email: roadarch@outlook.com

DWO Elephant Statues (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

The elephant statues at these pages were produced by Dave Oswald of DWO Fiberglass Co. in Sparta, WI. Oswald was originally an employee of FAST and later started his own company, DWO. In 1989, FAST bought DWO and Oswald continued working for them. The very first of these pink elephant statues was built in 1963 and installed in Marquette, IA. That statue is still there and is shown below. The statues below are organized alphabetically by state.

Pink Elephant
Inverness, FL
2009: 2020:
The Elephant was located in Gainesville, GA until the early or mid-1990s when it was purchased and moved here to this used car lot. Originally, this elephant wore glasses. New glasses were installed around 2019. The elephant's eyes have bulbs and are lit at night. [map]

Georgia:
Gainesville

Pinky
Marquette, IA
Pinky was installed in 1963 in front of the Pink Elephant Supper Club. This was the first DWO elephant statue built. This statue never had the glasses or held a martini. However, I believe the top hat is original. The statue is now owned by the City and installed next to the Casino Queen. For more, see this website. [map]

Elephants
Livingston, IL

2010 and 2012:
2024:
These Elephants are located at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall. Around 2022, the large elephant was repainted with eyes and eyelashes. There were two of these smaller, partial elephants installed high up on the building. One of them was moved to face the interstate while the other was installed near the entrance, closer to the ground. The large elephant and the Beach Guy statue were moved here in 2006 from Benld, IL. I don't know where the smaller elephants came from. [map]

Pinkie the Elephant
Springfield, IL
Pinkie the Elephant was previously located at a nightclub in Paris, IL. It was sold and first appeared in Springfield in 1980. Over the years, the statue has been moved to different locations around town, appeared in many parades, and has been rented out for special events. When the statue's owner, Bob Kent, passed away, Pinkie appeared in funeral procession, right behind the hearse. It has been located in the Kent Plaza shopping center since at least 2016. [map]

Elephant
Springfield, IL
I don't know where this Elephant was originally installed. But had been painted gray and had damage to its head and back when it was parked on the lot of Springfield Autobody. In 2016, the statue was purchased by Dumb Records and painted green. It was parked to the side of the store's building. In 2018, the record store moved and could not take the Elephant with them. However, from 2019-2020, the damaged statue was fixed and repainted. It is now installed on its trailer, permanently parked on the street in front of the store. [map]

More Illinois:
Melrose Park [gone]

Pink Elephant [gone]
Princeton, IN
The Elephant in Princeton was located at the Castle Car Wash where there were many other fiberglass statues including these. This photo is from 2010. By 2011, the business had closed and these statues were removed.

Pink Elephant
Fortville, IN
This Elephant has been installed at this liquor store location since around 1980. Before that, the statue was installed at the Cohron Mobile Home Park in Lawrence, IN. The statue is now known as Ellatini. These statues are often installed on trailers to get around local zoning laws. For more, see this website. [map]

More Indiana:
Haubstadt
Wabash

Pink Elephant
Hopkinsville, KY		 Pink Elephant
Guthrie, KY
I believe this Elephant in Hopkinsville was installed at the Pit Stop Drive-in Liquor store in 2008. The store has closed but the statue remains. [map]

This Elephant in Guthrie has been standing in front of this gas station convenience store since at least 1994. [map]

Massachusetts:
Gloucester: 1, 2

DWO Elephants
(page 2)		 Elephants
(page 1)		 Elephants
(page 2)		 Elephants
(page 3)
Plycrete Elephants Mammoth & Mastodons Animals Statues Main Page