The Big Fish (roadside attraction) facts for kids
The Big Fish is a giant wooden fish that you can see from the road in Bena, Minnesota. It's a famous roadside attraction! This huge fish is 65 feet long and looks just like a muskie, a type of fish.
It was built in 1958 to be a drive-in restaurant. You could actually go inside the fish to eat! Even though it was only a restaurant for a few years, it's still a popular place to visit. Next to it is The Big Fish Supper Club, which opened in 1972. Both are close to Lake Winnibigoshish, also called Lake Winnie.
Many people love to take pictures with The Big Fish. A historian named Eric Dregni even called it "uniquely Minnesota." He said it was one of the state's seven wonders, like the Kensington Runestone.
Building The Big Fish
The Big Fish is really big! It measures 65 feet long and 15 feet wide. To build it, workers used strong white ash wood beams. These beams made up the fish's skeleton.
Then, they covered the frame with roofing paper. After that, they painted stripes on it to make it look like a real muskie fish. The fish's red eyes were once made from round Coca-Cola signs.
The History of The Big Fish
The idea for this giant fish came from Wayne Kumpula. He owned a bar on a busy road called U.S. Route 2. He wanted to create something special to attract tourists.
In 1958, Mr. Kumpula designed and built the Big Muskie Drive-In. At first, it served tasty hamburgers and ice cream. Customers would walk right into the fish's open mouth. Inside, they could sit at a counter in the fish's "belly" to eat their food. The wooden beams on the walls looked like the fish's ribs! There was also a window on the side if you wanted to get food to go.
In 1963, the restaurant changed. It became a souvenir shop instead. Later, in 1972, a log building was built next door. Both buildings then became The Big Fish Supper Club. After that, the fish building was mostly used for storage.
Over time, the Big Fish started to get old and needed repairs. In 2009, it was even listed as one of Minnesota's most endangered historic places. People worried its wooden frame might rot. But soon, money was raised to fix it up and repaint it. Now, it looks great again!
The Big Fish has even been on TV! It appeared on a show called On the Road with Charles Kuralt. He said it was his favorite building in America. You can also see a picture of the fish on a postcard in the opening of the 1983 movie National Lampoon's Vacation.
