GIANT CORN MONUMENT: A Corny Roadside Attraction Amongst the Redwoods

Pepperwood, California 95565

Everything is a little bigger up in the Redwood region of CA, a fact that is on full display with this giant, 6-foot-tall wooden piece of roadside corn. Looks pretty random, eh? Well, it is.

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This little gem is parked right in the midst of the iconic Avenue of the Giants drive, a road that takes you on a twisted route through the magical Redwood Forest of Northern California. With its otherworldly trees and epic hiking, taking this drive is a whimsical journey through one of the most wonderful areas in the state; definitely not to be missed in anyone's lifetime. However, I'm much more interested in focusing on this giant ear of corn.

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Meticulously carved from wood and looking a bit like a giant Twinkie, the corn has golden honeycomb skin that shines brightly in the warm sun. And there's an added bonus—a plaque tightly tacked onto the front, which reads "To Pepperwood and its Loved Ones." This cryptic note only adds further mystery and intrigue to the situation

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A roadside attraction in the most literal sense—it's located about 5 feet from the road, I kid you not—the giant ear of corn is a nice and random stopover for those tired of looking at giant redwood trees. I mean, we all came here for the corn, right?

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HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?

Mystery solved! The deliciously-named town of Pepperwood is supposedly the corn king of Humboldt County, which explains why something like this exists up here.

Once a thriving community of farming and lumber, the town was devastated by a deadly flood in 1964 that almost wiped out the entire area. Nowadays, the very tiny town (population 20, on a good day) is still reliant on roadside fruit stands and produce to stay afloat. The giant ear of corn is actually a tribute to the great town of Pepperwood and the lovely folks who keep it thriving.

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