Bud Parks’ Love for Boat-building
When you walk down the residential halls at Morning Pointe of Hixson (TN), dozens of ornate specialty model boats adorn the walls—with details so real you could almost envision yourself sitting at the helm of the old Chris Craft from the 1940s.
But these model boats are not just part of the Morning Pointe décor, they are a labor of love that one Morning Pointe resident, Bud Parks, age 90, has spent years honing and perfecting. It’s given him a sense of belonging and purpose after his early retirement in 1986 from Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“My wife, Mackie, and I were boating enthusiasts,” said Bud. “We spent years rolling up and down the Tennessee River in our twenty-nine-foot Celebrity Express Cruiser. When we had to stop boating, I became interested in trying to build a model boat.” Most of Bud’s boats are built from a kit ordered online and shipped directly to him at Morning Pointe. From there, it’s many hours of studying the instructions, preparing the pieces, and patience. Lots of patience.
With age has come patience. “In my younger years, I would have thrown [the boat] in the floor and stomped on it!” said Bud.
But once he built his first boat—he was hooked.
“I found that this new hobby allowed me to continue my love of boating,” said Bud. When he and Mackie moved into Morning Pointe of Hixson, Bud was able to turn an old utility closet into his workshop, where he has spent countless hours sanding, cutting, glueing, and polishing his creations.
But that’s not all. Most of Bud’s boats actually have a working motor! Some are up to 48 inches long and can shoot across the water at 60 mph. He’s even entered some of his boats into local competitions with the Chattanooga Model Boat Club.
Though putting together model boats has been a labor of love, it’s given Bud a sense of purpose, especially following Mackie’s passing. And his fellow residents and Morning Pointe associates regularly line the halls to marvel at the wooden wonders. “It’s some of the most beautiful art I’ve ever laid eyes on,” said Morning Pointe of Hixson executive director Robin Jackson. “It’s an incredible talent Bud has, making all these boats. I’d love to have one or two in my own home!”
Thank you, Bud Parks, for sharing your wonderful hobby with Morning Pointe for generations to come!
