The Big Hedgehog was a roadside tourist attraction and amusement park located south of Lamington National Park, Queensland, named for the large concrete hedgehog perched on top of the original cafe. Established by Italian immigrant Sofia Pucinni in 1946, the attraction remained family owned until the 1970's. After business waned, the park was closed in 1989 amidst health concerns. At its height, the attraction contained a restaurant, amusement rides, and a hedgehog petting zoo.
History (all just notes for now) edit
Hedgehog Cafe edit
Despite the numerous rags to riches stories perpetuated by the Big Hedgehog's marketing, its founders, Pucinni family are believed to have come from moderate wealth, moving to Australia for a change of scenery in 1940, well ahead of the large migration following World War II. The original cafe was established by Sofia Pucinni south-west of Lamington national park in 1946.
The following year, it was relocated to its current location, south of Lamington natonal park.
talian immigrants set up cafe, despite a wealthy upbringing many variations of a rags to riches story were featured in marketing. Hedgehog origins? confusion with echidna?
Expansion edit
popularity of cafe among passing tourists saw it soon expand into an italian restaurant. Husband Dario saw opportunity for further expansion, installing a small train ride through the surrounding gardens and rainforest. Sofia was left to manage the restaurant as a separate entity, whereas dario saw the park expand, clearing land for an artifical lake known as hedgehog bay for boat rides, adding more small rides and later a rollercoaster called [distinctive name] - after sofia and dario's relaationship soured, a legal dispute over ownership of the name and attraction gave dario full ownership. when dario passed away soon after, the park was acquired by [big lame company]
Closure edit
manged by [company], despite remaining a local icon, the park quickly lost business to the gold coast theme parks. initially set to be demolished, puccini jr had found a place at the company and proposed a plan to develop it further into a real competitor to the mainstream parks and restore the park to its former popularity. after years of planning, a more modernized look was unveiled with new mascots, and proposed new attractions including larger thrill rides and a water park - at the expense of existing attractions (locals were not impressed by modernization). construction began in 1988 starting with the water park, however the cheaply imported waterslides infected hedgehog bay with dangerous flesh eating bacteria, the operation was abandoned with many rides remaining only partly constructed
Legacy edit
today, the big hedgehog has become heavily populated by squatters, having developed a distinctive culture. many see the hedgehog as a pilgrimage (how much should I go into the weird stuff)