BIG BIGGER
Whoa! Look at that giant Paul Bunyan! Get a load of that big banana! The roadsides of the world (well, parts of it) are littered with goofy statues and crazy kitsch.
Oversized attractions have long tempted tourists, from Sudbury’s giant nickel to the ever-expanding ball of twine in Cawker City, Kan.
For some reason, as demonstrated by Joshua Jackson’s character’s many pit stops during his epic road trip in the film One Week, it’s tough to resist these larger-than-life photo ops.
And if you’re driving along Long Island, you certainly can’t skip the Big Duck, in Flanders, N.Y.
The perfect detour en route to the Hamptons and Montauk, about two hours from New York City, (it’s worth stopping for coffee before you hit the I-495), the nine-metre tall, five-metre wide duck has been an attraction since 1931.
Since then, The Big Duck has become a symbol of the era of giant apples, coffee pots and other kitschy roadside advertising gimmicks.
In fact, buildings that use their shape to promote what is sold inside are called “Duck Architecture,” coined after Flanders’ big bird.
Farmer Martin Maurer built the duck in the nearby town of Riverhead to help sell ducks and duck eggs. Constructed using wood, wire mesh and concrete — with Ford Model T tail lights for eyes — the novelty building was designed by Broadway set designers the Collins brothers.
The duck has been relocated three times, first moving the six kilometres to Flanders, the centre of the area’s duck farming industry, in 1937.
Suffolk County took ownership of the duck, moving it in 1988, and then returned the fowl fellow to Flanders, overlooking Reeves Bay, and the road, in 2007.
The Big Duck earned its place in history in 1997, when it joined the National Register of Historic Places. For visitors, the main draw is photos with the big duck.
The structure gets decorated for the holidays and hosts a lighting ceremony on the first Wednesday in December.
Local children sing “duck” carols and refreshments are served while onlookers wait for the arrival of Santa Claus.
While the original store selling duck eggs is no longer there, the building still offers a small shop, operated by the Friends for Long Island Heritage.
However, hours at the duck shop are limited, as a sign on the door explains: “Hours are irregular, due to limited availability of ‘Duck Sitters.’ We apologize for this inconvenience.”
Tourists who want to double check whether the shop will be open can contact the Suffolk Country Parks department, at 631-8523377.
For more information about the big duck statue, visit www.bigduck.org.