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Giant tree stump, stuffed steer among top roadside sights

Posted June 20, 2020 7:00 am

By CARSON GERBER

In this Feb. 4, 2002, photo, Phyllis Hartzell Talbert, poses by Old Ben in the same position as she did in the 1940s on a postcard, at Highland Park in Kokomo, Ind. The steer weighed 125 pounds at birth in 1902, and grew at a rate of 100 pounds per month. Old Ben became a popular roadshow when he was alive, and he continues to bring in visitors at the pavilion in Highland Park. (Tim Bath/The Kokomo Tribune via AP) The Associated Press

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - Two iconic Kokomo landmarks have made the list of the Top 20 roadside attractions in the state, joining a quirky group of statues, artwork and advertisements that draw visitors from around the U.S.

Old Ben, dubbed the world's largest steer, and the giant Sycamore Stump made the list, which was published by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development's Visit Indiana website.

The two attractions are both housed inside a closed pavilion in Highland Park.

The state compiled the list of top roadside attractions as a guide for people to get out and enjoy Indiana's unique sites, while still being able to social distance during the COVID-19 outbreak.

'œAs Indiana continues to get back on track, these 20 attractions are all great reasons to reroute your road trip,'ť said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch in a release.

Old Ben made the list because of his massive bulk. The steer weighed 125 pounds at birth in 1902, and grew at a rate of 100 pounds per month. By age 4, he weighed 4,000 pounds.

When he died unexpectedly in 1910, he was sent to a taxidermist in New York and stuffed. Old Ben became a popular roadshow when he was alive, and he continues to bring in visitors at the pavilion in Highland Park. Ripley even featured him in his 'œBelieve It Or Not'ť in 1968.

The Sycamore Stump also landed its spot on the list for its enormous size. Just the stump is 12-feet tall, more than 50-feet in circumference and 18-feet wide. By ring count, it is estimated to be 1,500 years old. Early pioneers knew the tree was old, but did not know how old until it fell over during a windstorm.

To promote the Top 20 roadside attractions, the state is giving away prizes to people who post selfies on Instagram from sites on the list. Visit Indiana will randomly draw 20 winners every other month, who will receive items such as a beanie cap, golf umbrella, beach towel or stadium blanket.

'œWe want to see your social-distancing selfies,'ť said Misty Weisensteiner, director of the Office of Tourism Development. 'œWhen you visit a destination from any of the lists, post your photos on Instagram with #The20IN20. You will have a chance to win a giveaway.'ť

Other attractions in the Top 20 include a giant statue of a peach located in Bruceville, the world's largest ball of paint in Alexandria and the grave of Nancy Barnett, which is located in the middle of a road in Franklin.

To see the full list, got to www.visitindiana.com.

Source: Kokomo Tribune

In this Feb. 7, 2002, photo, Old Ben is on display in a closed pavilion at Highland Park in Kokomo, Ind. Two iconic Kokomo landmarks have made the list of the Top 20 roadside attractions in the state, joining a quirky group of statues, artwork and advertisements that draw visitors from around the U.S. Old Ben, dubbed the world's largest steer, and the giant Sycamore Stump made the list, which was published by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development's Visit Indiana website. (Tim Bath/The Kokomo Tribune via AP) The Associated Press

In this Oct. 27, 2005, photo is the Sycamore Stump in Highland Park in Kokomo, Ind. Two iconic Kokomo landmarks have made the list of the Top 20 roadside attractions in the state, joining a quirky group of statues, artwork and advertisements that draw visitors from around the U.S. Old Ben, dubbed the world's largest steer, and the giant Sycamore Stump made the list, which was published by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development's Visit Indiana website. (Erik Markov/The Kokomo Tribune via AP) The Associated Press

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