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Terryville, Connecticut: Smiling Steer in a Cowboy Hat (Gone)

A big steer with a human grin stands on its hind legs, leaning against a sign advertising a steakhouse. The cowboy hat on the steer's head is comically small: human-size. Replaced by a generic rearing horse in 2022.

Chute Gates Steakhouse

Directions:
Chute Gates Steakhouse. West edge of town, on the north side of US Hwy 6/Main St. just east of Holt St.
Status:
Gone

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Smiling Steer Statue

This statue is gone. Replaced with a rearing horse.

[Debra Jane Seltzer, 11/26/2023]

Chute Gates Steer Statue.

Smiling Steer Wears a Cowboy Hat

After attending a rodeo in Texas, a Connecticut man was inspired to open a Texas-style steakhouse. He named it Chute Gates, a term for the stalls holding steers before they are let loose at a rodeo. A large, smiling steer wearing a cowboy hat stands on his hind legs, leaning against a sign that describes the steakhouse as, "A little bit of Texas in Connecticut."

[Signmanjoe, 12/16/2014]

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