Mitchell, South Dakota -
Jackalope

The Jackalope is still in Michell, but when we visited, both antlers were gone. You could see where the antlers used to be. The seat and totem pole next to it was still there. Great photo! [Ryan, 07/18/2011]

[RA: There have been continuing reports of the vanished antlers. Perhaps condemned as a public skewer hazard? Or sawed off by a freak animal poacher?]

This once magnificent Jackalope photo opportunity has been sadly reduced to just a Jack without alope! Recently its one remaining horn was removed and the statue repaired. The repairs give no hint of its Jackalope status. This makes the Jackalope an ever more endangered species it seems, and one fewer photo opportunity along Highway 90.

The totem pole at the motel remains in spite of the other changes. [Phil Pasquini, 09/20/2010]

Concrete Jack-a-lope with a saddle where you can sit. It's awesome, despite it missing one of its sets of horns. It was a delight to spot on our way out of Mitchell, right near the McDonald's. [Cathy Tenaglia, 03/26/2008]

[RA: September 2009 - photo added.]

We stopped in Mitchell on a tour of South Dakota -- the jackalope is still there, although he has only one antler left. The Sasquatch seems to be gone, sadly. [J.R. Adamson, 07/28/2004]

We're sorry to report that the corpulent, white aproned, Happy Chef will no longer be holding his spoon aloft. On May 6, 2002 the Happy Chef restaurant became an Ember's and the BIG gentle Chef was consigned to the city landfill. The shortsighted city officials prohibit removing anything from the dump and therefore a local landmark is forever lost (except for the feet/shoes of the Chef the we're lovingly saved and coverted to useful and decorative outdoor planters). RIP Good Friend, We'll miss you! [J. D. Taylor, 05/12/2002]