Did you know DeForest — 15 miles north of Madison — is home to a life-size pink elephant?
Venture off of I-39/90/94 near exit 126 to find the larger-than-life creature, perfect for any roadside stop or as a destination of its own.
Pinkie the Elephant is situated near a Shell gas station at 4995 County Rd. V + has called the Madison suburb home since the 1960s. The original purpose? To attract more customers to the station .
The fiberglass elephant was manufactured by Sculptured Advertising in Sparta, WI. It found its first home in front of the Pink Elephant Supper Club in Iowa in 1963 before finding a permanent place in Wisconsin. While Pinkie has traded ownership over the years, the statue has attracted visitors of all generations for 70+ years.
Take a picture with Pinkie. | Photo by 608today team
Pinkie has a few sisters… or brothers across the Midwest. Originally produced for Arco Gas Stations , Pinkie look-alikes can be found at car washes, antique malls, and other spots around Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Have you found the other elephants?
So, did the attention-grabbing roadside attraction work? We definitely thought the trip was worth it… and might’ve needed to stop + get gas while we were there. Did we mention there is Pink Elephant merch inside for the most loyal fans?