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A large 30-foot-tall, 18-foot-wide sculpture of Sasquatch stands tall at the entrance to the Mercer County Fairgrounds in Celina.
CELINA - A team of professional carvers has fashioned a mammoth wooden sculpture of a languidly posed, friendly-faced Sasquatch at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
Standing 30-feet tall and 18-feet wide at the main gate, the hulking yet-to-be-named homage to the legendary ape-like Bigfoot is intended to enhance Mercer County's reputation as a hub of growth and excitement.
"Our hope is that it brings enjoyment to our community," said fair manager Cara Muhlenkamp. "We also hope that it is a fun thing for folks to travel to see. The lake, Boardwalk, downtown and so many locations outside of Celina have made us a destination location. We want to contribute and do our part."
Just a few days after its completion, visitors from Terre Haute, Indiana, and Michigan came to the fairgrounds on Friday to see the singular attraction.
"He is already doing his job," Muhlenkamp added.
Bear Hollow Wood Carvers based in French Lick, Indiana, started building on April 6 and finished on Monday.
Bear Hollow Wood Carvers of French Lick, Indiana, were hard at work creating the permanent Bigfoot from April 5 to Monday during the total solar eclipse festival at the fairgrounds.
Muhlenkamp said the fair board and wood carvers have been planning the project since July 2023.
"Bear Hollow had previously done a Sasquatch," Muhlenkamp said. "We went back and forth on something to showcase our area. We had thought about a chicken, but then dairy is important and so on."
Desiring something whimsical and welcoming, the carvers came up with the idea of Bigfoot.
Jason and Cindy Emmons own Bear Hollow Wood Carvers and frequently attend local county fairs and events to put on custom chainsaw carving and sculpture shows.
Bigfoot's head weighs approximately 600-700 pounds.
"We had built one (Bigfoot ) previously at our cabins in French Lick," Cindy Emmons said. "And it just has a great response. … We've been planning for a while. I think he will be a great attraction. The one that we have (in French Lick) is an amazing photo opportunity. He'll be landscaped around with some flowers and then people will be able to take photos with him."
Fairground officials haven't given the sculpture a name yet but may seek out suggestions from the community.
"We will likely launch that in the coming week, and it will take a few weeks to narrow the name suggestions down with the public's help," Muhlenkamp said.
Landscaping and other details are still being hashed out.
Once the sculpture was built, the Bear Hollow Wood Carvers spray-stained it.
"It is important that it isn't inviting for folks to climb on the giant," she said. "A fence will be added that will give the public the opportunity to walk around and be much closer. We want the public to see all of the little details."
Springer & Sons Tree Services of Celina donated a portion of the lumber used for the project, as Muhlenkamp said the sculpture grew to be larger than anticipated after the carvers came on scene.
"Thus meaning that we needed to purchase lots of additional lumber," she said. "Due to the additional lumber, the fair is still working on the final cost of the giant."
The head alone weighs between 600 to 700 pounds. It was carved separate from the body and hoisted to the top of the sculpture.
Sasquatch's big foot near entrance to the Mercer County Fairgrounds in Celina.
