West Branch, Michigan: Giant Sitting Paul Bunyan (Gone)

The Paul Bunyan of West Branch is no more. We arrived at Lumber Jack Food and Spirits and were puzzled that we didn't immediately see him. We stopped in the restaurant and were informed that Paul had been dismantled about four days prior. The owners of the adjoining hotel (the parking lot was partially torn up and full of construction equipment) had the statue taken down without informing the staff, some of whom had worked there for decades and were broken up to see Paul go. One staff member directed us to a dumpster where we found the remnants of Paul. It looked like he was pretty worn and maybe too far gone to be restored.

The lumberjack is still there -- in need of a paint job, but it's a fun photo.

The Paul Bunyan Statue has changed its look since the 2007 photo on the site was taken. Still there, but very different looking. Dark hair and beard, a cleaner look in the beard, and a tan shirt instead of a red one.

A large sitting, bearded lumberjack in a red shirt, green suspenders, stocking cap, with a large spoon in his hands (instead of an ax). Would be about 25 feet tall if standing up.