Post #68912 by Benzart on Mon, Jan 12, 2004 4:52 AM

Oh yeah, "Them Logs" came from the Tropicana(Now MGM Grand)Golf course.They had been saving them for quite awhile. When I got there theyshowed me this pile of at least 50 dead palms, then they took me to the hotel and fed me, put me up in a room and showed me around their garden (5 acres of Tropical landscaped Island look)and asked "when do you want to get started?".
Do you want the short story, the Long story, or the Big Book?
Any way, This is how it started.....
I had a small space to carve at a local Plant nursery in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
I had at the time a Wooden platform about 10' by 10',under a large Ficus tree. This was truly a Magical place which captured the hearts (and wallets) of Many visitors. The Nursery was Kraft Gardens and they did a Local annual show attended by Nurseries all over the US. Their themewas Hawiian that year and they asked if I would like to show some carvings.
Of course I said yes and even got an Indian friend of mine to build a Cheekee hut.
I put in a few Tikki, a 13 ft Pilican and a8ft dolphin sculpture.
During the show , I saw this guy walking Quickly down the rows and he stopped at our booth and asked "Who did these carvings?".
Of course I spoke up and took the blame and he asked if I would like to come to Vegas and do some carving for the Tropicana if he could arrange it.
I didn't say yes or anything for about 1 second, then I said OK.
That was in Jan of '89 I believe.
He called in the following May iad I was out there with all my tools in Mid May.
They sent me home the end of june for a 2 week vacation while they built the Longhouse and brought me back to carve the poles.
I left on Oct 28, Very exausted.
I'll fill in the blanks later on today.
Stay tuned