Skip to Main Content

Walleye statue.

Wally Walleye

Field review by the editors.

Garrison, Minnesota

There are many towns that claim to be the Walleye Capital of the World, and Garrison has had their big fish statue out in the public eye since 1980.

The Minnesota state legislature designated the walleye as the Official State Fish in 1965. Moving quickly, the town of Garrison declared itself "Walleye Capital of the World," in part because the adjacent lake, Mille Lacs, is the most popular spot to catch a walleye in Minnesota.

A scant 15 years later, the town commissioned a 19-foot-long fiberglass Walleye Pike for use in an annual parade. Today it is permanently installed along the shores of Mille Lacs, refreshed in late 2023 with completely new paint and a protective clear coat for that extra scaly sheen.

Also see: Walleyed War of the Walleye Capitals

Wally Walleye

Garrison Concourse Wayside Park

Address:
Central St., Garrison, MN
Directions:
Garrison Concourse Wayside Park. Southeast edge of town, on the lake, on the east side of US Hwy 169 at its intersection with Central St.
Admission:
Free
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Robin Hood StatueRobin Hood Statue, Aitkin, MN - 4 mi.
Giant Sitting, Talking Paul BunyanGiant Sitting, Talking Paul Bunyan, Brainerd, MN - 11 mi.
Babe the Blue OxBabe the Blue Ox, Brainerd, MN - 11 mi.
In the region:
Fishing Bobber Water Tower, Pequot Lakes, MN - 32 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Minnesota

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Minnesota.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Minnesota Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings