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Lincoln, Nebraska: Pioneer Pete the Rooster, Piano Requests

A fried chicken restaurant features a live piano player. Outside, on a pole, stands Pioneer Pete, a large, crowing rooster statue.

Lee's Restaurant

Address:
1940 W. Van Dorn, Lincoln, NE
Directions:
Lee's Restaurant. I-80 exit 397. Drive south on US Hwy 77/Homestead Expy for around 2.5 miles. Exit at Van Dorn St. and drive west for one mile. On the right, at the corner of Coddington Ave.
Hours:
T-Th 11 am - 9:30 p , F-Sa 11 am -10:30 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
402-477-4339
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Visitor Tips and News About Pioneer Pete the Rooster, Piano Requests

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Rooster statue.

Pioneer Pete the Rooster, Piano Requests

Go when the piano player is there... he takes requests! Don't forget to get the fried chicken!

[Kelly Soprych, 02/10/2016]
Pioneer Pete the Rooster, Piano Requests

About a year ago, Pete was stolen -- sawed off the pole, leaving just his feet behind. Happily, Pete was returned by his abductors and has been professionally restored. Pete once again is back on his perch overlooking the parking lot of Lee's Chicken, but now sporting a fresh coat of shiny paint that should keep him looking good for years.

[Clint, 12/26/2015]
Pioneer Pete the Rooster

Pioneer Pete was stolen in the early morning hours of August 23, 2014. The five-foot-tall, 200 pound fiberglass rooster was ripped from his pole-top perch outside Lee's Restaurant, leaving only his feet. The crime was the talk of Lincoln for days. This apparently frightened the thieves, who dumped Pete back in Lee's parking lot four days later, then fled (Pete's head had also been torn off, but it was returned as well). Lee's general manager told a local TV station that he felt "violated," but hoped that Pete could be repaired quickly since all of his body parts were available.

[Roadsideamerica.com Team, 08/29/2014]

Chicken on a pole.

Giant Chicken, Piano Requests

Very small. Not giant. At best it's 8-ft -- but the chicken is good.

[Dan Honovich, 07/03/2010]

Agreed -- not "giant" -- a standard fiberglass chicken. But what about that live piano player entertaining diners?

Chicken.

Big Chicken at Lee's Restaurant

Here's a picture of the Lee's Restaurant Chicken that I took on 3/22/2009 ... now released into the wild.

[Jack Cornelison, ChFC, CLU, FLMI, ACS, AIAA, 03/31/2009]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Giant Paper AirplaneGiant Paper Airplane, Lincoln, NE - 4 mi.
Big, Clanging Head of BricksBig, Clanging Head of Bricks, Lincoln, NE - 4 mi.
National Museum of Roller SkatingNational Museum of Roller Skating, Lincoln, NE - 5 mi.
In the region:
Where The Steam Wagon Broke Down, Nebraska City, NE - 43 mi.

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