Category Archives: Animals

Chef Louie’s Steakhouse Bull

By | | Animals, Cows and Bulls
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Next to the Corn Palace Motel at the corner of Burr and Havens is this Big Steer advertising Chef Louie’s Steakhouse. After checking in to our hotel we came back to eat at Chef Louie’s which was a very good decision. We had an excellent dinner in a super pleasant environment. I wish it were closer to home.

bull

Chef Louie’s Bull

Corn Palace Buffalo

By | | Animals, The Rest of the Animals
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We were spending the night in Mitchell, SD, famous for it’s Corn Palace. Interesting place to see, but better yet the city with many Big Things. This buffalo is in front of the Corn Palace Motel and may be related to the Big Buffalo below in front of Big Al’s.

bull

Corn Palace Bull

Olivia’s Prairie Dog

By | | Animals, The Rest of the Animals
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I was finally able to get this image, originally spotted by the intrepid Bird Dog – Olivia. Her report last year inspired me to get out to The Ranch Store in Cactus Flats, South Dakota. Not only was this big concrete Prairie Dog on display but the fields around him were filled with regular sized live prairie dogs. I wonder if they look at him as some sort of Prairie Dog God?

Olicia

Olivia’s Prairie Dog

 

Lewie’s Saloon Bear

By | | Animals, Bears
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This 10 foot tall bear is happily showing off his catch in front of Lewie’s Saloon & Eatery in Lead, South Dakota. Looks like a great place — their slogan is “Good Times, Good Food, Mixed Drinks.” Get here on NASCAR Sunday’s since they have 38 TV’s tuned to catch the race.

saloon bear

Lewie’s Saloon Bear

 

Colorado Welcome Center Heron

By | | Birds
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We were coming into Colorado from the north on I-85 and stopped at the Welcome Center. While not absurd in size this heron is still a pretty nice Big Animal. We went into the Welcome Center and were greeted by the nicest people and free coffee. What could be better? Is it the attitude or the altitude?

heron

Colorado Heron

Estes Park Rooster

By | | Animals, Chickens
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On the way to Estes Park we pulled off I-85 onto US-34, sale ask Eisenhower Blvd and quickly spotted this Rooster in front of North Fork Antiques. Looking more closely I noticed it said “Henco en Mexico” which I assume translates to Made in Mexico. It was a good start to traveling on Eisenhower Blvd. because we also spotted a Big Andirondack Chair and Big Guitar. A wealth of Big Things is such a short distance.

rooster

Estes Park Rooster

Oshkosh, Nebraska Goose

By | | Animals, Birds
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In “The Goose Hunting Capital” as Oshkosh deems itself you can find this large flying goose at the corner of US-26 (Ave A) and Main Street across from the Oshkosh Superette. I’ve been to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and now here, I wonder if there are other states with an Oshkosh. By the way, Oshkosh is about halfway between North Platte, NE and Scott’s Bluff, both good places to visit.

goose

Oshkosh, Nebraska Goose

Anderson Erickson Dairy Cows

By | | Animals, Cows and Bulls
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The Anderson Erickson Dairy in Des Moines, Iowa has these two, Annie and Eric standing out front at the corner of University and Hubble. This is a nice twosome, one not normally seen. Generally I only find the larger mother cow. Eric was added later.  More information on the Annie and Eric and the Anderson Erickson Dairy can be found here. Enjoy!

cows

Anderson Erickson Cows

Grinnell, Iowa Duck Daze Duck

By | | Animals, Birds, Inflatables
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In Grinnell, Iowa we visited the Merchant National Bank on Main Street. This bank was designed by Louis Sullivan, a prominent mid-West architect and mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright and often called “The Father of the Skyscraper.” He designed many famous buildings from Chicago skyscrapers to many mid-West banks. This bank is a very good place to visit, they have a docent in place. At any rate, enough history, this duck was used to promote the Duck Daze and Derby fundraiser to support youth in Powershiek County. I bought a duck and entered but haven’t heard if I won.

