email: roadarch@outlook.com

Gorilla & Monkey Statues

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Mighty Joe
Shamong, NJ
Mighty Joe was previously located in Wildwood, NJ. He was installed at the Islander Raceway and Amusement Park where he was known as George the Gorilla. Today, a sign covers the two holes in his chest that had slides projecting from them. He was installed here at Mighty Joe's Gas Grill & Deli as a tribute to the owner's son who died of cancer. There were two other gorilla statues in Wildwood which are long gone. A new King Kong statue was installed in 2015. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Gorilla
Virginia Beach, VA
This Gorilla, aka Hugh Mongous, stands in front of the Ocean Breeze Water Park. He is about 55 feet tall and wears a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sunglasses. The original sculpture was about 65 feet tall and installed here in 1985. It was created in 1978 by Paul Dipasquale for a Richmond bank promotion. Afterwards, the statue was trucked to Virginia Beach to Jungle Falls (later Wild Water Rapids and now Ocean Breeze). The statue was reduced to a shell by fire in 1989. He was restored with clothes and sunglasses added at that time. For more, see this website. [map]

There was another Ape statue here when the place was previously known as Wild Water Rapids.

Gorilla
Columbus, TX
Gorilla
San Angelo, TX
Gorilla
Austin, TX
Gorilla
Austin, TX
Gorilla
Pittsburg, KS

Gorilla
Dallas, GA
Gorilla
Waco, TX
Gorilla
Trent, TX
Gorilla
Claremore, OK
Gorilla [gone]
Denver, CO
These fiberglass gorilla statues were produced in the 1960s and 1970s by Ben Robinson of the Plycrete Mold Co. of Elk Rapids, MI. The original sculptures from which these molds were made were created by Elmer Johnson. These statues were most frequently sold along with figures of other animals and people to mini golf courses.

This Gorilla statue in Columbus is installed in front of the Four Oaks Puppy Club. [map]

This Gorilla statue in San Angelo is installed in front of Scrub University. It now has a psychedelic paint job. [map]

The first Gorilla statue in Austin shown above has been installed in front of a residence since at least 2007. [map]

The pink Gorilla statue in Austin shown above has been installed in front of Big Star Bingo since at least 2007. [map]

The Gorilla statue in Pittsburg was installed in front of RibCrib BBQ around 2015. The gorilla is the mascot of the Pittsburg State University's sports teams. The statue is painted in the school's colors. There are several other gorilla statues around town. [map]

This Gorilla statue in Dallas was previously located at Magic Forest in Lake George, NY. It is now located at Atlantis Plumbing. [map]

This Gorilla statue in Waco is installed in front of a residence. Known as "Darwin," he is frequently repainted for different holidays and special events. The statue has been there since at least 2005. [map]

This Gorilla statue in Trent is located in front of Trent High School. The school is known as the "Home of the Gorillas". [map]

This Gorilla statue in Claremore is located at the Kong's Korner gas station. [map]

This Gorilla statue in Denver stood in front of All Checks Cashed. He had been there since at least 2008. This photo is from 2010. By 2014, the statue had been painted purple and orange. In 2015, the statue was painted black. In 2019, when Snarfburger moved in, the statue was removed. I don't know if he was destroyed or moved.

Gorillas
Vicksburg, MS
These three Gorilla statues are installed in front of Top Dollar Pawn & Guns. They have been there since at least 2008. [map]

King Kong
Natural Bridge, VA
This King Kong statue was created in 2002 by Mark Cline. It stood next to the Pink Cadillac Diner when these photos were taken in 2010. The statue was removed in 2012 and is now back at Mark Cline's Enchanted Castle Studios in Natural Bridge. For more, see this website. [map]

Gorilla
Clermont, FL
This Gorilla statue was installed next to the Showcase of Citrus around 2020. [map]

Gorilla
Crystal River, FL
This Gorilla statue is about 12 feet tall and was built by T.J. Neil. It is meant to resemble a Skunk Ape, the Southern version of Bigfoot. He was built to draw attention to Hornblowers, a taxidermy shop. The building was vacant since at least 2007 but now houses GS Auto Sales & Towing. The statue was restored in 2021 and painted black. [map]

