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Chatty Belle
the world's largest talking cow
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location: Neillsville
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| roadside oddity / record holder / big bovine |
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This 16-foot-high fiberglass talking cow used to stand next to her smaller-in-stature 'son' named Bullet. Local hoodlums damaged Bullet, which was the reason he was removed from the site. Chatty Belle is alone now, so pay her a visit.
UPDATE: Rumormongers claim that a new incarnation of Bullet will eventually return to Chatty Belle's side. |
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| I used to have a boss with eyes like these. |
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 (next to WCCN Pavilion on Highway 10 east of Highway 73)
1201 Division St.
Neillsville, WI 54456
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Roadside America
1. www.roadsideamerica.com
2. www.roadsideamerica.com
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World's Largest Roadside Attractions
www.wlra.us
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Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com
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Thom.org
www.thom.org
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Journal Sentinel Online
article "World's largest . . . has home somewhere" or archived (here)
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book:
"The New Roadside America"
by Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins
Simon & Schuster (2nd ed., 1992)
page(s) 144
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page(s) 42 – 43
(3rd ed., 2009) page(s) 36
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Midwest Marvels"
by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
page(s) 390 – 392
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 48 – 49
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com![icon]()
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| World's Largest Replica Cheese |
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location: Neillsville
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| roadside oddity / record holder |
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| The World's Largest Cheese, tipping the scales at 17¼ tons, was displayed at the 1964 World's Fair as the pride of the Dairy State. The giant cheese is long gone, but a replica of its yellow girth was put on display next to the World's Fair Pavilion, housed in same 'Cheesemobile' trailer used for the original. After remaining a tourist draw for many years, the 'cheese' and its trailer were sold and hauled away. But a glimmer of hope remains as rumors tell of a full restoration and return of the Cheesemobile to Neillsville. |
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was at: 1201 Division St.
Neillsville, WI 54456
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| The Pavilion was originally built for the 1964 World's Fair in New York to house many displays for the state of Wisconsin (and serve beef steak dinners). The structure was eventually returned to the state, where it now is home to the WCCN radio station and a gift shop selling Wisconsin souvenirs, cheese, and other products. A '64 World's Fair display can be seen on the lower level. |
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| '64 World's Fair display |
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| Pavilion model |
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1201 Division St.
Neillsville, WI 54456
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hours:
(WCCN's Wisconsin Pavilion)
(Mon - Fri) 8am – 5pm
(Sat - Sun) 9am – 5pm |
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| A coincidental coming-together of three highways spell out the word "HOG" on the road signs. A perfect place to take a picture with the Harley. |
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Take Highway 73 north from Christie and turn left (west) on County Road H . Continue for 3 miles to intersection.
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(magazine clip-out)
Hog Corners
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| This apropos mail receptacle belongs to Rev. Daniel Cole of the nearby Immanuel Lutheran church. |
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6455 County Highway G
Neillsville, WI 54456
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| Here in front of Dave & Donna's bar & restaurant stands a reminder of the now-vanished town of Globe, which was once a bustling community in this area. |
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N5903 County Road G
Neillsville, WI 54456
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Giant Ice Cream Cone
in front of Hawkeye Dairy
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location: Abbotsford
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| roadside oddity |
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What goes better with fiberglass strawberry ice cream than a hunk of fiberglass cheddar cheese?
Actually, there are many people who do eat cheddar with their ice cream. You go enjoy that. |
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118 S 4th St.
Abbotsford, WI 54405
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The Highground
veterans' memorial park
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location: Neillsville
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"The Highground is a 140-acre Veterans Memorial Park. Visitors experience tributes that vary in significance from national (Native American Vietnam Veterans Memorial) to historical (WWII Globe) to contemporary (Legacy Stones). From the point of the plaza one can see one-half million acres of spectacular woodland scenery and glacial moraine."
– section from official website
"I write this to say “thank you” to the wonderful people of Neillsville and to those responsible for making The High-ground a place of peace, beauty, and appreciation. It's difficult to imagine anyone who takes the time to walk the area would not feel another presence there, not of a person, but of an ideal, an ideal worth sacrificing our loved ones for, an ideal which sets all of us in the United States of America apart from the world around us. Thank you!"
– section from letter by Nick Panczyk (Clark County Library Project website)
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(4 miles west of Neillsville and 30 miles east of Osseo from the junction of Highway I-94 on Highway 10) |
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hours:
Grounds open 24 hours. Building open daily 9am – 5pm.
