Even though it's no Gatlinburg or Memphis, Kingport does its part to keep Tennessee on vacation maps. There you'll find several out-of-proportion landmarks: a huge hot dog and french fries, a "Big Pal" muffler man serving up a quarter-tonner with cheese, and a tall, skinny Indian warrior.
Kingsport's Indian -- which is just across Hwy 1 from the hot dog and fries -- is not a muffler man, but he is at least 30 feet tall. He's been the mascot for Pratt's Restaurant for over 40 years. The local high school teams are "The Indians," so the big brave is an icon of local pride.
The Indian has a rigid pose, and is held upright by an external frame across his back. It looks as if someone started to repaint him, years ago, and then lost interest. His war paint is fresh, but his loin cloth is the same color as his skin. His lack of clothes would freeze any real mountain-dwelling Tennessee Indian, and his big, shiny, black shoes would be useless on the forest trails. Perhaps this Indian is one in transition, just starting his new wardrobe, staring at the giant snacks across the street, his hands ready to grasp the white man's bounty.
