Mitchell, South Dakota: Thunder Bunny: Jackalope Jackrabbit
Fiberglass photo op with bulging eyes and a saddle for a rider. Named, "Thunder Bunny."
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Jackalope - No Lope
This once magnificent Jackalope photo opportunity has been sadly reduced to just a Jack without alope! Recently its one remaining horn was removed and the statue repaired. The repairs give no hint of its Jackalope status. This makes the Jackalope an ever more endangered species it seems, and one fewer photo opportunity along Highway 90.
The totem pole at the motel remains in spite of the other changes.
[Phil Pasquini, 09/20/2010]Jackalope
Concrete Jack-a-lope with a saddle where you can sit. It's awesome, despite it missing one of its sets of horns. It was a delight to spot on our way out of Mitchell, right near the McDonald's.
[Cathy Tenaglia, 03/26/2008]We stopped in Mitchell on a tour of South Dakota -- the jackalope is still there, although he has only one antler left. The Sasquatch seems to be gone, sadly.
[J.R. Adamson, 07/28/2004]The home of the world's only Corn Palace, also boasts a fine collection of roadside fiberglass figurines.
Intersection of I-90 & SD 37 [Burr Street] -- the "Happy Chef" -- a corpulent fellow raising a mixing spoon and sporting an apron and floppy chef's hat. Inexplicably he's got a 55 gallon garbage can chained to his leg . . .
Burr Street & Norway Avenue -- about 200 yards north and 50 yards west of the Happy Chef you'll find three, count 'em, three attractions. On the lawn of the Thunderbird Motel you can have your picture taken with the fiberglass triptych of Sasquatch aka Bigfoot, a real spiffy totem pole, and the every popular prairie hybrid, the jackalope. For the uninformed that's a cross between a jack rabbit and antelope. Runs fast and with those horns it's nothing to mess with. This one is just the right size to mount like a horse and have an action shot for the folks back home! [RA: Yes, we all posed on this fella last time through Mitchell.]
Another quarter mile or so north at the intersection of Burr Street and Havens Avenue you'll find on the south west corner a fine American Bison about, oh, 14' tall. Sight down his nose and you'll see, right across the street, the "Big Steer", mascot of Chef Louie's Steak House & Lounge, serving only certified Angus beef.
Pretty hefty collection for a town of 15,000, won't you agree?
[J.D. Taylor, 05/02/1999][Previous 5 items] Page of 2
Thunder Bunny: Jackalope Jackrabbit
Thunderbird Lodge
- Address:
- 1601 S. Burr St., Mitchell, SD
- Directions:
- I-90 exit 332, then north on Hwy 37/Burr St. about a quarter-mile. On the right side, at the Thunderbird Lodge.
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September 2009 - photo added.