Riverside, IA. One of the most fascinating small towns in America.
Huh?
Well, what if I told you that tomorrow there is a Trekfest in Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Captain James Kirk? That Walter Koenig is going to be there along with BarBara Luna?
But I won't be there. I already took my vacation. Darn.
This is my (weak) link with Riverside. I used to have relatives in Iowa City which isn't all that far (about 15 miles) from Riverside. We took a drive one day, found ourselves going through Riverside, and started seeing this Star Trek stuff. As they would say nowadays, a real "WTF" moment.
I think it was in 2002.
I have photos but I don't know where they are.
Now I love Iowa (I've been there oh, maybe 15 or 20 times in my life). But you have to admit that Iowa has some pretty unusual (even strange) stuff. Maybe one day I'll even write about some of it. But Riverside?
Well, Riverside may be best known (?) for a TV show called "Invasion, Iowa" (also known as the day Riverside got Punk'd). This came out of a brainstorm someone had one day to contact Gene Roddenberry about making Riverside the Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk.
And, Mr. Roddenberry, rest his soul, went for it.
I guess this was their idea to try to get tourists to Iowa. I don't know if it did. But they did get someone's attention.
James T. Kirk's.
Actually, the real William Shatner showed up to supposedly film a movie in Riverside. He enlisted the good folks of Riverside, who were asked to do things more and more outrageous. It was supposed to be a spoof on Hollywood and a joke on Riverside. But you know who really got punk'd? James T....I mean, William Shatner, and crew.
You see, the place was so genuine, and I think the folks there touched Mr. Shatner so much, that he (or the show) ended up giving them money for their community center.
Looks like they spent the money well. And, they even have a casino now.
One day...maybe one day I will get back to Riverside. Maybe even for a Trekfest.
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