| Big Critters |
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| FISH (page 1) | |||
| The Fish Inn (gone) Coeur D'Alene, ID |
The Big Fish Drive-in (gone) Erie, PA |
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| The Fish Inn burned down in the mid-1990s. The Big Fish Drive-in was in Peninsula Park. The fish was just a 2-D facade with screen door cut-outs slapped onto the front of the building. Today, there is a hot dog stand where the Fish was. |
| Giant Trout Kalkaska, MI |
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| This Giant Trout is 17' long and 12' tall and is posed leaping from a fountain. This is the third version of the fish that was originally installed here in 1966. The trout is Michigan's state fish and Kalkaska is home to the National Trout Festival. A Giant Robin, Michigan's state bird, is placed just next to the Trout. For more, see these websites: 1, 2 and 3. |
| Giant Perch Port Stanley, ON |
Captain Wylie Port Clinton, OH |
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This Giant Perch is mounted on top of a sign on the Lake Erie shorefront. Yellow perch is a local specialty. For more, see this website,
Captain Wylie is a 20' long fiberglass walleye. He is paraded around during the annual Walleye Festival and then parked in front of the Lakeland Hotel. Port Clinton proclaims itself to be the Walleye Capital of the World. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Big Fish Supper Club Bena, MN |
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The Big Fish Supper Club used to house a hamburger stand but now the restaurant is in an adjacent building. The 65' long, 14' tall muskie was built in 1958 and was originally called the Big Fish Drive Inn. The body was built on a wooden frame and Coca-Cola signs were used to make the fish's eyes. It was open only a couple years as a drive-in/take-out window. In 1963, it was converted into a souvenir shop. Another more conventional building was built next to the fish and this serves as the actual restaurant while the fish is used for storage.
There is a constant problem with people stealing the fish's teeth so they are only left in during the summer months. There are reports that the owner wants to sell the building and retire. For more, see this website. |
| Giant Tiger Muskie Nevis, MN |
Giant Walleye Garrison, MN |
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The Nevis Muskie was built in 1950 with cedar, redwood and concrete. At 30 1/2’ long, it claims to be the World's Largest Tiger Muskie. In 1991, the fish was repainted and a roof was built to protect it. For another photo, see this website.
The Garrison Walleye was built in 1965 when Garrison declared itself the "Walleye Capital of the World." This fishing village is wrapped around the most popular walleye lake in the state, Mille Lacs. It was originally intended as a portable fiberglass fish to accompany Miss Garrison in the annual town parade. The 26' long fish has since been affixed to a cement base and serves as a beacon for boaters and ice fisherman lost on the lake. For more photos of it, see these websites: 1 and 2. There is also Wally the Walleye in Garrison, ND. This fiberglass fish is 25’ long and stands at the North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame (link). Willie Walleye in Baudette, MN is 40' long and was built in 1959. For photos of him, see these websites: 1 and 2. There is Paul Bunyan's Walleye in Rush City, MN (link); and a ride-able walleye (1 and 2) in Lake Kabetogama, MN. |
| Giant Sunfish Onalaska, WI |
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| This Giant Sunfish, nicknamed "Sunny", is 12' tall and 20' long. Onalaska calls itself the Sunfish Capitol of the World and has an annual Sunfish Days festival. For more, see this website. |
| Giant Fish Waupaca, WI |
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| This Giant Fish belongs to the River Bend Sport Shop. When the store moved recently, they brought the Fish along with them. |
| Giant Fish Hayward, WI |
Giant Fish Manitowish Waters, WI |
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This Giant Fish (largemouth bass?) is installed around the side of the building of Pastika's Bait & Tackle. It appears to have been used as a fountain at some point.
The Manitowish Waters Fish (smallmouth bass?) is installed next to Swanberg's Bavarian Inn. Does anyone know what type of fish it is meant to represent and/or the story behind it? |
| Giant Fish Minneapolis, MN |
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| As of 2007, this Minneapolis Fish was located behind Phillips Garden, a landscaping business. It was created by Jeff Millikan and was installed in front of the building for several years. Another artwork replaced it and the fish was moved back into this storage area. The artist will be reclaiming the fish soon. For more, see this website. |
| Giant Catfish Dickson, TN |
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| The Dickson Catfish is part of the sign for the Twin Lakes Catfish Kitchen. For more, see this website. |
| Giant Catfish Pigeon Forge, TN |
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| The Pigeon Forge Catfish is located at Huck Finn's Catfish. He was probably made from the same mold as the one in Dickson shown above. |
| Giant Catfish Paris, TN |
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| The Paris Catfish is perched on top of this town's welcome sign. The catfish is about 20' long. Paris is home to the annual "World's Biggest Fish Fry" which began in 1953. There is also a replica of the Eiffel Tower in town. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Giant Catfish Fort Smith, AR |
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| The Fort Smith Catfish is mounted on truck at Motor Street Auto. I can't find any information about a "Big Baja Fish Camp" so it might be a fictitious business. |
| Giant Fish Fish Haven Farm Candor, NY |
Giant Fish Port Isabel, TX |
Giant Fish St. Germain, WI |
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Fish Haven Farm has been producing fish for private ponds, lakes and streams since 1981, specializing in bass, carp, koi, and trout. As of 2005, the business is up for sale. The giant fish (trout?) atop their sign appears have wooden fins and some sort of fabric or vinyl body.
The Port Isabel Fish stands on a pole in the water next to the fishing pier. The St. Germain Fish (muskie?) hangs at the entrance to town next to Chief St. Germain. |
| North Country Taxidermy Hazelhurst, WI |
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| North Country Taxidermy features a bass, a muskie, and a deer dressed as a hunter. [photos thanks Mark Comstock] |
| Giant Fish Atlanta Fish Market Atlanta, GA |
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| The Giant Fish was created in 1995 by Martin Dawe and Randy Blain. It stands at the entrance to the Atlanta Fish Market, a seafood restaurant. This salmon sculpture is 65' long and weighs 50 tons. It is made of solid copper and steel and is the largest fish sculpture in the world. In December, it wears a Santa hat. For more, see this website. This fish reminds me of Frank Gehry's Fish Dance Restaurant in Kobe, Japan which was built 1986-89. |
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More Fish (page 2) |
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