Watermelon
Bald Knob, Hope, Arkansas; Lincoln, Illinois; Dilley, Luling, Texas; Green River, UtahThere are way too many Watermelon Capitals around the US. The claims are hazy, conflicting, and hard to care about. So naturally, we gravitate to towns with tangible attractions.
 Watermelon Water Tower, Texas. |
Our night visit to the city park in Dilley, Texas, bore bitter fruit. Dilley calls itself the " Self-proclaimed Watermelon Capital of Texas, " yet their statue is no more than five feet long -- and possibly smaller than some real watermelons. Local watermelon production has averaged 15 million pounds, so Dilley is no slouch. Maybe we just missed bigger tributes in the dark. Harvesting happens in June.
Luling, Texas does a better job with their impressive Watermelon water tower, and amusing conversions of old oil drills into watermelon tributes and other cartoon scenes. Luling holds the Watermelon Thump car rally, seed-spitting competitions, and a Watermelon Queen pageant the last weekend in June. The celebration has been going since 1953.
 The watermelon of Bald Knob, AR. |
A pathetic watermelon monument commemorates a historic visit to "the only city ever named for Abraham Lincoln with his personal consent"... Lincoln, Illinois.
Watermelon Days, World's Largest Watermelon:
Address: Green River, UT [Show Map]
Directions: Kept in storage in a hanger at the old (abandoned) Green River airfield. Main St. to west side of town. Airfield is on south side, just past Walnut St.
Hours: By appt. (Call to verify)
Phone: 435-564-3448
Address: Green River, UT [Show Map]
Directions: Kept in storage in a hanger at the old (abandoned) Green River airfield. Main St. to west side of town. Airfield is on south side, just past Walnut St.
Hours: By appt. (Call to verify)
Phone: 435-564-3448
Watermelon Thump and Water Tower:
Address: Hwy 183, Luling, TX [Show Map]
Directions: North of I-10 along US 183
Hours: Daylight hours. (Call to verify)
Phone: 830-875-3214
Address: Hwy 183, Luling, TX [Show Map]
Directions: North of I-10 along US 183
Hours: Daylight hours. (Call to verify)
Phone: 830-875-3214
Bill Clinton And Big Melons:
Address: 100 E. Division St., Hope, AR [Show Map]
Directions: At the Hope City Visitor Center and Museum. I-30 exit 30 onto US 278/Hwy 4/Hervey St. south. Left just after the railroad overpass onto Division St., then four blocks to the Museum.
Phone: 870-722-2580
Address: 100 E. Division St., Hope, AR [Show Map]
Directions: At the Hope City Visitor Center and Museum. I-30 exit 30 onto US 278/Hwy 4/Hervey St. south. Left just after the railroad overpass onto Division St., then four blocks to the Museum.
Phone: 870-722-2580
Lincoln Watermelon Monument:
Address: Broadway, Lincoln, IL [Show Map]
Directions: I-55 exit 126 onto Hwy 10, right at 2nd light, left at next light onto 5th St. This bends to the left and changes to Logan - stay on it. Make quick right onto Broadway. Monument is in front of Lincoln Depot Restaurant at the railroad tracks, corner of Broadway and Chicago.
Address: Broadway, Lincoln, IL [Show Map]
Directions: I-55 exit 126 onto Hwy 10, right at 2nd light, left at next light onto 5th St. This bends to the left and changes to Logan - stay on it. Make quick right onto Broadway. Monument is in front of Lincoln Depot Restaurant at the railroad tracks, corner of Broadway and Chicago.
