# Elephant on I-84 in CT - what's the straight dope?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358 "2020-06-10T12:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/1 "2020-06-10T12:53:40Z")
Spotted this while stuck in traffic northbound on I-84 in CT. Probably 20 or 30 miles in from NY border if I remember right. What the heck is a concrete (?) elephant statue doing in CT? Anyone?? [A concrete elephant!](https://imgur.com/kMqGITj) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/2 "2020-06-10T13:11:42Z")
Perhaps the guy affiliates with the republican party. [This guy uses his for advertising outside of his car dealership.](https://www.rokemneedlearts.com/carsindepth/wordpressblog/?p=5268) It stands loud and proud outside of the Honda dealership on Telegraph Road and M10 in Southfield Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/3 "2020-06-10T13:16:30Z")
😕 Looks to me like an ordinary garden sculpture that happens to depict an elephant. What is it, about four feet high? I can’t tell from the picture what you think is special about it other than it’s on the side of the road. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/4 "2020-06-10T13:18:26Z")
The [Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market](https://www.etflea.com/) is in New Milford bu there’s no mention of a statue on their website. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/5 "2020-06-10T13:47:01Z")
Who knows? The guy probably just thinks it’s cool. If I could, I’d buy this statue, originally made for the movie _The Prodigal_\*, which sat outside in Delaware for many years: > **[The Prodigal Statue](http://burgcastlestein.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-prodigal-statue.html)** > > Front cover of a photo novel with Denny Miller as Tarzan standing in front of the statue. The Beginning In 1981 I picked up a comi... > **[A Giant Statue From Old Trash Movies Is Now Rests In Someone’s Backyard –...](https://designyoutrust.com/2017/02/a-giant-statue-from-old-trash-movies-is-now-rests-in-someones-backyard/)** > > Acccording to a Tumblr user trulyunpleasant: "This statue is a couple miles from where I live, just sitting in someones backyard. It was in two crappy Atlantis \*And later showed up in _Atlantis the Lost Continent_, among other films. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/6 "2020-06-10T13:50:08Z")
Heck, we’ve still got the Big Orange T. Rex with Fluorescent Green Eyes on Route 1 not far from me, even though the miniature golf course it originally graced is long gone. They put it up on the wall near the new construction, because people would have rioted if it was removed. It was a _landmark_ > **[Saugus, MA - Famous Orange Dinosaur](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/15217)** > > Visit reports, news, maps, directions and info on Famous Orange Dinosaur in Saugus, Massachusetts. > **[Big orange dinosaur on Route 1 had a temporary sidekick: a giant glowing...](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2019/03/15/big-orange-dinosaur-route-gets-new-sidekick-giant-glowing-doughnut/O1s0UYP3eGba9o7kuIlPdI/story.html)** > > The glazed doughnut was fastened to the tiny arms of the tyrannosaur by the folks at Kane’s Donuts, who recently opened a second location nearby. > **[Saugus’ ‘Citgo sign’ isn’t going anywhere - The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/05/03/one-dino-that-not-danger-extinction/Yvd22fkCNAIvtEXg4L3X9N/story.html)** > > Once again, the developers of a business and residential complex along Route 1 are pledging to keep the famed orange dinosaur in its prominent spot. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/7 "2020-06-10T13:55:18Z")
Milton Keynes has its [concrete cows](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/A3HY51/milton-keynes-concrete-cows-sculpture-in-parkland-A3HY51.jpg) > **[Concrete Cows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_Cows)** > > The Concrete Cows in Milton Keynes, England are an iconic work of sculpture, created in 1978 by the American artist Liz Leyh. There are three cows and three calves, approximately half life size. > The Cows are constructed from scrap, skinned with fibre glass reinforced concrete donated by a local builder. > The artist was an "artist-in-residence" in the early days of Milton Keynes and part of her role was to lead community participation in art. The Cows was one of a number of pieces created duri... ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/8 "2020-06-10T14:22:34Z")
There’s a house not far from us that has a full-sized fake horse (or mule) in his yard, with the head hanging over the fence facing the street. He dresses it appropriately for various holidays. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/9 "2020-06-10T14:44:51Z")
Similarly, a house near me has several statues of big cats–lion, tiger, panther, etc.–in the front yard. Just there for decoration, I assume. The tiger was stolen once. It’s back now, so either they got a duplicate, or the thieves were caught and the tiger returned. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/10 "2020-06-10T16:04:19Z")
[Chessie, the purple elephant](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/2614) mascot at [Cheswick Pools and Patios](https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/chessie-looks-over-renovations-at-chewick-pools-and-patios-awaits-makeover/) is a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/11 "2020-06-10T16:32:58Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 😕 Looks to me like an ordinary garden sculpture that happens to depict an elephant. What is it, about four feet high? I can’t tell from the picture what you think is special about it other than it’s on the side of the road. My best guess is that it’s about 9 or 10 feet tall. Been that way dozens of times and never noticed it. This time traffic was crawling about .001 MPH and it caught my eye. Not quite a common garden ornament. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/12 "2020-06-10T16:36:09Z")
