Where Is Nessie?

Where Is Nessie? The Return of a Fountain Hills Legend

For decades, one of Fountain Hills’ most charming mysteries has been the whereabouts of our beloved Nessie, the Fountain Ness Monster. Her appearances were rare, magical, and always perfectly timed with one of the Town’s most fun traditions the Greening of the Fountain.

And now, for the first time in many years, Nessie is coming back.

Thanks to a new public art partnership, a newly crafted Nessie is being built right now and will make her grand return during Irish Fest on March 14.

A New Nessie for a New Generation

The Town of Fountain Hills has partnered with The Inspiration Academy to reimagine and rebuild Nessie as part of an upcoming Irish Fest art initiative. This collaboration not only revives a beloved community icon but also invites local students to help shape a piece of living history.

These projects highlight the Town’s ongoing commitment to placemaking, public art, and youth engagement, offering students a meaningful role in enriching Fountain Hills’ vibrant downtown and park spaces.

The History of Nessie in Fountain Lake

The tale of Nessie dates back to the earliest days of the Greening of the Fountain, a St. Patrick’s Day tradition since 1979. According to “Rising Above the Rest” (2010), the tradition began with a 1978 bet between a homebuilder and local residents—a plan involving green dye, waterskiing on the lake, and the very first appearance of Nessie.

The Fountain Hill Shamrock Society was informally created in 1979. Its original members—Terry Gill, Martin Dawson, Bob Evans, Bill and Jim Lavoie, Dick Sear, Bob Travis, Steve Nelson, and Sid Apps—met regularly to dream up new ways to make St. Patrick’s Day unforgettable. And unforgettable it became.

Building the Original Nessie

Nessie emerged from pure creativity:

• 55-gallon drums
• a sturdy wood base
• layers of papier-mâché
• and the imagination of eight-year-old Justin Dawson, whose design brought the monster to life.

Each year, her annual appearance became as anticipated as the fountain turning green.

A Trail of Footprints

To enhance the illusion that Nessie arrived only for her special St. Patrick’s Day visit, members crafted templates of giant footprints in Dick Sear’s cabinet shop. These were sprayed onto Saguaro Boulevard using green, water-soluble paint propelled by propane vapor. The effect was so convincing—and long-lasting—that Pat Harvey of the Road District asked what kind of paint they were using because it lasted longer than the district’s own striping paint.

(Photo courtesy of the Fountain Hills Historian Group)

Shamrocks All Over Town

Over the years, shamrocks began appearing throughout the community—on driveways, sidewalks, and even dangling from traffic signals—as Fountain Hills fully embraced its Irish spirit.

Parade Fame

In 1991, Nessie and her companion vehicle, the Patty Wagon—an old station wagon painted green—entered the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Phoenix. They brought home a first-place trophy, proudly spreading Fountain Hills’ Irish pride far beyond home.

Nessie Returns March 14

After years of wondering “Where is Nessie?”, the answer is finally here:
She’s returning for Irish Fest on March 14. The Sonoran Lifestyle team with REMAX Sun Properties is proud to sponsor Irish Fest and looks forward to seeing you Saturday! From

Irish Fest 2026: Times & Location

Saturday, March 14, 2026
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fountain Park | 12925 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
On the Great Lawn (west side of the park, off Saguaro Blvd)

Join us for live music, beer garden,  food trucks, and family fun, and don’t miss Nessie’s grand return to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style! And the Greening of the Fountain at Noon and 4 PM!