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He's back! (after being down for repairs and improvements. We were delighted to find it standing tall)
[Carol, 12/02/2014]Recycled Roadrunner:RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- I-10, Las Cruces, NM
- Directions:
- In a rest area on the south side of I-10, just west of Las Cruces and just east of the Picacho Ave. exit, between mileposts 134 and 135. Only accessible from the eastbound lanes. Visible from I-10 westbound.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
- Las Cruces, New Mexico - Recycled Roadrunner
According to the Las Cruces Sun News, the Roadrunner is currently at the artist's home being refurbished.
[Steve McIlree, 02/16/2012] I visited the Las Cruces Roadrunner for the first time in nine years, and the old bird is still standing sentinel over I-10. But he's looking a bit worse for wear, especially around the tail area where the metal frame is clearly exposed. Though I do not know for sure, my guess is visitors have been picking souvenirs off the bird. Still, this is an impressive sight visible for miles traveling west on I-10. I'll be sure to stop next time I'm on the way through.
[Robot Greg, 01/05/2011]After a night's rainstorm, I left my hotel in the morning and discovered a beautiful rainbow over Las Cruces, NM. As I headed to the recycled roadrunner I caught an awesome sight as the rainbow looked fabulous in the background...
[Daniel Ponti, 01/25/2010]After wrapping up some business in El Paso, Texas I took the one-hour drive west to visit the World's Largest Roadrunner, located just west of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The bird stands atop a hill overlooking Interstate 10 and can't be missed in daylight hours. It's only possible to stop and visit by traveling East on I-10. because he is located in a rest stop with access only on the east side (voted "Best Rest Stop 1992," by the way).
The roadrunner is made out of junk and is roughly between 12 and 15 feet tall at the top of his head (visibly smaller than the World's Largest Huron, in case you were wondering). The belly of the bird was almost totally created with old white shoes. The top, neck, wings and tail were made with what must have been whatever must have been lying around. I spotted old children's toys, office fans, computer parts, random sheet metal, a steering wheel, and a zillon other things in the body of the bird. Who created him and why is somewhat of a mystery.
One very interesting thing about the roadrunner is people have started to graffiti the shoes on the underbelly. Most have the standard "so and so loves what's her name," "blah blah was here" and so on. but it also appears that truckers who have stopped at the rest area have started to write as well.
By far the most interesting thing I saw written on the bird was "I drive this truck so my boy can attend a good college and become something better than his old man ever dreamed. Look after me and my rig as I pass below, amigo."
[Greg Brown, 03/26/2002]
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The roadrunner has been given an all-new set of junk by its creator, Olin Calk, and debuted for one day, Earth Day 2012, at Las Cruces' downtown Young Park. Then it went back into the shop for more recycling.