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Brainerd, Minnesota: Giant Sitting, Talking Paul Bunyan

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Paul Bunyan Land

Address:
17553 State Highway 18, Brainerd, MN
Directions:
Part of Paul Bunyan Land at This Old Farm Pioneer Village. Seven miles east of town on Hwy 18.
Hours:
Summer daily 10-6; also open late Oct. thru Dec.. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
218-764-2524
Admission:
Admission
RA Rates:
Major Fun
Save to My Sights
Giant Sitting, Talking Paul Bunyan

Built in 1949 (in Pittsburgh), moved here in 2003. This unique robot-Bunyan can blink his eyes, raise his hand in a friendly greeting, and speak to visitors by name as they enter his giant woodshed.

Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Paul Bunyan speaks.

Brainerd, Minnesota - Talking Paul Bunyan's Secret Revealed!
Talking Paul Bunyan:

From the Roadside America Road Trip Archives: Meeting the Talking Paul Bunyan. Behind-the-scenes spoiler from 1991!

Watch Video.

Visitor Tips and News About Giant Sitting, Talking Paul Bunyan

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Cowboy statue, Paul Bunyan Center.

Giant Sitting Paul Bunyan

Paul Bunyanland used to have a cowboy statue sitting on a bench for photos.

[Amy Kopperude, 01/15/2013]

He was probably at the old Paul Bunyan Center in Brainerd. After it closed and the parts were dispersed, it's unknown where he may have ended up.

Baby crib in the air.

This Old Farm

This Old Farm/Paul Bunyan Land are one in the same now, but This Old Farm is off to the side on its own, separate from Paul Bunyan Land. This was a very interesting place. It's like a museum gone awry -- almost every exhibit is not correctly set up to depict the era it is supposed to. For example, they have a school house set up with mannequins and desks inside etc., set in the 1800s. They have pictures on the wall of Elvis and JFK, plastic wiffle ball sets the kids are playing with, 1992 Sears catalogs out on display next the the Lincoln Bust, and National Geographics stacked up so high you can barely see over them. As my friend put it, "this place is a historian's nightmare!" But it keeps you laughing throughout.

[Holly Diestler, 11/21/2006]

Babe the Blue Ox.

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox

We got to visit the relocated attractions from the Paul Bunyan Center at the new site at This Old Farm. They have almost every attraction I remember being at the old location -- lots of photo ops with all the statues.

Paul still talks and greets the people as they come into the park by name, and when people take pictures in front of him he says "cheese!" They are even adding some new attractions; looked like a haunted house was nearly finished. The Magnetic Mineshaft wasn't quite what I remembered, but at least it is still around! They have all the old little animatronic things up and running too, Sourdough Sam's, the tiny logging town, etc. Visit there and keep this place running so we don't lose it too!

[Holly Diestler, 10/21/2006]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Babe the Blue OxBabe the Blue Ox, Brainerd, MN - < 1 mi.
Crenelated Water Tower - Bunyan's FlashlightCrenelated Water Tower - Bunyan's Flashlight, Brainerd, MN - 8 mi.
Stick Your Head in the Lion MouthStick Your Head in the Lion Mouth, Brainerd, MN - 8 mi.
In the region:
Paul Bunyan's Footsteps, Brainerd, MN - 10 mi.

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