Queen Connie: Gorilla and Beetle

Leicester, Vermont

While we see outlandish promotional statues everywhere else in the country, this is probably the only big, goofy one along the over-protected roads of Vermont.

At the end of the gorilla's upraised left arm is a real Volkswagen Beetle. The statue is called "Queen Connie" because it was built with steel-reinforced concrete by a local artist, T.J. Neil, in 1987.

According to the owner, Neil "did some statue stuff for around our pool. So we asked him if he wanted to do something for this place. He said, 'How about a giant gorilla?' We said, 'Whaddaya want to do a giant gorilla for?' He said, 'So I can make him hold a car.' And we said, 'Okay, maybe a gorilla, but make his other hand stretched down, so people can sit in it.'" Some time after this discussion, the gorilla's identity changed from a he to a she.

The sitting hand is sturdy, but not ergonomically designed, and is not for the unlimber. It's hard to get up into, and easy to fall from. Careful.