I was down there when they turned it on. BEAUTIFUL at dusk and night. Eyesore in the daylight. Also, the Fountain was out there 10 years. Not just one year.
This was inspired by the Lake Geneva fountain which is located on a jetty and seems very simple and has been running for decades. . I was on the bridge when they turned it on. Everyone was disappointed. We expected it to be higher than we were. We had anticipated being blown away by its magnificence. They had told us it was going to be as impressive as the St. Louis Arch. Everyone thought “ This must be the warming up period. They will turn it on full blast later. “ but it never got higher. I can remember driving home, listening to 96 QMF, and Uncle Ron Clay and Troy from the Asylum were making fun of it, calling it the “Big Squirt”. They were the first people in media to mock it. And I thought that was sooo outrageous.
It was activated on the day I turned 30. I was on the Clark Bridge to witness this "birthday celebration." Very shortly it appeared to be a dud. More like a squirt gun stream than the predicted breathtaking flow that had resulted in advance stories of the Falls Fountain's debut in newspapers from coast to coast. Those who came from arobnd the country to see this "aquatic St. Louis arch" probably developed a negative feeling about Louisville. The city tried everything -- moving it closer to the downtown shore. Repainting it a more water-like color. They had to add a longer tether to the river bottom because they had not anticipated rising water levels. Then the cloged valves. Then the need for widespread replacement parts would cost a huge amount that no one wanted to provide. It was unceremoniously shut down and hidden away. The fountain was like a omen for my 30s. A decade of health problems for me. I'm back and doing fine - if the Falls Fountain isn't.
It would look great now between the Lincoln bridge and the big four walking bridge it was expensive to run though but if mayor MCBike can spend millions on bike lanes they could better spend on this fountain.
