65-foot long wooden structure shaped and painted like a giant fish, flanked by a log cabin structure with sign reading "The Big Fish"
The Big Fish and the Big Fish Supper Club

The Big Fish is a roadside attraction located three miles west of Bena, Minnesota in the unorganized territory of North Cass. The 65-foot-long wooden structure takes the form of a muskie fish. The Big Fish was built as a drive-in restaurant in 1958, though it only operated as a restaurant for a few years. The Big Fish Supper Club, located next to the fish-shaped building, was opened in 1972. The Big Fish and the Big Fish Supper Club are located near the south shore of Lake Winnibigoshish, known locally as Lake Winnie.[1][2]

Midwestern United States cultural historian Eric Dregni described The Big Fish as "uniquely Minnesota" and named it one the state's seven wonders, along with sites such as the Kensington Runestone and the Darwin twine ball.[3] It is a popular spot for photographs for tourists to the area.[4]

Structure

The Big Fish is 65 feet long and 15 feet wide (19.8 and 4.6 m, respectively).[5] The structure was built using white ash beams for a skeletal structure, covered with roofing paper and painted with stripes to resemble a muskie.[3] The fish's red eyes were originally fashioned out of round Coca Cola signs.[3]

History

The idea of constructing a large fish to act as an attraction for tourists was conceived by Wayne Kumpula, owner of a bar on busy U.S. Route 2.[6] Kumpula designed and built the Big Muskie Drive-In in 1958; the restaurant originally served hamburgers and ice cream.[5] Patrons would enter the fish through the open mouth and sit to eat their meal at a counter in the fish's belly.[5][7] Exposed wall studs mimicked the curving ribs of a fish.[7] There was also a walk-up window in the side of the structure for take-out ordering.[8] In 1963 the restaurant was converted into a souvenir stand.[7] A log building was constructed next door and in 1972 both buildings became the Big Fish Supper Club.[7] After 1972, the fish building was used only as storage space.[7]

large building-sized wooden structure shaped like a striped fish
The Big Fish photographed by John Margolies in 1980

The structure was listed on Preservation Alliance of Minnesota's annual list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009 after it fell into disrepair and its frame was in danger of rotting.[9] The Preservation Alliance referred to the fish as "the superlative example of Minnesota's biggest aquatic life form, the muskie."[10] Within months of being listed as endangered, funds were raised for the fish to be repaired and repainted.[5]

The Big Fish appeared on Charles Kuralt's On the Road television feature;[11] Kuralt called it his favorite building in America.[12][4] A postcard image of the fish also appears in the opening credits of the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Big Muskie Fish, Minnesota". Land Use Database. The Center for Land Use Interpretation. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  2. ↑ "About". Big Fish Supper Club. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Curt (May 7, 2009). "As heritage goes, this is a Big Fish in a folk-art pond". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Ringsak, Russ (2003). Minnesota curiosities : quirky characters, roadside oddities & other offbeat stuff. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press. pp. 90–91. ISBN 076272403X.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Barton, Bria (October 19, 2019). "TRIP ON A TANKFUL: Landing the 'Big Fish:' Bena roadside attraction, supper club a slice of Americana". The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Big Fish Supper Club". Roadside America. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Young, Roger T. (June 1993). "Road". American Motorcyclist. Vol. 47, no. 6. American Motorcyclist Association. p. 53. ISSN 0277-9358. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  8. ↑ Dregni, Eric (2001). Minnesota marvels : roadside attractions in the Land of Lakes. University of Minnesota Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 1452904936. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ "A look at the state's 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, according to the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota". Pioneer Press. May 7, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "'Big Fish' on endangered species list". The Globe. Worthington, Minnesota. May 9, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ Kallok, Michael (May–June 2011). "Fish Kitsch". Minnesota Conservation Volunteer. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  12. ↑ Hoyt, Sandra (September 1, 2006). "Are We There Yet?". Minnesota Monthly. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

47°21′06″N 94°16′00″W / 47.3516255°N 94.2666308°W / 47.3516255; -94.2666308

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