Flanders, New York: The Big Duck

Eastern Long Islanders like myself really do love the Big Duck, which is on the national register of historic places. I visit often to chat with Babs, the duck lady. I remember stopping there for roasted capon when I was a kid. It looked humongous to me and still does!

The property immediately surrounding the duck has just been included on the national register. There is a 37 1/2 acre park planned with spectacular views of Reeves Bay. Although The Big Duck is white, Muffler Man (west on the same road) is very pale by comparison!

Latest image of the Big Duck at its new (old) home in Flanders.

Hampton Inns is refurbishing The Big Duck in Long Island, part of their grass roots PR campaign to restore select roadside attractions and monuments. Hampton completed refurbishment earlier this year of the "Rain of Arrows" in Mancos, CO, and the restoration of one of Tennessee's famous "See Rock City" highway barns in Sevierville.

In your description of the Big Duck at Hampton Bays, your information was incorrect regarding its construction. It is NOT stucco but ferrocement. Its eyes are the taillights from a Model T Ford. The Big Duck is one of the finest examples of roadside architecture In fact, when discussing similar types of buildings (hot dog stand shaped like a hot dog), they are referred to as a "duck". No kidding.

There's a really "corny" piece of local history here on Long Island, NY -- The Big Duck. It's a 20 foot high stucco building shaped like a duck. It was constructed in the 30's as a roadside-stand selling fresh-killed local ducks. Duck business aside, tourists on the road loved it because it was a landmark signalling they'd almost reached their summer beach houses. Anyway, the duck business pretty much dried up on Long Island, and the land where the Big Duck stood was sold. We've destroyed plenty of historic sites around here -- Dutch water mills, old Indian land, etc. But people rallied to save this duck!