Skip to Main Content

Cabela's - African wildlife diorama.

Cabela's: Dead Animals in Big Store

Field review by the editors.

Owatonna, Minnesota

The huge physical outgrowth of mail-order outfitter Cabela's poaches the best aspects of the classic wildlife museum, and doesn't charge you a penny. Except if you buy something -- this is, after all, a store. But it's the kind of store that includes a live bait room, a gun library, a 53,000-gallon aquarium filled with Minnesota fish, and hundreds of dead animals in action poses. A good place to stop, especially if you need a camouflaged six-pack cooler.

On an African savannah setting, a mounted elephant uses its trunk to grab leaves from an artificial tree. Nearby, a lion leaps onto the back of a zebra. In the center of the store stands a multistory mountainside display (complete with waterfalls) titled "Tribute to Sportsman." At its base, menacing bears surround and maul an elk.

In fact, many of the dioramas at Cabela's depict perfectly natural scenes of animals attacking other animals. The message is clear. If we didn't shoot 'em, they'd just kill each other anyway.

Cabela's: Dead Animals in Big Store

Cabela's

Address:
3900 Cabela Drive, Owatonna, MN
Directions:
Next to I-35, between the exits for CR-45 (south) and CR-9 (north).
Hours:
M-Sa 8 am - 9 pm, Su 9 am - 7 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
507-451-4545
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Three T-38 Jets StatueThree T-38 Jets Statue, Owatonna, MN - < 1 mi.
Tilt-a-Whirl Invented HereTilt-a-Whirl Invented Here, Faribault, MN - 11 mi.
A&W Papa BurgerA&W Papa Burger, Faribault, MN - 11 mi.
In the region:
House of Balls, Minneapolis, MN - 58 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