Big Critters

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SEA CREATURES (page 2)
Giant Seahorse
Mattapoisett, MA		 Blue Dolphin Diner
Apalachin, NY		 Giant Dolphin
Marathon, FL		 Giant Octopus
Port Isabel, TX
The giant Seahorse was built in the 1940s. The Sea Horse Gift Shop it promoted is long gone. It is built of plywood and stands 38' high. Several years after it was built, it was coated with fiberglass to protect it from the elements. At night, the seahorse's blue eye (it's only a one-sided figure) lights up. The Seahorse was restored in 2000. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The Blue Dolphin Diner features this giant dolphin on its roof.

The Giant Dolphin (with the Baby Dolphin) stands at the Dolphin Research Center. He/she is 30' tall. The dolphin that starred in the TV show "Flipper" is buried at the Center. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Giant Octopus has seen better days. My guess is that the store below was some sort of souvenir stand on this coastal strip. Does anyone know its history?

Blue Whale
Catoosa, OK
The Blue Whale was built by Hugh Davis and his friend Harold Thomas from 1970-1972. Davis built the whale as an anniversary gift for his wife (she collected whale figures). It was made from wood, pipe, and concrete on the Davis' private pond. The 80' long giant sculpture attracted neighbors and passing motorists and ended up becoming a public watering hole. Davis built picnic tables, opened a snack bar, brought in sand to create a beach, hired lifeguards and started charging admission. The Blue Whale closed in 1988 and Davis died in 1990. It was disintegrating badly until 1997 when volunteers renovated it. It was renovated again in 2002 with new plumbing, paint and landscaping and is open for picnics but not for swimming. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Next to the whale, there is a separate restroom building that imitates a thatched hut. On the same property are the remains of a ship-shaped building that was known as "Noah's Ark". It seems to have been part zoo and part alligator farm. There is another dilapidated building that I believe was a concession stand.

Willie the Whale
Canton, OH		 Sperm Whale
West Hartford, CT
Willie the Whale was originally part of Mother Gooseland which was built in the late 1950s. He was once in a pool with seals. They are now developing a recreational trail system next to him. He was repainted in 2007, however, vandals have already defaced him. For more, see this website.

The Sperm Whale, nicknamed Conny, was built for the Science Center in 1976. He is 60' long and 15' tall. You can climb inside and listen to tape recorded whale facts and sounds. He was refurbished in 1995. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Sea Serpent
Crosby, MN

This fiberglass Sea Serpent was created in 1977 and installed in Crosby Memorial Park, next to Serpent Lake. The Serpent is 20' tall. For more, see this website. [photos thanks Mark Comstock]

Shell
Panama City Beach, FL
 Shells
Port Isabel, TX

The Panama City Beach Shell stands next to a gift shop on Route 1.

These Port Isabel Shells stand in front of Coastal Decor which has a castle-shaped building. This business has (or had) the same owners as the larger store in Los Fresnos, TX which has even larger shells and other giant sculptures. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Pismo Clam
Pismo Beach, CA
 Pismo Clam
Pismo Beach, CA

This first concrete Pismo Clam statue is located at the entrance to town. It previously had a much less grandiose display. For more, see this website.

The second Pismo Clam is at the Chamber of Commerce. This one is painted and decorated for various holidays. There is a third giant clam like this one at an RV dealership in town that is decorated in the same manner. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

More Sea Creatures:
Whale (Bar Harbor, ME)
Oyster: 1, 2 (New South Wales, Australia)
Prawn (New South Wales, Australia)
Whale (Nullarbor, Australia)
Octopus (Xiamen, China)

Sea Creatures
(page 1)
Giant Animals
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