Tall Chief
Big Cabin, OK
Photo and info courtesy Greg West

This giant chief has become a familiar sight for travelers passing through Big Cabin. Although many people know him simply as the "Tall Chief," Chief Standing Brave was custom built in 2001 to welcome visitors to the Tall Chief Smoke Shop and nearby travel plaza.

Standing 46 feet tall atop a 5-foot pedestal, the massive fiberglass-covered statue was hand-built by local craftsman Wade Leslie for Cherokee Nation travel plaza owner DeWayne Franks. While he resembles the classic Muffler Men found across America, Standing Brave is actually a one-of-a-kind creation rather than a factory-produced figure.

As traffic shifted from U.S. Highway 69 to the nearby Will Rogers Turnpike, the giant was repositioned on the property to face the turnpike entrance, where he continues greeting motorists today. He's definitely hard to miss. 05-06

UPDATE: Chief Standing Brave remains outside the Woodshed of Big Cabin travel plaza, welcoming travelers along U.S. Highway 69 and the Will Rogers Turnpike. More than two decades after he was built, he continues to be one of Oklahoma's tallest and most impressive roadside giants. 06-26