Big Chicken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Big Chicken |
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The Big Chicken
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| General information | |
| Location | Marietta, Georgia |
| Address | 12 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta GA 30062 |
| Town or city | Marietta, Georgia |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 33°57′05″N 84°31′13″W / 33.9514°N 84.5204°W |
| Construction started | 1956, 1993 |
| Completed | 1963 (The Big Chicken structure) |
| Renovated | 2017 |
| Client | Tubby Davis |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Hubert Puckett |
The Big Chicken is a famous KFC restaurant in Marietta, Georgia. What makes it special is a giant, 56-foot-tall steel chicken that sits right on top of the building! It's a well-known landmark in the area. This unique building was first built in 1956. After a big storm damaged it in 1993, it was rebuilt. It also got a major update in 2017.
History of the Big Chicken
The restaurant opened in 1956 on Cobb Parkway. This was a new, faster road for travelers. In 1963, the owner, S. R. "Tubby" Davis, added the huge chicken structure. He wanted to attract more customers to his restaurant. The giant chicken was designed by Hubert Puckett. He was an architecture student at Georgia Institute of Technology. The chicken was built by Atlantic Steel in nearby Atlanta. Later, Davis sold the restaurant to his brother. It then became a franchise of KFC.
In January 1993, strong winds damaged the chicken structure. KFC planned to tear it down. But people in the community really loved the Big Chicken. They protested, and KFC decided to rebuild it instead. Even pilots used the Big Chicken as a guide. They would look for it when flying near Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
The new Big Chicken looks like the original. Its beak and eyes can still move. The first chicken vibrated a lot, even breaking windows. The new one was built to avoid those problems. Pieces of the old chicken were sold as souvenirs. In 2006, a small tornado passed very close to the Big Chicken. It overturned a truck nearby but left the chicken safe.
The Big Chicken as a Landmark
The Big Chicken is often used for giving directions. Locals might say, "Turn left at the Big Chicken." Or, "It's about two miles past the Big Chicken." This is even mentioned in the video game Rock Band 3. In the game, players are told to "turn left at the Big Chicken" for directions.
The Big Chicken has also inspired many things. People sell souvenirs like sweatshirts with its picture. There's even a board game featuring the Big Chicken and other local spots. A singing group called the Big Chicken Chorus was formed in 1986. They perform barbershop-style songs. The Big Chicken also appeared on a card in Sim City: The Card Game. It has also been in the comic strip Zippy the Pinhead.
In early 2017, the Big Chicken restaurant closed for a big update. It was a $2 million project that lasted twelve weeks. The restaurant got a new look and a gift shop. It reopened on May 11, 2017, with a special ceremony.
Images for kids
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The Big Chicken Beatles Band Glover Park Concert 2021
