Elsie the Cow
Elsie, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Elsie proudly calls itself "Michigan's Dairy Capital," so it's only fitting that Elsie the Cow greets visitors right in the middle of town. Standing outside the Village Hall, this oversized bovine has become one of the community's best-known landmarks. 10-08
The statue celebrates the area's long dairy farming tradition and serves as the unofficial mascot of the annual Elsie Dairy Festival. Every summer, the town comes together to celebrate its agricultural roots with parades, races, and plenty of dairy-themed fun.
The giant cow has become a popular meeting place and photo stop over the years. It's the kind of roadside attraction that gives a small town a little extra personality and lets visitors know they're somewhere proud of their farming heritage.
While the statue may be the first thing many visitors notice, it also reflects the importance of dairy farming throughout the surrounding countryside. Drive a few miles outside of town and you'll quickly find yourself surrounded by working farms that have helped shape the area's identity for generations.
Elsie the Cow
Elsie, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Despite the name, the town wasn't named after the famous Borden mascot. Elsie actually takes its name from Elsie Amelia Tillotson, the first child born to the area's early settlers, decades before Borden introduced its well-known advertising cow. It's a bit of local history that surprises a lot of first-time visitors.
UPDATE: Elsie the Cow is still standing outside the Village Hall and continues to welcome visitors to Michigan's Dairy Capital. If you're passing through town, it's a fun stop that's hard to miss. 07-26
Abe on Carriage
Lincoln, IL Photo courtesy Chibbqking
Here's one Abe Lincoln who's ready to hit the road. The World's Largest Railsplitter Covered Wagon features a 12-foot-tall Lincoln sitting high in the driver's seat, stovepipe hat and all, reading from a giant book marked "LAW." At nearly 25 feet tall and 40 feet long, this is no ordinary carriage. 05-09
The giant wagon was built in 2001 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Route 66. Craftsman David Bentley constructed the massive white oak and steel wagon, while the oversized fiberglass Lincoln was created by FAST Corp. in Wisconsin.
For years, the wagon greeted travelers along the old Route 66 alignment outside a local motel. With Abe keeping one eye on the road and the other on his law book, it made for one of the more unusual Lincoln photo stops in the state.
UPDATE: The wagon and Big Abe are still around, but the landmark is being moved to a new downtown location in Lincoln. Its wheels were temporarily removed for the move, and the giant wagon is expected to settle into the city's Route 66 Welcome Garden. 07-26
Mr. Happy Burger (Gone)
Logansport, IN Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Western edge of Logansport is where you will find Mr. Happy Burger. It appeared to be closed on this Sunday afternoon. The giant bull with the chef hat was at the side of the place. See more photos of Mr. Happy Burger here. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 10-10
Mr. Happy Burger got its start in Logansport in 1961, and this west-side location opened in 1972. It became a local favorite for burgers, fries, shakes, and Indiana's famous breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches.
The chef-hatted bull was added in the late 1970s and quickly became one of the restaurant's most recognizable features. It's hard to miss a giant smiling bull standing next to a burger stand, and that's exactly what made it such a memorable roadside stop.
Logansport actually had two Mr. Happy Burger bulls—one on each side of town. This was the west-side version, easily identified by its chef's hat, while the east-side bull wore only a bib.
UPDATE: The original Mr. Happy Burger is gone, and the building now houses a Japanese restaurant. The west-side bull has also disappeared, and its current whereabouts aren't known. The east-side bull, however, was saved and now stands outside Bullshippers Café elsewhere in Logansport. 07-26
Abe on Carriage
