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world’s largest

 

Spend any time at all on the American highway and you’ll see one: the world’s largest [fill in the blank].

 

The Frazee, Minnesota turkey. The Vergas, Minnesota loon. (Giant fowl are popular in MInnesota). The Medicine Hat Teepee in Alberta, Canada. The list is endless; their aficionados, legion.

 

If you have a very long Airstream you’ll have trouble turning it around—especially if other gawkers pull in behind you—at the site of Salem Sue, the World’s Largest Holstein Cow, who makes her home at the top of a steep hill in North Dakota.

 

While I was up there at dusk with no one but Raven two sketchy-looking guys in a beater compact car arrived and boxed me in. I was concerned—there wasn’t another soul in sight and these two could take their time with my murder and disposal of the body—until I nonchalantly looked in the backseat of their car after they got out. It was littered with, of all things, instructor materials: teacher textbooks, worksheets, and education software manuals. I turned to see them laughing, struggling in the wind to set the automatic timer on their camera, and running up to the base of Sue to strike wacky poses. I figured they were safe. (Famous last words.) 

 

We struck up a conversation when I offered to take their picture with their iPhones and I learned that they are among a not-uncommon group of travelers: people who waste—nay, invest—their summer vacations driving from one world’s largest attraction to the next. We breathlessly compared notes, (“Ooh! Have you been to the praying mantis?”) and swapped Facebook pages.

 

At Alumafandango I had the honor of speaking to presenter Jeff Kunkle of Vintage Roadside. To my surprise, he lives in Portland AND he has the A&W Family living in his backyard. Jeff concurs: folks build entire trips around visiting weird roadside oddities. (No more pointless than birding, right? And the attractions stay put.)

 

Speaking of Portland, a hearty “welcome back” to the Ivy Bear on Highway 26 outside Sandy, Oregon, who rejoined the list of world’s largest mega-things after a long hiatus. 

 

A long time ago in a decade far, far away stood a convenience store inhabited by a lady, her son, and their locally famous pet black bear who would drink a Pepsi (or Coke; oral history is divided on this point) when folks would buy a bottle from the store and hand it off to the bear in his cage. 

 

Years later, the poor thing passed away (probably from diabetes) and an enormous wire topiary frame in the shape of a seated bear was constructed across the street in remembrance. Eventually the original ivy-covered construction fell into ruin and the rotted lumber and damaged frame were razed and carted into the woods—but the site has evermore been referred to as The Ivy Bear area.

 

Fast forward to 2012, when the frame for the 34-foot tall Bear was reconstructed, replanted, and is currently cared for by the good folks at Ivy Bear Pizzaria

 

How long will it take for the ivy to fill in again? Local individuals seem to remember that the original Bear took about four years to grow to completion. Be sure to pay a visit to the chainsaw guy next door to learn about the heated politics surrounding the historic Bear, and fulfill all your rustic cabin art needs.

 

 

2 Responses to “world’s largest”

  • Michel:

    The “Largest ______in the World” – alas, an infection common in Canada as well..

    I think it originated from the early Middle Ages when town fathers fought to entice pilgrims to visit the local Abbey, Cathedral or Church and see religious relics. A splinter from The True Cross perhaps, the bones of some Saint or Virgin, or a cheese sandwich that looked holy, and spend lots of money.

    I traveled across Canada this summer, over 20,000Km, and saw the Worlds Biggest Truck, Tepee, Goose, Nickel and on and on and on, all beckoning modern day pilgrims – ie tourists – to come and spend. Even the new multi million dollar Museum of Human Rights building in Winnipeg has been infected ( unwillingly no doubt) and called the Worlds Largest Toilet Plunger. I thought that this was at least unique, but then I drove though Rennie Manitoba when I saw this sign at the edge of town:

    Welcome to Rennie MB
    Home of Something or Somebody
    Famous
    Sometime
    Maybe

    I love it!

    • Rhonda:

      Michel, ha! Thanks for the great comment. I’m planning a future essay about “Home Of” towns, which are numerous in Canada as well. (Lots of “Welcome, Home of ” signs up there.)

      The smaller the town, the more obscure the celebrity. Example: Roslyn, South Dakota: Home of Myron Floren.

      Happy travels! Where to next?

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