

Cheryl Fuller — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:03:00 +0000

I went to NNL as a child an unknown number of times- at LEAST once every summer. I have taken both my boys there on numerous occassions too. I wish something could be done to bring it (or something similar) back. It was such an exciting, Magical place/trip. We miss it VERY MUCH!!

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:59:32 +0000

I LOVED NNL-

By: mysterious person

mysterious person — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:06:03 +0000

r u effing kidding me? if u think this is such a nerdy website than why are u looking at it and leaving comments huh? why did u even type this in to find this website i think a certain some one needs to get a life

By: Lori Haun

Lori Haun — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:40:48 +0000

Did the nursery rhymes or stories get saved as well with the statues? Can someone take pictures of the place now and compare them with back when it first opened? I would love to see someone help preserve the memories if at least in photos of all the statues. It is sad and such a tragedy for them not to be there. Can someone make a new Never Never Land? I am more than willing to help.

By: Brett Tousley

Brett Tousley — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:48:35 +0000

Wow it’s really nice to see them in such good condition! I remember visiting Never Never Land many times as a small child, what a shame that todays kids don’t have the same opportunity when visiting Point Defiance.

A visit to Tacoma always involved Never Never Land, Fort Nisqually, the Zoo and the B&I to see Ivan.

Simpler times in Tacoma I guess?

By: sarah sarah

sarah sarah — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:14:25 +0000

i use to come here as a child, and for some reason one night i remembered never never land… me and my cousin use to go there and i reamember how fun it was to walk down the trails and eat and watch plays and see all the characters and go in there houses!!! that was the fun of it all. so i looked for it and sadly found that it was vandilized!!! i cant believe people could do such a thing! And when i saw these pics it was a lil creepy… i still want to go see whats left.. i told my cousin and she saw the pics too we had such a memorable night.. it is sad it may not ever be replaced??? i know that u cannot stop mother nature. and people from destroying in thoses woods.. but couldnt they put it in a building with woods just like it was they can even have paid admission to keep it runnin!!!!! and the history on a board i know lots of people would come!!! and it can be made woodsy and safe in a building!!!!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:33:33 +0000

This is an incredible collection. They are family and should remain together.

That’s my vote. http://www.vipteamwa.com

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:32:28 +0000

This is an incredible collection. They are family and should remain together.

That’s my vote.

By: Paulie

Paulie — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:06:44 +0000

Add me to the “Keep them together, and shame on people for wanting ‘that one piece’” Chorus.

I was talking to a woman today who said that some of the figures would be permanently removed as they were “Not Politically Correct” – Dear god…

PS – does anyone else remember the little mailboxes you got to open to read the poems inside? Have the history museum do an exhibition of them, and a photo book. I’d buy it in a NY minute.

By: Dave L.

Dave L. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:50:13 +0000

What a collection, and so valuable – not as much from a monetary standpoint but from a historical standpoint, and such a complete collection of the sculptor’s under-appreciated work. I share Debbie’s passion (above) on this 100%. I hope the owner has the opportunity to do what would benefit the comminity and honor the artist, and pay tribute to and a fairly recent Tacoma History.

By: Morgan Alexander

Morgan Alexander — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:34:33 +0000

Oh! I forgot to pass this info along: the artist who did the figures was Elek Imredy: http://aabc.bc.ca/access/aabc/archbc/display/CVAN-668

He was originally from Budapest, Hungary. In 1957, he moved to Vancouver BC, where you can see more of his work in bronze and other mediums. He was a professional sculptor until his death in November 1994.

Girl in wetsuit: http://www.drfphoto.com/photo/2387/

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:08:36 +0000

P.S.Latly ive been pasing by there and there building something. Also i went on the Point Defiance web site and they dont have it on there anymore. I really wish there wear something i could do to “resurect” it but I’m only 18 theres not much i could do especially since i didn’t have any memories there.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:53:58 +0000

They all look in pain & terified. Ithink someone should get the heart to fix them and put them back for the children. The things some of you people are saying is very awful & thoughtless, “how much do u want”, “i’ll take the chicken”, & “put them on a display in a museum” who would wont to see that on display, that would be depressing. Personally I havent been there when it was nice, but, i’ve seen photos & heard stories it sounds wonderful, But, now it just makes me sick, & you people wanting to buy them for your own happiness, that’s just selfish, I’d replace them where they were if I could get ahold of them.
-Debbie

By: Kasei Otis

Kasei Otis — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:41:48 +0000

Why not do something with them at the Children’s Hospital. I know several Hospitals that have collectors peices throughout their hallways on stands with a thick type case over them. Just and Idea.

By: Pegsterdtown

Pegsterdtown — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:12:05 +0000

Oh the bittersweet memories of a time gone by… I think that it would be wonderful to have them in the Childrens Museum. I think that these figurines should be in a place where all children, present, and past could enjoy them.