Lexington, Kentucky: Cocaine Bear

Stands in a truck bed inside the KY for KY Fun Mall, which was undergoing renovations when we arrived. Workers graciously moved piles of construction materials so we could get a better look. Nearby, stacks of "Cocaine Bear" t-shirts were on offer. Store parking is sparse and the building sits at an angle on a tight one-way street. We had to go around the block a few times waiting for a space to open up. Lots of great murals in the area.

The bear is a little high up for a good pic, but we put our son in the bed of the pickup truck with him and it worked. The store is full of fun Kentucky souvenirs and we also bought a cocaine bear t-shirt.

The girl manning the shop had zero info on the store or on Lexington in general...every question we asked was met with a confused stare or a referral to their blog...whatever.

We learned that the cocaine bear's formal name is "Pablo Eskabear." They sell tons of cocaine bear-related items, as well as other tributes around the store. The owner, a millennial diehard Bernie Sanders supporter, designs all of the artwork. They even have a crackhead bear painted on their delivery truck.

This taxidermy bear looks ordinary, but he died of a drug overdose after eating cocaine that was dropped in Chattahoochee National Forest by a drug smuggler, Andrew Thornton.