Jackson Lake Island / Village of Spectre set from the movie, “Big Fish”

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Our spider lilies and the calendar say it’s fall, but you just never know about the temperature in late September.  Back in January when we scheduled this outing, we weren’t considering a 97 degree day.  Historically, late September brings Canadian cold fronts every few days.  Alas, not in 2016.

Fifteen BMC members and friends motored up to the fantasy village of Spectre, from the 2003 Tim Burton film, “Big Fish”.  The story’s protagonist, Edward Bloom, arrives at this idealized setting, where residents throw their shoes to hang over a high rope, because no one would ever want to leave.  Bloom returns to Spectre later in the movie to find it mostly abandoned and derelict. Thirteen years after the movie debuted, it’s even more so, but still evokes the memories of its former glory. 

The ride in sets the mood for what’s in store ahead.  Cypress Lane, well-maintained private road, is lined with Spanish moss-draped hickory trees, that leads to Jackson Lake Island. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway.   Water surrounding the island is connected to the Alabama River by Gun Island Chute — an oxbow-like extension of the river.  Boat ramps for fishing or kayaking are provided.

We began our tour at the fabricated oaks that frame Main Street which consists of Potemkin village facades of early twentieth century homes and shops.  The interiors are bare-bones construction materials that only serve to support what is seen by the camera’s view looking from the outside.

Following our visit to the movie set, we visited with the free range goats / groundskeepers as we strolled the perimeter road on our way around the rest of Jackson Lake Island. Picnic facilities and restrooms are provided.
So, what’s this have to do with the British Motoring Club, you ask?  Ewan McGregor who plays Bloom as a young man, and Albert Finney, who plays the character as an old man, are both Brits.  Okay, that’s a stretch, but there it is.

We’d planned to have lunch back in the real world village of Millbrook, but our group began to disperse sooner than planned as the sun, temperature, and humidity rose.  Others wanted to see their favorite football teams’ televised games, thus making this one of our shorter outings.  We were happy to have BMC new member, Dan Byrne and his pristine ’79 MGB with us for the first time.

For those of you who couldn’t make the trip with us this time, but would like to visit Spectre, there is  an honor-system $3.00/person entry free — well worth the price of admission.  More information on the abandoned town of Spectre and the movie, Big Fish are  HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. 

Russell

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