Gorillas
Gregory, SD
These two Gorilla statues are located at Gregory High School's football filed, aka Mike Dacy Field. The school's sports teams are known as the Gorillas. I believe there is another statue on a trailer at the school. [map]

Gorilla [gone]
Cave City, KY
Gorilla [gone]
Des Allemands, LA
Gorilla
Ochopee, FL
Gorilla
Dallas, GA
Gorilla
Rock Springs, WY
The Gorilla in Cave City stood by the road in a parking lot between an old mini golf and a sports bar. I assume that it was originally located on the mini golf course. There were previously other animal statues with him. By 2018, the statue was gone. I believe that this gorilla statue was produced by the Fiberglass Menagerie of Alpine, CA in the 1970s. For more, see this website.

The Gorilla statue in Des Allemands was the same design as the statue in Cave City. It had been installed in front of Roadside Daiquiris since at least 2008. By 2021, the business and statue were gone.

The Gorilla statue in Ochopee is the same design as the statues in Cave City and Des Allemands. It stands in front of the entrance to the Trail Lakes Campgrounds. [map]

This Gorilla statue in Dallas was previously located at Magic Forest in Lake George, NY. It is now located at Atlantis Plumbing. [map]

The Gorilla statue in Rock Springs has been here since around 2000 when it stood in front of the Concrete Palace statuary store. He has worn a cowboy hat since then. It was repainted in 2021 by the Community Fine Arts Center Advisory Board just before the photo above was taken. [map]

Queen Connie
Brandon, VT
King Kong
Livingston, IL
Gorilla
St. Petersburg, FL
Gorilla
Wichita, KS
Queen Connie is a 19-foot-tall, 16-ton gorilla statue. She holds aloft a VW Beetle at Pioneer Auto Sales, a used car dealer. The statue was built in 1987 by T.J. Neil. The name "Queen Connie of Concrete" came from some school children in a naming contest. For more, see this website. [map]

The King Kong in Livingston is located at Pink Elephant Antique Mall. This photo is from 2012. I don't see the statue at the Google Street View map from 2013. However, the statue may have been moved around. It appeared to be unpainted fiberglass when this photo was taken. It looks like it was probably produced from Mark Cline's mold of the Natural Bridge statue shown above.

The Gorilla statue in St. Petersburg has been installed in front of Gator's Corner since around 2018. [map]

The Gorilla statue in Wichita is located on the roof of Artist at Large Tattoo. It was installed around 2009. [map]

Gorilla
Rice Lake, WI
Chimpanzee
Ellensburg, WA
Orangutan
Olin, IA
Orangutan [gone]
Natchitoches, LA
The Gorilla statue in Rice Lake is installed on the roof of the McHenry Mercantile pawn shop. Does anyone know the history of this guy? [map]

This Chimpanzee statue is a bronze depiction of Washoe, the first non-human to use American Sign Language. The statue of Washoe signing the word "friend" was installed in the newly created Friendship Park in 2012. It was produced by Georgia Gerber. For more, see this website. [map]

This Orangutan statue in Olin is installed in front of Greg's Pit Stop bar. These statues were mass-produced and perhaps still are. [map]

This Orangutan statue in Natchitoches was installed in front of Vintage Treasures & More around 2017. The store and statue were gone by 2022.

Orangutan
Memphis, TN
This Orangutan statue has been installed next to the entrance to the Palace Cinema since at least 2007. [map]

More Gorillas:
Olds, IA
Villa Park, IL
Pittsburg, KS
Natchitoches, LA
Ocean City, MD
York Beach, ME
Spring Arbor, MI
Branson, MO
Sikeston, MO [gone]
Fayetteville, NC [gone]
Greensboro, NC
Wake Forest, NC
Wildwood, NJ: 1, 2 [gone]
Lake George, NY [gone]
Cincinnati, OH [gone]
Oologah, OK
Picher, OK [gone]
Eugene, OR
Berwick, PA
Millvale, PA
Myrtle Beach, SC
Memphis, TN
Nashville, TN
Austin, TX [gone]
Austin, TX [gone]
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Covington, VA
Black Earth, WI
Madison, WI
Ansted, WV

More Orangutans:
Roseville, OH [map]
Waco, TX

Flying Monkeys:
Burlington, VT [map]

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