Fort Pierre, South Dakota: Rodeo Champion Weather Vane
Captured in mid-buck, hometown hero Casey Tibbs -- the "Babe Ruth of Rodeo" -- and his mount Necktie swivel with the prairie wind. Unveiled in 1992; repaired and restored in 2017. Tibbs' shirt and jeans are real, coated in fiberglass.
- Address:
- US Hwy 83, Fort Pierre, SD
- Directions:
- In town, on the west side of US 83/1st St., between 3rd and 4th Aves, just south of the Fort Pierre Depot.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Stopped here on our way to the South Dakota capitol. We checked -- it still swivels, just like a real rodeo champion. Also look for a small buffalo just south along U.S. 83.
[SteveC, 08/31/2009]
In Fort Pierre, there is a monument to Champion Rodeo Rider, Casey Tibbs, 1929-1990. It is a life-sized, fiberglass sculpture of a cowboy on a bucking horse.
I got out of my car to snap a picture of this and wondered why they would position it so that it was facing away from the road. As soon as I snapped my picture and got back in my car, I saw it move. It is designed to swivel in the wind like a wind vane. It would be fun to watch with some serious, gale-force winds.
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The statue used to stand outside of a shopping center -- where its swivel had broken -- but it has been restored and moved to a small park. It recreates a photo of Tibbs' most famous rodeo ride, aboard the bronc Necktie. Real horse hair was reportedly used in Necktie's mane and tail. Tibbs died watching the Super Bowl on TV.