duck

Duck Daze Duck

Wedding Fish

By | | Animals, Fish
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Here’s another found image from our trip to Florida for Ernie and Sally’s wedding in April, 2011. We were traveling on West New Haven Avenue in West Melbourne when we spotted this Marlin on the front of Strike Zone Fishing. We stopped and visited. They have over 10,000 Fish, Hunt and Paddle products for sale. The store is clean and well ordered. If you like fishing you have to stop by, just look for the Big Marlin out front.

fish

Wedding Fish

Firestone Firehawk

By | | Animals, Birds, Inflatables
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On our way to rent a tuxedo for Ernie and Sally’s wedding when road construction around the Mall caused us to circle around and come in the back way. I guess there is a reason for everything since we ran right into this big inflatable in front of the Firestone dealer by the Mall. The Chief Photographer had her camera with her so it was only a matter of just jumping out and getting the photo.

firehawk

Firestone Firehawk

Birthday Buffalo

By | | Animals, The Rest of the Animals
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We were returning from my sisters surprise birthday party in St. Louis and stopped to get this Buffalo that I had spotted on our way west. Not sure how big buffalos actually are, but he’s pretty good size. I have another buffalo this size from Jim Hipps Nursery in SW Indiana, near Evansville. That photo is also on this page.

buffalo

Birthday Buffalo

Backyard Birds

By | | Animals, Birds
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We found this bird supply store while shopping at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market. Later when we went down to pick up some birdseed and peanuts for our backyard feeders we saw these birds on the front of the building. Having her camera ready the Chief Photographer was able to snap this photo.

backyard birds

Backyard Birds

Thanksgiving Cow

By | | Animals, Cows and Bulls
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On the way back from Thanksgiving at Meg and Greg’s (thanks for the hospitality by the way!) we dropped down on I-275 to Ecorse Rd west (M-17) to get this cow. I’ve got lot’s of cows on this site as you can see below. This Carry Dairy cow is on top of a building that is not exactly a dairy. More of a “Party Store” as they are called in Michigan. Selling beer (of course), wine, cigarettes, milk and lottery tickets there are a plenitude of places like this. This almost like the drive thru beer stores in Ohio, note the One Way sign to my right. No expense spared!

Thanksgiving Cow

Thanksgiving Cow

Habig’s Halloween Spider

By | | Animals, The Rest of the Animals
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This was the finale to the Saugatuck trip and just about 5 miles from home. This crafty spider was constructed in front of the Habig Nursery in Westfield, Indiana. Note the Big Trowel in the background, this is a trademark for Habig’s, they have another one outside the College Street store in Indy.

spider

Halloween Spider

Joy of Life Rainbow Trout

By | | Animals, Fish
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“The Great Rainbow Trout” is the name of this sculpture located in front of the Joy of Life art gallery in Douglas, MI. The Saugatuck/Douglas area is an artsy resort area on the Lake Michigan shore just south of Holland. Great place for a get-away any time although I suspect summer and Christmas are the high seasons.

fish

Douglas, Michigan Fish

Logansport, Indiana Bulls

By | | Animals, Cows and Bulls
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Both of these Bulls are on Market Street in Logansburg, IN. The one on the left is in front of Haps Old Fashioned Ice Cream Sundae Parlor and the guy of the right is next to Mr. Happy Burger. I would guess they have common ownership, notice they both have bibs on. It was too early in the day to get a banana split and the burger joint wasn’t open yet.

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Haps Old Fashioned Ice Cream Bull

Mr, Happy Burger Bull

Mr, Happy Burger Bull

Logansport, Indiana Chicken

By | | Animals, Chickens
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The people of Logansport don’t know how lucky they are. The per capita count of Big Things is pretty low here. 18,000+ people and 3 Big Things. This Big Chicken is on US-24 out on the west side of town. It’s on display in front of the Next Day Container facility.

chicken

Logansport, Indiana Chicken