SOAP LAKE — With new architects and a new plan, the Soap Lake Lava Lamp has once more become a topic of discussion. 

At a Soap Lake city council meeting last month, Andy Kovach, an experienced architect who has volunteered to collaborate on the project, presented a new construction plan for the proposed tourist attraction, which would construct the lamp in a different location than previously discussed.

And at last night’s meeting, city council members approved a new site for the project.

In 2004, the city reached agreement with Target Corp. to acquire a 50-foot, electro-mechanical motion lamp used as a company advertising display near New York City’s Times Square. Disassembled components from the three-dimensional display were trucked out West, and are currently stored at the Soap Lake city shop.  

In 2007, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony at a site along Canna Street, just south of the downtown gazebo, but insufficient funds have stalled any actual construction.

Costs to rebuild and modernize the structure have been estimated at $1 million or more.

Under the new plan, however, the lamp site will be relocated to city property just north of the public library and Community Evangelical Free Church on East Main Street.

Kovach said he and his wife, Nell, developed “a concept that’s really going to work. We’re using stainless steel and concrete, which will last for 50, 60 maybe even 70 years.”

Kovach proposes using a computer and projector to broadcast images of the viscous, bubbling goo found in lava lamp innards onto a weather-resistant outdoor viewing screen.

“It’ll withstand hurricane winds, and the screen will last for 25 years,” Kovach said. “We’ll use lasers that will shine any image we want on the screen.

”With a projector and a screen, the lamp can change to fit the season — for example, a Christmas tree in the winter, or fireworks on Independence Day.

“We can even rent it out to companies for picnics and display their logo,” Kovach said.

The plan is to encourage visitors to see more of Soap Lake and Grant County in addition to visiting the lava lamp.

“They park at East Beach and follow an interpretive trail explaining the history of the area, and talking about other sites,” Kovach said. 

“It’s utterly amazing,” said Soap Lake Mayor Wayne Hovde. “I thought they were going to have the (county) tourism board going out there to raise funds for it (right after a presentation last month).

”In addition to approving the new site for the lava lamp, the council also heard good news regarding its name usage.

“The CEO of Lava Lite has granted Soap Lake the right to use the name Soap Lake Lava Lamp,” Hovde said. “They’ve given us their endorsement.”