Virginia Beach, Virginia: Hugh Mongous, Giant Beach Dude Gorilla
Wearing big grin, sunglasses, and swim trunks, Hugh Mongous II has stood since 1996. Hugh Mongous I burned to a crisp in 1989 after someone shot him with a flaming arrow.
Ocean Breeze Waterpark
- Address:
- 849 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA
- Directions:
- Take Pacific Avenue south out of Virginia Beach and cross over Rudee Inlet bridge. Pacific turns into General Booth Blvd. From the ocean front, past the Marine Science Museum, on the right in front of Ocean Breeze Waterpark.
- Phone:
- 757-422-4444
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About Hugh Mongous, Giant Beach Dude Gorilla
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To see the gorilla without paying a fee, you should park your vehicle in the zoo parking lot next door; otherwise you'll be blocking traffic into the go-cart and water park to get your photo.
[Steven Reis, 07/07/2016]
When driving along the oceanfront south from Virginia Beach, you can't miss the giant Beach Dude standing in front of a water park with his smiling welcome. He seems to need some fresh paint as he looks a bit tired, but still very large!
[John Holmes, 10/04/2009]
There is a huge gorilla in board shorts and a hawaiian shirt. He has been burned down a couple of times. When I was little he just wore red shorts. After they rebuilt him one time he had glowing red eyes and was rather scary. Now he has glowing green eyes, which is still freaky.
[gina cogan, 02/29/2004]Nearby Offbeat Places



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The gorilla is known locally as "Hugh Mongous."