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Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center |
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Cranberry Festival |
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photo courtesy of lifedynamix.com |
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"Did you know Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries? If you’re curious about how cranberries are grown, you’ll want to visit our Exhibit Hall where you can learn all about this “berry” unique crop. Through storyboards, video, sound recordings, static and interactive displays, the Exhibit Hall details the historic and contemporary aspects of Wisconsin’s No. 1 fruit crop." - section from Official Site
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204 Main Street
Warrens, WI 54666
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hours:
• April thru October (daily) 9am – 5pm
• November thru December (Tues - Sat) 10am – 4pm
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Official Site
www.discovercranberries.com
Cranberry Festival
www.cranfest.com
Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association
www.wiscran.org
Uncommon Days
www.uncommondays.com
book: "Wisconsin Curiosities" by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page 234 (3rd ed., 2009) pages 224 - 225 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) pages 62 - 63 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Sidetracked in Wisconsin" by Mary Bergin
Itchy Cat Press (2006)
pages 44 - 45
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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F.A.S.T. Corp. Fiberglass Statue Factory
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location: Sparta |
creator of many fine roadside oddities |
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"FAST Corp. of Sparta (FAST stands for Fiberglass Animals Shapes and Trademarks) does business around the world, and few companies like it exist. A survey of the lot yields a sprawling collection of fiberglass fun: large cows, alligators, elephants that double as children's slides. You're even allowed to walk through this menagerie of critters, as long as you behave and don't climb on anything." - section from MKE Online website
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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Fiberglass Animals, Shapes & Trademarks (FAST Corp.)
14177 County Highway Q
Sparta, WI 54656
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FAST: Fiberglass Statue Mold Field posted by Roadside America
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double-click to enlarge video
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web links |
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books |
book:
"Weird Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks Barnes & Noble Books (2005) pages 66 - 67
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Weird U.S." by Mark Sceurman & Mark Moran
Barnes & Noble Books (2004) page 199 buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Wisconsin Curiosities" by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) pages 224 - 225 (3rd ed., 2009) pages 216 - 217 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) pages 59 - 60 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Midwest Marvels" by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
pages 401 - 404 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Great Little Museums of the Midwest" by Christine Des Garennes (2002)
Trails Books
page 27
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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World's Largest Bicycle Statue & Ben Biken, the High-Wheeler Bicycle Man in sparta, the "bicycle capital of america"
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location: Sparta |
roadside oddity / record holder / self-designation |
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"This seat is cutting off the circulation to my seeds." |
The 30-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture of a derbied velocipedist riding his massive penny-farthing is the main fixture at Evans-Bossard Park, where the annual Ben Biken BBQ Bash is held in the fall www.benbikenbbq.com.
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in park on southeast corner of Highway 16 & Highway 21
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World's Largest Roadside Attractions
www.wlra.us
Fast Corp
www.fastkorp.com
Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
Tom Goetz
www.tomgoetz.com
Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
World's Largest Things
www.worldslargestthings.com
Bikes & Berries
www.bikesandberries.com
Sparta Official Site
www.spartawisconsin.org
The State Trunk Tour
www.statetrunktour.com
Journal Sentinel Online
1. article "World's largest . . . has home somewhere" or (here)
2. article "Essentially, we're in quite a state" or (here)
Ohio Barns
www.ohiobarns.com
book:
"Midwest Marvels" by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
page 403 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Weird U.S." by Mark Sceurman & Mark Moran
Barnes & Noble Books (2004) page 199 buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Black Squirrel Capital of the World |
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Black Squirrel Festival |
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location: Norwalk |
self- designation / event |
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Fireworks and a tractor pull accompany the event, but perhaps they should consider a Birdfeeder-Tearing-Apart Contest.
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festival is held on the 2nd weekend of August in Norwalk Village Park
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Roadside America
1. www.roadsideamerica.com 2. black squirrels
Elroy-Sparta Trail
www.elroy-sparta-trail.com
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Paul and Matilda Wegner Grotto
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"The Wegner Grotto features a collection. of primitive glass and concrete art works restored and given to the people of Monroe County by the Kohler Foundation.; including the "Glass Church." where weddings have been. held, the Peace Garden, a ship, wedding cake, and animal sculptures." - section from Explore Wisconsin website
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Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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(From Sparta, take Highway 71/27 north for 9 miles. Take Highway 71 west as it splits from Highway 27. The Grotto is ¼ mile from the split.)
