Cave opens for last time
Dannevirke’s Fantasy Cave opened for Christmas on Sunday, December 1 with the arrival of Santa at 10am in a 1930 Ford Model A vintage car after a tour of local rest homes.
There was an excited bunch of locals to greet him and even visitors from the Horowhenua-Manawatu had made the special trip to greet him.
This was four generations of the Shailer and Hirst families and spokeswoman for the group, Judith, said all of the generations had visited the cave from its inception 30 years ago and the group had started in Levin picking up families on the way to be in time for Santa.
Sadly this will be the last Christmas event at this particular venue for the Dannevirke Fantasy Cave which has lost its permit to open to the public from March 31, 2020.
The Fantasy Cave is Dannevirke’s iconic tourist attraction which was established by some loyal volunteers and now the board, established early this year, is ready to respond to recent challenges created by the Building Warrant of Fitness requirements.
The warrant will expire on March 31, 2020 when the Fantasy Cave will go into recess for a relocation just across the alleyway to the old Mills Garage. Owner Ken Mills is supportive of plans to demolish the building and erect a new fit-for-purpose Fantasy Cave.
It is hoped the new Fantasy Cave will open in 12-24 months, depending on finance.
This decision has not been taken lightly and the board, which was set up by the late John MacGibbon, helped by Malcolm Peffers and Grant Hurrell.
Industry professionals have advised the Cave Board, and following inspections on the work needed to bring the cave up to code, including emergency access and the traditional Santa area which is no longer suitable. It would mean spending between $80,000 and $100,000.
This has been a commercially sensitive period of decisionmaking and negotiations and legal work is being completed.
The Fantasy Cave Board has taken this exciting step forward with the full support of the Tararua District Council, District mayor Tracey Collis, council chief executive Blair King and the council’s building team.
While the cave is in recess for relocation from March 31, the Fantasy Cave team will have a large presence in the Dannevirke Christmas Parade in 2020. The chance to meet Santa will also continue during Christmas 2020 at a suitable site to be found on High St. In the meantime Santa can be visited every day from December 1 along with the rest of the Fantasy Cave.
Hours until December 15 are 10am-2pm every day. From December 16: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm and weekends 10am2pm. After Christmas January — Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am-2pm.