Extended summer hours. |
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Official Site
www.thehighground.org
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Facebook (official)
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Clark County Library Project
Letters of Appreciation for the Highground
wiclarkcountyhistory.org
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Jackson County Chronicle
article "Across the Fence: The Highground marks meaningful milestone" or archived (here)
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Wisconsin State Farmer
article "The Highground - Remembering all veterans" or archived (here)
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“The Highground Veterans Memorial Park - Gold Star”
video by neillsvillenet
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“Flag Day at The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, WI”
video by eguyharley
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“More Than A Name On A Wall - The Statler Brothers”
video by Rollerbabe Kris
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| The Lone Grave of Young Blanche Grimes |
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location: Neillsville
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| historical oddity |
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| In what was once the bustling 19th-century town of Columbia, the single marked grave of a young girl is all that remains of the settlers who were forced to move elsewhere. Check out the link at right for the full story. |
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Head west out of Neillsville on Highway 10 for about 7 miles. Turn left onto County Road B. After 2-1/2 miles, as B curves to the west, turn left onto Bachelors Avenue, then left onto Sand Road. As the road curves to the south, it becomes Fischer Avenue. Look for the intersection with Poertner Road, across from which is where the grave is located.
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| This smiling bruin mascot can still be found at a few of the remaining A&W Restaurants, dwindling in number as they may be. |
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501 E Division St.
Neillsville, WI 54456
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"Located 5 miles west of Neillsville on Hwy. 10, the Silver Dome Ballroom is listed in the National and State Registers of Historic Places for its unique architecture and its rich entertainment history. Built during the Great Depression and operating since 1933, the Silver Dome features many original or long-time decorations and fixtures, a floating, maple dance floor, and a beautiful, arching Lamella truss design. Many famous entertainers have appeared at the Silver Dome, including: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, The Grassroots, Tommy James & The Shondells, Herman’s Hermits, George Jones, Pee Wee King, Johnny Paycheck and Six Fat Dutchman."
– section from Neillsville Online
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W7670 US Hwy. 10
Neillsville, WI 54456
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| Wood-carved Winnie the Pooh |
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location: Curtiss
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| roadside oddity / chainsaw creation |
Here Pooh is in all of his chainsawed glory. Perhaps one day his form will be used by bees as a convenient location for their hive. Ironic, no?
UPDATE: Mr. Pooh seems to be in the yard intermittently, apparently taking time to raid bee hives. |
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north side of Curtiss on County Road E (N Meridian St.)
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(no resource available)
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very-loosely-related:
“1983 Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore”
video by animation kidz 2013
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location: Thorp
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| roadside oddity |
| Despite its stubby characteristics, it's still a cool little windmill. |
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in park on E Stanley St.
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| Walter's Repair & Toy Restoration Museum |
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location: Curtiss
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| museum |
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| photos courtesy of Backroad Wisconsin |
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| Donald Walters, a former Allis Chalmers mechanic, has an impressive collection of toys in his small shop/store. Don's talent as a detailed restorer can be seen as you look over the multitude of vintage tractors, trucks, and other items stacked to the ceiling. |
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110 E. Front St.
Curtiss, WI 54422
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| Don stands in front of one of his displays. |
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Backroad Wisconsin
www.backroadwisconsin.com
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location: Thorp
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| roadside oddity / dairy pride |
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| The city of Thorp knows how to do dairy-centric tourism the right way. A dozen life-size fiberglass cows are scattered around town at key locations as Thorp’s tribute to dairy & agriculture. Each cow has been painted to reflect part of Thorp’s heritage, so if you’ve never seen a Polish Cow or a Cammooflage Cow before, now’s your chance. This colorful herd is similar to the “Cows on Parade” in New Glarus (Green County) which also have their own unique identity. |
 Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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locations available on the City of Thorp website (link at right)
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City of Thorp
cityofthorp.com
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Facebook (official)
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Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com
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Eau Claire Leader Telegram
article "Fiberglass cows have helped Thorp's tourism" or archived (here)
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The Dairy Star
article "Fiberglass animals show importance of dairy heritage in Thorp, Wis." or archived (here)
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WQOW TV - Eau Claire
article "Life-size cows pay tribute to dairy heritage in area city" or archived (here)
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Giant Cardinal Statue
at Thorp Elementary & Middle School
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location: Thorp
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| chainsaw creation / roadside oddity |
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| Several high schools in the Chippewa Valley have giant cardinal statues at their campuses to represent the school teams, but none have the unique quality of this Cardinalis Husqvarna. |
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605 S Clark St.
Thorp, WI 54771
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Bookmark the Wisconsinosity home page! wisconsinosity.com
From Granton, go north on County Road K. Follow 6 miles until reaching County Road H.
215 E State St.
