Author Archives: Jim Hejl

Pitchfork Pete

By | | Other Big People, People
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Mills Fleet Farm Stores is a chain of general merchandise stores in the upper mid-West. While they have a broad range of products, of course their focus is on products that appeal to small town, rural farmer-types. In Albert Leas,Minnesota (pop. 18,356) the Mills Farm Fleet store has this guy standing out front. Locally they call him Pitchfork Pete. He looks happy enough.

pete

Pitchfork Pete

Blue Earth Jolly Green Giant

By | | Other Big People, People
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We were making the run home from the sights in South Dakota but decided to take time to slip off I-90 for a quick stop in Blue Earth, Minnesota, location of this 55 ft. Jolly Green Giant. It was worth the trip since it is REALLY BIG!

giant

Blue Earth Jolly Green Giant

Corn Palace Corn

By | | Corn, Food and Drink
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On our way home from the Badlands, seek we were driving through South Dakota and naturally had to stop at the Corn Palace. What a place! This spectacular site in Mitchell, SD has been around for over 100 years, actually this is the 3rd Corn Palace. The Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn and other grains and native grasses to make it “the agricultural show-place of the world.” Go inside and you are treated to many corn specialities. Across the street you can find this cute little corn.

corn

Corn Palace Corn

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

 

Rapid City Muffler Man

By | | Muffler Men, People
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I found a lot of Big Things in Rapid City. Maybe it’s the proximity to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Maybe it’s the long cold winters, remember there are lots of Big Things in Minnesota too. Anyway we drove past this guy on a couple of trips and didn’t see him until we specifically were looking for him. Funny how that works!

muffler man

Rapid City Muffler Man

Tires, Tires, Tires

By | | Other Big People, People
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Tires, Tires, Tires walks the walk and talks the talk. Outside their store on East Omaha Street in Rapid City, SD stands this tireman. Just the statement needed from a store that sells tires exclusively. There is another big tire man in Sioux City that I know about but it is not nearly as colorful or well mannered as this example. BTW, stop in for a sandwich and a malt beverage at Firehouse Brewery.

tires

Rapid City Tire Man

 

Johnny One Feather

By | | Other Big People, People
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This is Johnny One Feather, immortalized as an immense advertising symbol. Used to draw attention to the the pan-for-gold attraction behind his statue. I didn’t go in to try my luck panning for gold, seemed like a tourist trap, where they salt the stream and gravel with some gold. Maybe I’m just too cynical. By the way he is located right next to a big Muffler Man. You can park in one spot and visit both.

miner

Johnny One Feather

Presidents Park

By | | Other Big People, People
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Just north of Lewie’s Saloon & Eatery on US-85 south of Lead, South Dakota (see Big Bear holding a fish in the Big Animals section) we happened upon Presidents Park. It’s closed now but would be a mecca for Big Presidential Busts. This big bust of Honest Abe stands outside the park to lure tourists into the park.

lincoln

Lincoln Bust

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

By | | Other Big People, People
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While it appears that Presidents Park is closed these three Big Busts are located in the area on SD-79 south of Rapid City in front of the Rockin’ R Saloon & Steakhouse which is in Hermosa, SD. I call this The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. I’ll let you decide which is which.

presidents

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

 

Sturgis Muffler Man

By | | Muffler Men, People
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If you don’t already know it, Sturgis, SD is the home to the largest biker rally in the US. Fortunately we were there about 10 days before the big shindig. The town is overwhelmed with bikers making the trek to their mecca. The Full Throttle Saloon bills itself as the “World’s Largest Biker Bar.” To add to the ambiance they have this Muffler Man out front. He must appeal to the clientel since he’s holding a cigar and mug of beer. I wonder if there are any DUI’s issued. What do you think?

muffler man

Sturgis Muffler Man

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

 

Bob Ruwart’s Cowboy

By | | Other Big People, People
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After stopping at Fort Laramie in Wyoming and seeing Chimney Rock and Scott’s Bluff in Nebraska we were driving south on I-25 to get to Rocky Mountain National Park. This cowboy was on the northbound side of the interstate but fortunately the exits were only about a mile apart. A quick turn around allowed me to get this cowboy on the grounds of Bob Ruwart Motors in Wheatland, Wyoming. Take exit 80 off I-29. Bob sells everything, Chevy, GMC, Buick as well as Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep.

cowboy

Bob Ruwart’s Cowboy

Colorado Guitar

By | | Objects, Other Big Objects
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Colorado was a surprising cornucopia of Big Things. Right after finding the big so-called “Adirondack” chair, we happened upon this giant guitar. As you can see it is a pretty nice find, and unexpected. I was wondering if we would get to the park after finding the chair and also a rooster and heron (on the Big Animals page.) If you haven’t been to Estes Park, go. And take US-34 into town. It’s spectacular. I was there a few years ago when I was “working” and knew I had to get back.

guitar

Colorado Guitar

 

Rist Benson Reservoir Chari

By | | Chairs, Objects
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An unexpected treat was finding this large Adirondack Chair on our way to Estes Park, Colorado, a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. It is on Eisenhower Blvd. (US-34) in Loveland, Colorado. In the background you can see a little of the Rist Benson Reservoir. Kind of ironic to have an “Adirondack” chair in the Rocky Mountains, don’t you think? Maybe a “Rocking” chair would be more appropriate.

chair

Rist Benson Reservoir Chari

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