7788 Daylight Road
Sparta, WI 54656
For more info, call the Monroe County Local History Room
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hours:
(Daylight Hours) Memorial Day thru Labor Day
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web links |
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books |
book:
"Weird Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks Barnes & Noble Books (2005) pages 170 - 171
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Wisconsin Curiosities" by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) pages 194 - 195 (3rd ed., 2009) pages 185 - 186 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) page 37 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book "Sacred Spaces and Other Places" by Lisa Stone and Jim Zanzi
School of Art Institute of Chicago Press (1993) pages 72 - 85
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Midwest Marvels" by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
pages 404 - 406 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations" by Randy Mason, Mike Murphy, and Don Mayberger
Kansas City Star Books (2002)
page 61 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
book:
"Miracles of The Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin" by Don Krug & Ann Parker
University Press of Mississippi (2005)
pages ii, 169 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bike Museum |
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Deke Slayton Statue |
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Trust me, there are not many graphics of astronauts riding bicycles floating around out there on the internet. Thank God for this one. picture courtesy of losethetrainingwheels.org |
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"The Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bike Museum is dedicated to enhancing an understanding and encouraging an interest and appreciation in the history of bicycling and the life of astronaut Donald 'Deke' Slayton." - section from Portal Wisconsin website
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200 W. Main St.
Sparta, WI 54656
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hours:
• Summer: (Mon - Sat) 10am – 4:30pm / (Sundays) 1pm – 4pm
• Winter: (Mon - Fri) 10am – 4pm CLOSED ON HOLIDAYS
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Official Site
www.dekeslayton.com
NASA
Deke Slayton biography www.jsc.nasa.gov
Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org
Bike Sparta
www.bikesparta.com
book: "Great Little Museums of the Midwest" by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
pages 11 - 13
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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location: Sparta |
roadside oddity |
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It's no surprise that, in this town of fiberglass figure manufacturers, the local high school is graced with a striking representation of its mascot.
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in front of: 506 N Black River St.
Sparta, WI 54656
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Spartans! Prepare for glory! |
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School Official Site
spartahigh.spartan.org/
Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
Flickr photo by Mykl Roventine
www.flickr.com
The State Trunk Tour
www.statetrunktour.com
Ohio Barns
www.ohiobarns.com
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The Real 'Gasoline Alley'
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location: Tomah |
cartoon inspiration / event |
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"Frank King was the creator of the comic strip ...The year 1919 saw the the first 'Gasoline Alley' comic strip, whose characters grew up right in the public eye and included names of Tomah people and places. In 1958, King was named 'Cartoonist of the Year'. Frank King Died June 24, 1969. His cartoon strip is still published today!" - section from Tomah Byte Trail
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Superior Avenue has been designated 'Gasoline Alley'
Gasoline Alley Day is held in August
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photo courtesy of Tomah Schools |
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Comics Page
Gasoline Alley comic strip www.comicspage.com
Tomah Official Site (click on "City Info", then "Tomah Tidbit" from main page) www.tomahwisconsin.com
Tomah Byte Trail
www.tomah.com
Tomah Schools
www.tomah.k12.wi.us
book: "Oddball Wisconsin" by Jerome Pohlen Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001) page 61 buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Amish Main Street |
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Largest Amish Community in Wisconsin |
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"Technically, it's Highway 33 near Cashton, but there are so many Amish homes in a row, almost every one offering rugs or quilts or furniture or dressed rabbits or something, that you'll find making time rather impossible. And that's good. Just don't go on Sunday. They still take it seriously." - section from Journal Sentinel website
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Highway 33 near Cashton
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Bikes and Berries www.bikesandberries.com
Amish.net
www.amish.net
Down a Country Road www.downacountryroadamish.com
Bike Sparta
www.bikesparta.com
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Little Falls Railroad & Doll Museum
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"Sixteen hundred dolls, from German dolls of the 1800's to today's Barbie are displayed. Through a guided tour, the historical dolls bring back childhood memories, while today's popular dolls foretell the future."
