Peachoid facts for kids
The Peachoid is a giant water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina, USA. It looks just like a huge peach! This amazing structure is about 135 feet (41 meters) tall. It can hold one million gallons (about 3.8 million liters) of water.
You can spot the Peachoid from Interstate 85 near Gaffney. People often call it "The Peach" or "Mr. Peach." It's a famous sight for anyone driving between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia. The Peachoid is a great example of novelty architecture, which means it's a building designed to look like something else.
Building the Peachoid
The Peachoid was built in 1981 by a company called Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. They used steel and concrete to create the main structure. An artist named Peter Freudenberg then painted the tower to make it look exactly like a real peach. He even added a giant "cleft" and a stem and leaf!
The town of Gaffney needed a large water tank. They also wanted to build something special that would stand out. They chose the shape of a peach because growing peaches was very important to Gaffney's economy at the time. In fact, Cherokee County, where Gaffney is located, used to produce more peaches than the entire state of Georgia!
Since it was built, the Peachoid has become a popular attraction. Many tourists stop to see it, which helps the local businesses. Another, smaller peach-shaped water tower was later built in Clanton, Alabama.
In 2018, a fence was put around the Peachoid. This was done to help protect the landmark and keep it safe.
