Big Foot @ Shawnee Forest
Mysterious creature spotted near Garden of the Gods, Illinois.
The Birth of “Sassy” – A Big Foot Attraction
Weighing in at 2,600 pounds, the towering Big Foot statue is the latest in a long line of fun roadside attractions that have dotted America’s highways since the 1950s. From the “Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota” popularized by Weird Al Yankovic to the famous Superman statue in nearby Metropolis, Illinois, they’ve long provided a welcome place for traveling families to stretch their legs and grab a quick photo. Which is ironic, because getting Sassy to her new home was quite a road trip in itself. Whether you’re hiking, snapping photos, or staying at the nearby cabins, Big Foot is a must-see highlight of Southern Illinois.
“It took four guys and a backhoe to load her,” says DeVore. And from the moment she hit the road, she was a star, attracting countless double takes, thumbs up and photos, much to the delight of his two younger sons and horror of their tween sister. But now everyone has embraced the new addition and popular tourist draw.
Located at the corner of Garden of the Gods and Karbers Ridge roads just outside of Herod, Illinois, Sassy points the way to one of the most popular hikes in the Shawnee National Forest. There’s a small parking lot and information center for travelers. And if you need overnight accommodations, the DeVores will be more than glad to hook you up with one of eight cabins complete with wi-fi, a hot tub and DirectTV, should you have a late night hankering for “Harry and the Hendersons.” With so much to see and do in the area, however, you might want to leave the remote in the drawer.
There’s nearby Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods, which will have a staring role on next year’s Illinois quarter. Visitors can also canoe, kayak or soar through the trees courtesy of the Shawnee Bluffs Zip Line Canopy Tour. Others may wish to visit the award-winning Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. But if you see anything you can’t explain after hitting that particular trail, says DeVore, “That one’s on you.”
Located near the sleepy Illinois town of Herod, Shawnee Forest Cabins features private bedrooms and other amenities for large families and other guests enjoying the scenic beauty and abundant hunting of southern Illinois. Shawnee Forest Cabins offers exceptional access to the Shawnee National Forest, with more than 280,000 acres of trails, streams and wild game hunting, including turkey, deer and fish. To learn more, or to book a cabin, visit ShawneeForestCabins.com.
