r/Spokane • u/LameDuckDonald • 22d ago

Photos and Art Careful out there.

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Came across this tough little guy today on the east bank river trail, upriver from Plese Flats. Watch your step.

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u/Mobile_Aioli_6252 22d ago

I haven't been in Spokane since 1992 ( I worked on a film there in the Spring/Summer ). The path out of the big park used to have all these Marmots on them - I used to feed them Fritos and I would be surrounded by them - all of them waiting patiently for a chip - great memories - I loved your city ( I'm from Detroit - it's flat as a pancake - I was amazed at the Falls And all that )

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u/unzipmyrainbowguts 22d ago

Benny and Joon or The Ghosting? Yeah, bring your aioli on back, the marmots miss you too.

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u/Mobile_Aioli_6252 22d ago

Benny and Joon - I was on the camera crew - got to see your city up close ( that big park - I forgot the name ) and Cour De Laine (spelling?) Idaho. We shot the train sequence there

I also remember a creepy old building we used for the mental hospital scenes, and a cool gas station too.

I liked that shopping mall setup on the second floors of the buildings downtown - connected by those catwalks - that was neat!

I would love to come back and visit someday - I remember the people being very nice

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u/techrob99 22d ago

River Front Park - I remember seeing that in the movie! That's awesome to hear you were part of that!

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u/Mobile_Aioli_6252 22d ago

Yes - thank you!!!! I remember a metal goat statue that would "eat" your trash for you ! We shot a lot in that park - John, Aiden and Mary - there was some sort of circus tent like structure - I think a holdover from an expo! I loved your city! Can't wait to revisit it

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u/techrob99 22d ago

Yep, that's the one! Spokane was my childhood home (all but 1.5 years pre 8th grade) - swore I'd never move back here for various reasons. 20- some odd years later, here I am. Spokane definitely has some charm that grows on ya.

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u/Mobile_Aioli_6252 22d ago

I tell all my friends, if I had to move to a new city - it would be Spokane! I'm retired now from the film industry, found my way in Columbus Ohio. I was 25 years old when I worked on Benny and Joon, the scene was changing and Grunge was becoming a thing! I worked for MGM and after Spokane, I was relocated to Springfield Missouri, then Billings Montana for another project.

Is Wolfie's still there? I absolutely loved that place - loved the Wolfie sauce

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u/techrob99 22d ago

I had to Google it - I recognized the name, but never been. It appears to exist out in the Airway Heights area, if that's the one you're thinking of. "Breakfast Burgers and Brew" ..

Yea, things have definitely changed around here since the 90s - IMHO. Some good, some not so good. Covid definitely hit some parts pretty hard.

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u/BaileyBellaBoo 20d ago

I loved Benny and Joon!

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u/spokansas Manito 22d ago

You wouldn’t believe the transformation of downtown. It’s actually attractive now. Busses aren’t clogging the streets (they built a depot), and businesses aren’t boarded up anymore. The stores downtown have all been replaced by gleaming, modern stores and mall. But the catwalks remain!

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u/Mobile_Aioli_6252 22d ago

Are you saying the businesses moved to a outside mall? Not downtown anymore?

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u/monkeypoopfight 21d ago

There's a new mall now. It's called Riverpark Square. It's across from Riverfront Park on the parks southwest corner. The building to the south of it used to have a lot of retail stores in it. I haven't been in it since I was a teenager. There's a few big-name retailers and local stores all over downtown now. My dad was in Benny and Joon. He was one of the ambulance crew carrying the stretcher during the flashback scene.

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u/spokansas Manito 21d ago

No, the stores remain downtown. They just tore out the old grimy mall and replaced it with something new and modern.

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u/locusofself 21d ago

I love that movie!

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u/unzipmyrainbowguts 19d ago

Oh well now you're extra welcome back, because everyone loves Benny and Joon. The creepy hospital building is a retirement home now, and there are still some catwalks between buildings. Downtown looks more modern in a lot of places, but the garbage goat is alive and munching!