World’s Largest Longhorn

One cannot spend any amount of time at all near Austin, Texas without hearing about Longhorns. Yup, they’re a breed of cattle. (see below)

Some type of (pissed off) longhorn with curly horns. I blame the humidity for the curly horns; it does the same thing to my hair.

But – more importantly to many Texans – the Longhorns are a college football team.

Many years ago, I watched football all the time, particularly in the era of Joe Montana (past QB for the SF 49ers). With the exception of watching the Super Bowls for the commercials, I haven’t watched individual games in a very long time. Sadly, there are no 49er fans (that I’ve found) here in the middle of cow country. In fact, I get the distinct impression Texans prefer college football to league football. Since the 49ers are in the super bowl I’ll be glued to the TV tonight. There is ONE 49er fan in cow country.

But guess what? This post isn’t about football! It is about “World’s Largest” goofy sights in Austin.

In line with its motto, “Keep Austin Weird”, today’s treasures are the World’s Largest Longhorn, and a Giant Fork.

The “World’s Largest Longhorn”?

When my cowboy friend and I saw this, the “World’s Largest Longhorn”, we thought we were in the wrong place. The statue looked only slightly larger than life-size. I’m not sure what we expected, but we definitely expected LARGER. Perhaps I’m a bit jaded, having seen many “World’s Largest ….”, and having just seen the big blue arachnid butt.

If you would like to see a Large Longhorn, it’s behind the University Co-op at U of T at Austin, on the southeast corner of 23rd and San Antonio Street. Or you can drive around the countryside and see a bunch in the pastures. But I’d stay in the car… that one in the first photo was pissed-off and those three, hearty-looking, cowboys were having a tough time getting him under control.

Has all this talk of beef made you hungry?

Not far from the Largest Longhorn is the Giant Fork – with attachments.

Sitting in front of the Hyde Park Bar and Grill on Duval Street is a giant fork. A giant fork they often adorn with a variety of attachments… including a very long longhorns. They weren’t sporting the longhorns when I was there. Among the various attachments are a chocolate-covered heart, a box of candles for their 23rd anniversary, a world globe, a flower, and Mr. Potato Head.

When I was there, they were celebrating their 30th anniversary, as one might guess from the attachment…

The Giant Fork in Austin, Texas.

Close-up of the Giant Fork’s 30’th Anniversary attachment.

I heard today, Super Bowl Sunday, is the one day a year when Americans consume the most food. Celebrate by finding something to stick a fork in.

Go Niners!!

UPDATED: Sadly, the Niners didn’t win, but they sure played a great game in the second half. Congrats to the Ravens!