Wash. town wants world's biggest lava lamp

EPHRATA, Wash., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Officials in the town of Soap Lake, Wash., say they want to host the world's largest working lava lamp in order to boost tourism in the area.

Soap Lake Mayor Wayne Hovde said the town has moved the 50-foot lava lamp from Times Square in New York to the small Washington town in preparation for erecting the unusual monument in the center of town, The (Britain) Daily Telegraph said Friday.

The erection of the over-sized 1960s cultural icon and a supportive tower have been delayed for years due to concerns that the company that owns the lava lamp copyright would not offer its approval.

But Hovde is confident that Soap Lake will eventually get permission to display its lava lamp from Haggerty Enterprises, Inc., the Tri-City Herald of Washington said.

For Soap Lake resident Brent Blake, the addition of the towering lamp would help boost the town's slumping tourism trade.

"People will come from all over the world to see this structure of awe," Blake said. "Visitors will be thrilled to see such a wonder and will be rewarded by its scale, show of light and constantly changing, oozing and flowing goo."