Fourth packs a punch for fireworks stand

HOUSTON — Question: Where does a 400-pound gorilla shoot off fireworks on the Fourth of July?

Answer: Anywhere he wants.

In Southcentral Alaska, the 400-pound silverback in the fireworks business is Gorilla Fireworks in Houston, along the Parks Highway. Two giant inflatable gorillas make the colorful stand unmistakable. And just in case you may have missed the local King Kong family reunion, a pair of animated workers in gorilla suits dance along the highway.

It’s the day before the Fourth of July, the busiest day of the year at the fireworks stand.

“It’s been so busy,” manager Samantha Parsons said Saturday afternoon. “It’s been go, go, go all morning.”

Although much of the day Saturday was rainy and overcast, the weather hasn’t dampened the run on fireworks, she said.

“This weekend we’ll do really well,” she said. “Today, we’ll probably sell half our stock, our back stock, so we’ll have a really big day. … If anything, (the rain) is good for our business.”

That’s because some think that with more moisture, it’s more safe to light off fireworks, Parsons said.

With lines of Fourth of July revelers waiting, money changes hands quickly.

“I’d say [purchases] average in the $100s, maybe $200,” Parsons said. “Everyone likes to have a good show. There have been purchases over $500 and as much as $1,000. You can have a pretty good show for that.”

Most popular are the miniature shows in a box, she said.

“The artillery shells are really popular,” she said. “You load them in a tube and they go off and explode with color. It’s your basic firework.”

Then there are still the old stand-by fireworks like snakes, sparklers and fountains.

“We still have the fountains and the snakes. That’s fine if that’s what you like,” Parsons said. “Personally, I love the boxes. The shells in a box. They’re one-light and there’s anywhere from eight to 12 shots in one box. They go up high, it’s your own show.”

John Opinsky and his 8-year-old son, Nicko, spent some time picking out items for their own show, on the way to their cabin at Nancy Lake. Nicko excitedly pointed to and commented on the colorful boxes.

“I like the big ones that make big explosions in the air,” he said. “I kind of like this sword. I think it has all kinds of things and explosions in it.”

The trip to Gorilla is an annual event for the Opinskys, John said.

“The kids like it,” he said, adding anything that’s “loud and high” is a hit.

What’s also a hit for the folks at Gorilla Fireworks is safety, Parsons said.

“There should always be responsible adult supervision,” she said. “That’s the key to safety. Kids shouldn’t light anything and you should never hold anything but a sparkler in your hand.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.