If you like Elephant Roadside attractions there is always [Lucy, the Margate Elephant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_the_Elephant) She is 65’ tall and built in 1881. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/13 "2020-06-10T16:42:46Z")
Elephant? [Amateurs.](https://www.cabazondinosaurs.com/) ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/14 "2020-06-10T17:50:32Z")
Maybe it was a memorial… [![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/67/e6/ec/67e6ecec502bc9322d3467d1e98f49a6.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/67/e6/ec/67e6ecec502bc9322d3467d1e98f49a6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/15 "2020-06-10T18:03:17Z")
If it were closer to Bridgeport I would guess it might have to do with the [P.T. Barnum Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum_Museum) and his star attraction Jumbo. But it doesn’t look close. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/16 "2020-06-10T19:47:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Heck, we’ve still got the Big Orange T. Rex with Fluorescent Green Eyes on Route 1 not far from me, even though the miniature golf course it originally graced is long gone. They put it up on the wall near the new construction, because people would have rioted if it was removed. It was a _landmark_ > > [Saugus, MA - Famous Orange Dinosaur](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/15217) > > [https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2019/03/15/big-orange-dinosaur-route-gets-new-sidekick-giant-glowing-doughnut/O1s0UYP3eGba9o7kuIlPdI/story.html](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2019/03/15/big-orange-dinosaur-route-gets-new-sidekick-giant-glowing-doughnut/O1s0UYP3eGba9o7kuIlPdI/story.html) > > [https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/05/03/one-dino-that-not-danger-extinction/Yvd22fkCNAIvtEXg4L3X9N/story.html](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/05/03/one-dino-that-not-danger-extinction/Yvd22fkCNAIvtEXg4L3X9N/story.html) Huh. There’s one in Mass. too? [[Ours is 10 miles from my apt. in Jacksonville FL](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/446700856764922097/), and yes was also originally part of a miniature golf course] ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/17 "2020-06-10T20:36:17Z")
Go to google maps and enter the address 3752 Maple Grove Rd Manchester MD. Go to street view and turn around and look at the pond. You’ll see a giant chicken. Why a giant chicken? Who knows. Some things you just can’t google. The only reason I know it’s there is that I went past it while riding around on back roads on my motorcycle. The only thing that showed up on google for your elephant was this thread. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/18 "2020-06-10T21:44:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > There’s a house not far from us that has a full-sized fake horse (or mule) in his yard, with the head hanging over the fence facing the street. He dresses it appropriately for various holidays. Woodside, CA has a couple of very realistic bronze horses alongside the road as you drive into town. They are not behind any kind of fence, on any kind of pedestal, or associated with anything in particular. They’re about 40 feet from the edge of the road: > **[Veryl Goodnight Sculpture – WHOA! Woodside-area Horse Owners Association](https://whoa94062.org/portfolio/veryl-goodnight-sculpture/)** I’m sure that more than one driver has momentarily thought there were a couple actual horses loose along the road before realizing they were statues. It’s Woodside, after all. I thinking owning a horse is requirement for residency. Of course, quirky statuary seen from the road on various public and private properties is a very lengthy subject. For instance, Douglas, WY’s 8 foot tall jackalope statue. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/19 "2020-06-10T23:23:27Z")
Our local dairy’s cow heads are back! > **[Iconic Elmhurst Dairy cow heads back on display in Montreal's N.D.G. area](https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/iconic-elmhurst-dairy-cow-heads-back-on-display-in-montreals-n-d-g-area)** > > The iconic bovine heads that adorned the Elmhurst Dairy ice cream shop on St-Jacques St. are back on display at Parmalat Canada plant. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358/20 "2020-06-10T23:45:34Z")
An interesting example of a giant animal statue is the Headington Shark: > **[Headington Shark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Headington_Shark)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Headington Shark (proper name Untitled 1986) is a rooftop sculpture located at 2 New High Street, Headington, Oxford, England, depicting a large shark embedded head-first in the roof of a house. It was protest art, put up without permission, to be symbolic of bombs crashing into buildings. > The shark first appeared on 9 August 1986, having been commissioned by the house's owner Bill Heine, a local radio presenter. The sculpture was inspired by... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358.md?page=2)