Editor’s Note: There are so many events that take place during Con season that it is hard to cover them all, but we’re trying. Luckily, we have wonderful readers who tell us about Cons that we did not know about but would be interested in covering. One such reader, Dean Miller, contacted us about Trekonderoga, an intimate Star Trek Convention that takes place in Ticonderoga, NY. Unfortunately, none of our main staff could attend this event due to location and scheduling issues. So, what did we do? Since Dean is a big Star Trek fan and told us about Trekonderoga, we got him a Press Pass and told him to have fun! So, here is Trekonderoga 2016 in the words of our Special Correspondent, Dean Miller. Take it away, Dean!
Trekonderoga 2016
by Dean Miller
Gary Lockwood and Keir Dullea with James Cawley. (Photo Credit: Garth Gullekson)

Gary Lockwood and Keir Dullea with James Cawley. (Photo Credit: Garth Gullekson)

Here in the northeast, upstate NY, August through September is what we call “Fair Season”. Each county has it’s own fair and usually builds up to the State Fair. This year, it is “Trekonderoga Season”.
Trekonderoga is held in beautiful historic Ticonderoga, NY, located on the shores of Lake Champlain and Lake George, and nestled in the Adirondack mountains. The creation of James Cawley, Trekonderoga brings fans up close and personal with famous faces from Star Trek and other television series. This year’s event had stars, and plenty of them! Felix Silla (Cousin IT from Addams Family, Twiki from Buck Rogers), Keir Dullea, and Gary Lockwood (2001: A Space Odyssey, Lockwood also was in Star Trek’s second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” ), Louise Sorel (Star Trek, Requiem For Methuselah, and Days Of Our Lives in 1992 as the manipulative Vivian Allemain.), Beverly Washburn (Lieutenant Arlene Galway in the Star Trek episode “The Deadly Years”.), and Barbara Luna (Marlena Moreau in the all-time classic Star Trek episode, “Mirror Mirror”)
BarBara Luna signing autographs. (Photo Credit: Garth Gullekson)

BarBara Luna signing autographs. (Photo Credit: Garth Gullekson)

All were available for photo ops and casual conversation. This is the beauty of Trekonderoga, the intimate smaller sized convention allows attendees to chat it up with the stars and not have that feeling of being herded through and rushed along, not seeing or getting the full experience that they pay money for and travel some fair distances to see. The overall feel of this convention is very welcoming and inviting, almost a Mayberry type of feeling. The crew of Trekonderoga and the town honestly want you to be there. Not just for the money that attendees will spend, but for time spent with friends new and old in Ticonderoga. The entire town gets in on the act, starting with simple “Welcome Trekkie” signs in the businesses’ windows, to a local deli market across the street from the convention offering  a special “Trekonderoga” menu of deli sandwiches. The entire town has a vested interest in the success of Trekonderoga. For its economic impact on this small town obviously, but also the not so obvious, the help the downtown gets from part of the proceeds of the event that go to help raise the profile of the town and to boost the local businesses.
Barbara Luna had an intimate Q&A, while other presentations such as “Creating the TOS Look”, acting tips, and a trivia challenge were held. Following the day’s events was a dinner with the guests stars of the Con and a comedy show. Back at the studio, there was an ice cream social, a nice fan gathering to have some delicious make your-own-sundaes and talk about the nerdier things in life. We were even treated to a surprise sneak preview from the B-Movie Blues Brothers, who would open for James Cawley and his Elvis tribute concert Saturday night. The day concluded with an impressive fireworks display in Bicentennial Park.
Pow!

Pow!

Day 2 included more special presentations. I personally enjoyed the seminar by the podcasters at Trekyards, Stuart Foley and Samuel Cockings, and their discussion “50 Years of a Ship Called Enterprise”. They gave info on the specific designs of all the ships named Enterprise and their different attributes. For a tech-nerd such as myself, I was loving this talk! From there I went to visit with my new friend Joey Gates of The Cargo Hold: Hobby, Toys, & Collectibles at the vendor building. Joey always brings the good stuff to Trekonderoga! Mego figures, Star Wars, and awesome autographs. I could look all day at his wares of nerdy-goodness! From there, I hit the Cosplay Contest, which was a new addition to Trekonderoga this year. I had fun watching the kids get up on stage and show off their costumes. Adults got in to the act as well!

Wille Yee’s Zhang Heng Shuttlecraft Car. (Photo Credit: Dean Miller)

Wille Yee’s Zhang Heng Shuttlecraft Car. (Photo Credit: Dean Miller)

Bluesmobile. (Photo Credit: Dean Miller)

Bluesmobile. (Photo Credit: Dean Miller)

Hellhound. (Photo Credit: Dean Miller)

Hellhound. (Photo Credit: Dean Miller)

The parking lot had it’s own crowd pleasers as well. A replica of Doctor Who‘s  T.A.R.D.I.S. was on display, as well as a hellhound, both made by artist Erik Johnsen. Some other attractions were a gorgeous 1957 Chevrolet Convertible, the Zhang Heng (Shuttlecraft Tribute Car), a 1969 American Lafrance Firetruck, and the B-Movie Bluesmobile. Being a car guy, I enjoyed these displays!
Wolverine Cosplay. (Photo Credit: Naredo Photo)

Pierre Farah LaJoie as Wolverine. (Photo Credit: Naredo Photo)

The B-Movie Blues Brothers. (Photo Credit: Garth)

The B-Movie Blues Brothers. (Photo Credit: Garth Gullekson)

James Cawley as The King...

James Cawley as The King…

Also set up in the parking lot was Montreal’s Wolverine, Pierre Farah LaJoie, as he and his team raised funds for the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. With all this goodness going on, the nighttime brought on some good times as well! Off to the Ticonderoga High School auditorium where, for one night only, I went to catch the Trekonderoga concert event, The B-Movie Blues Brothers and Elvis tribute show starring James Cawley. Cawley is an accomplished Elvis tribute artist and has The King down to a science! Part of the proceeds of the concert went to the Kiwanis Backpack Program, where $5 of every ticket sold went to the program that provides school children with nutritous foods to take home with them on weekends during school and the summer vacation. Once again, this is a community wide convention that helps its members like part of a family.

The Bridge...

The Bridge…

The main attraction of Trekonderoga is the newly opened Star Trek: The Original Series Set Tour. Countless folks bought tour tickets to go on board the U.S.S. Enterprise in all of its 1966 glory. The sets are painstakingly recreated by James Cawley and his team to the exact detail as the Desilu sets when the original Star Trek series was filmed. Cawley, a life long fan of Star Trek, was granted a license by CBS/Paramount to open his screen accurate sets to the public. Cawley’s facility is the only one in the country with this distinction. The sets are truly the crown jewel of the convention.
breifingroom
All in all, Trekonderoga had that science fiction convention flair with the country touch of a county fair vibe. Warm friendly people sharing their town and their love for Star Trek with the world.

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