ST. LOUIS (KSDK) -- As downtown prepares for the VP Parade, there's something you probably didn't know about the annual Fourth of July tradition. Dana Dean has a behind-the-scenes scoop.
To the passerby, this might look like nothing more than a typical Midtown St. Louis warehouse. But if you're lucky enough to find the garage door open, you'll realize it's anything but typical.
"People wonder about it."
And why wouldn't they? There's a produce aisle, a petting zoo, and a pirate ship all under one roof.
"This is really very similar to a scene shop in Hollywood."
This warehouse is so different that those who work here don't even call it that.
"This is the den."
Home to all the floats in the Veiled Prophet parade. Artistic Director, William Griffin, is always asked the same question: "Do you do this all year long?"
The answer is yes.
Griffin said, "If you want to reach the level of quality that we want to provide, it takes a lot of effort and a lot of talented people. I've got sculptors, painters, fabricators, and volunteers."
There are 17 floats in the parade and plenty of props to go along with them, all made right here in the den.
"We've been building the floats here since 1965," he said.
Almost all floats take on a different look year after year to fit a certain theme.
But some are so special, they never change.
"We built a pirate ship. The thing is built so it leans back and forth when it goes down the street. And it's meant to be a sinking pirate ship. And one reason for that is a practical reason for that. The street lights and wires downtown would hit our mast if it was as tall as it should be."
Each piece in here has a different story. These horses are 42 years old and have been used in the parade over and over again.
"We're still using them and actually I still have the 8 piece plaster mold."
Griffin says the Veiled Prophet Parade stands out.
Griffin said, "For this level of quality, I think we're the only thing in the country that is non-commercial. This parade is paid for by a group of St. Louis businessmen. Most parades are paid for by corporations and every float has a corporate agenda. Well, we don't have that."
And as soon as the parade is over, it's back to the float den in Midtown for griffin and his crew, where the work will soon begin for next year's parade.
