The Big Chicken - Shady Lawn Truck Stop

The Big Chicken, adorned with a chef hat, knife and fork, is located at the Shady Lawn Truck Stop at exit 6 off Interstate 65 in Giles County, TN. Inside, the truck stop sells T-shirts advising one to Respect the Chicken." It has been here for many years, but until recently it had been colored white and dark gray.

Love, Peace and Chicken Grease

Love, Peace and Chicken Grease
Miss Polly's Soul City Cafe
Beale St. - Memphis



Would you like to see more photos from Beale street? Check out the Beale Street gallery

Chicken Chef sign - McMinnville, TN

I first learned about Chicken Chef right before my first visit to McMinnville several years ago, but I didn't have a chance to stop there and check it out. From what I could tell, the place was so popular that more locations opened up, but the original spot was the only one popular enough to remain open.

Reviewing restaurants isn't my thing, and I'm not much of a fried chicken eater either. Yet, when I'm on the road, I look for where the locals eat, and not the chains that I can find anywhere. It's a short order place, was filling, inexpensive, and they took a personal check, so all was fine with me.

I really like the Chicken Chef logo, with the chicken as a chef, with it's chef hat, apron, skillet and tongs. ...so good it's habit forming. (who remembers the SNL commercial for the Cluckin' chicken?)

The Big Chicken - Marietta, GA

Johnny Reb's was a restaurant in Marietta, GA on highway US41 that decided to stand out from the other places in town, by erecting a 56 foot tall sheet metal chicken in 1956. The top of the chicken is mechanical as the beak opens and closes while the eye spins in circles. A few years after it was built, the restaurant was sold and became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.

Over time, the structure started to fall into disrepair and a tornado damaged it in 1993. There was talk that it might be torn down, or moved to a business in Smyrna, GA. However, the townsfolk rallied to save the local landmark. Today, the chicken and the KFC franchise still thrive, and you can even purchase a couple of souvenirs inside.

The Big Chicken - Marietta, GA

Johnny Reb's was a restaurant in Marietta, GA on highway US41 that decided to stand out from the other places in town, by erecting a 56 foot tall sheet metal chicken in 1956. The top of the chicken is mechanical as the beak opens and closes while the eye spins in circles. A few years after it was built, the restaurant was sold and became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.

Over time, the structure started to fall into disrepair and a tornado damaged it in 1993. There was talk that it might be torn down, or moved to a business in Smyrna, GA. However, the townsfolk rallied to save the local landmark. Today, the chicken and the KFC franchise still thrive, and you can even purchase a couple of souvenirs inside.

Barnum's Barnyard - Happy April Fools Day

This is one of the signs advertising the "Barnum's Barnyard" freak show in the midway of the 2007 TN State Fair. I love these signs.

Double Body Pig
Amazing chicken with 2 Heads & 4 Legs
Two Face Cat
Iggy & Ziggy the 2 Headed Piggy
Cow wuth 2 Faces & 5 Legs
ALIVE!

And why did I post this for April Fools Day? First, I couldn't think of anything better. Also, The two-headed pig won't really be wearing a tuxedo!