"Inside the Railroad Museum, model trains in many gauges are running. Showcases contain model steam locomotives - many in brass. A telegrapher's office and lanterns from many railroads are on display, and a collection of memorabilia from when steam was king is on the walls. Of special interest is the Gallery of Railroad Art. Also at the the Railroad Museum is a reference library of over 1,000 books and magazines, some dating back 100 years." - sections from Official Site
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(2 miles east of Cataract on County Road II)
9208 County Hwy II
Sparta, WI 54656
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hours:
April thru October
(Thurs - Mon) 1pm – 5pm
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Official Site
www.raildoll.org
Explore La Crosse
www.explorelacrosse.com
Bikes & Berries
www.bikesandberries.com
Bike Sparta
www.bikesparta.com
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Giant Cowboy Mouse Statue
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Well, you've made it past Janesville, Madison, and Wisconsin Dells without so much as a howdy. Now you're halfway to Eau Claire and you're finally getting a proper welcome to the state. But I bet you didn't expect it to come from a 30' cheese rustling rodent.
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Road Ranger Citgo Travel Center
I90-94 Exit 48
Oakdale, WI 54649
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Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
Flickr photo by Brettsky
www.flickr.com
Road Ranger Stores Official Site
(no mention of mouse)
www.rangerstores.com
book:
"Strange Wisconsin" by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page 183 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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Giant Cheese Slice Sign at Humbird Cheese Store
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location: Tomah |
roadside oddity |
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This Big Cheese sign is virtually identical to the one outside their sister store in Wisconsin Dells (Market Square Cheese). Now that's art!
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2010 Eaton Ave.
Tomah, WI 54660
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Official Site
www.humbirdcheese.com
Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
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Giant Cheeseburger Sign at Chopper's Drive-In
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location: Sparta |
roadside oddity |
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Because the owners dropped the A&W franchise, the A&W Root Bear statue is now gone, but a large fiberglass burger sits atop the sign pole in all its mouth-watering glory.
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100 W Wisconsin St.
Sparta, WI 54656
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Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com |
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Smiling Cow on Front Lawn at Englert Enterprise
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location: Sparta |
roadside oddity |
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The closer you get to Sparta, the more fiberglass statues & advertising gimmicks you will see dotting the landscape. Perhaps with FAST Corp. located conveniently nearby, the luxury of frivolous fabricated fiberglass forms is too much to resist.
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18297 Highway 27
Sparta, WI 54656
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Big Pheasant Statue at Dealer Direct Auto
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location: Sparta |
roadside oddity |
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Manufactured by FAST Corp., no doubt. I'm not sure what a ring-necked pheasant has to do with automobile sales, but hey, whatever works.
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118 W Wisconsin St.
Sparta, WI 54656
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The "Twilight Zone" and the Witch of Melvina
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location: Melvina |
business with character / local personality |
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"The Magical, Mystical & Mysterious...Haunted Store...Owner High Priestess Magdalene Rose...Where Halloween is everyday of the year...All ancient spirits welcome." - section from advertising sign |
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A town with a population of under 100 is not the type of setting you would commonly associate with a modern-day witch. Then again, you might. Magdalene Rose is probably considered the local eccentric, judging by the look of her property. Well, someone's got to make life interesting for the rest of us. As of October 2008, the store has not been opened for business.
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403 Central Drive
Melvina, WI 54619
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La Crosse Tribune
1. article "Melvina woman a witch with heart" or (here)
2. article "Witch hunting in Melvina" or (here) |
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"It all started with an idea to turn a caboose into a cabin near the Sparta bike trails. Most of the other renovated cabooses that I'd seen looked more like a motel room than a caboose on the inside. We wanted to keep the interior and exterior of the caboose looking like it did when it was in service so people could see what a working caboose looked like. Of course we added all the comforts of home! The renovations are complete and we invite you and your family to enjoy a stay in one of the most unique places you will ever experience!" - section from the official website
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1102 S. Water St.
Sparta, WI 54656
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Official Site
www.caboosecabins.com |
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Graffiti'd Cow Statue at Mill Creek Dairy
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location: Tomah |
roadside oddity |
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Looks like the pesky neighbor kids are at it again. Bossie's been tagged with another layer of turf-marking hood gibberish. Milk-hating hoodlums steal away under the cover of night, leaving behind their desecration of Wisconsin's most sacred symbol. Well, second most sacred symbol. If the vandalizing scum would have torn down a Packers flag, they'd already be flayed, splayed and displayed on the owners' barn wall.
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6443 US Highway 12
Tomah, WI 54660
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