On a rainy, cold windy day we planned to go for a hike we wimped out. We decided to do something local. Because I am always looking for things that we haven’t done before, I hopped on the internet and started searching.
I looked up sculptures in Seattle. I knew about the famous Fremont Troll, The Olympic Sculpture Garden and the Hammering Man but was surprised to find this:
America’s biggest hat and cowboy boots in America is right here in our own back yard!
How ridiculous is that. It reminds me of National Lampoon’s Vacation when they go to visit the biggest ball of yarn. It turns out that was a pretty good association because Hat ‘n’ Boots appeared in the opening credits of the film. I don’t remember that but it made me want to go see it even more.
This is what the website Roadside America had to say about the Hat n’ Boots:
This is a famous landmark was built in 1954 and was originally part of a cowboy-themed gas station built in 1954 named “Premium Tex.” The orange hat, 19 feet tall and 44 feet wide, sheltered the station office; the boots were Cowboys and Cowgirls bathrooms (the slightly smaller one was for the ladies).
To preserve this landmark, the City of Seattle moved the Hat ‘n’ Boots to the new Oxbow Park in December 2003.
Channeling our inner Griswold, we drove on down and took some photos of Chester and Gretel so they could check it off their bucket list.
I would say this is probably our most outrageously silly adventure 🙂
SUGAR says
February 6, 2012 at 3:35 AMWoof! Woof! OH! How COOL is that … LOVE it! Lots of Golden Thanks for sharing. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Tootsie says
February 6, 2012 at 3:43 AMThose are pawsome boots! I love the hat, too 🙂
Bassetmomma says
February 6, 2012 at 6:28 AMHoly cow! Those are some big boots!!
Mary and Roxy says
February 6, 2012 at 6:48 AMThat is hilarious!! Good for you for new stuff to do and see.
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:21 AMI thought it was pretty funny myself. It makes it better that I didn’t know about them before that day. When you know about things like that in your town you can take them for granted and they lose their sparkle.
Bruce Sherman says
February 6, 2012 at 7:11 AMThat sure brings back some memories. 99 used to be the only way out of town to the south, and the gas station was on the highway, so every time we drove to Portland to visit family we drove past the hat and boots. Then, they were a signal that we were getting close to home on the way back.
They are looking good too.
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:19 AMThat’s a neat story Bruce. I think it would have been cool to see the gas station when it was in operation. They restored the hat and boots when they moved them to the park.
Katie says
February 6, 2012 at 7:16 AMEverything about this is gold. A cowboy-themed gas station built in 1954 named “Premium Tex”!?! Bathrooms!? Are you kidding me!? I want to go to there.
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:20 AMI wish they were still the gas station and bathrooms. Imagine that! There are very few quirky, historic places left like that in the US.
Alfie Dog says
February 6, 2012 at 8:03 AMGreat pics. Glad I got to you in the end.
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:36 PMMe too. Thanks for stopping by.
Dachshund Nola says
February 6, 2012 at 10:12 AMBOL Chester doesn’t look too happy with the boots!
Dachshund Nola
Kristine says
February 6, 2012 at 10:34 AMThat’s hilarious! My home province of Alberta is home to many “big things”. Such as the world’s largest Ukrainian Easter egg and the world’s largest Pinto Bean. I think I love these boots even more! Chester and Gretel look so teeny up there!
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:30 PMHmm…there is a biggest egg somewhere in Washington too. I saw a picture and it is painted like the American Flag. I am curious what makes a “Ukrainian” Easter Egg different.
Snoopy@snoopysdogblog says
February 6, 2012 at 12:51 PMHey Guys,
Those were some big boots to fill, but you did a great job!!
It’s amazing what fun stuff we can find in our own backyard 🙂
Have a fun day
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Amy says
February 6, 2012 at 2:23 PMHilarious. This cracks me up that this is in Seattle, not in Texas somewhere. 🙂 I love how Chester is sticking out his tongue, like “stupid boots!” LOL
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:28 PMIt should be in Texas or somewhere in Kansas or something. When I think Seattle history I don’t think cowboy boots 🙂 It feel more like a route 66 thing.
Jet says
February 6, 2012 at 4:42 PMHey, it’s Jet here. We walk with a mini-weiner most nights… so we really like those pictures.
2browndawgs says
February 6, 2012 at 5:19 PMJust love tourist trap type stuff. Chester and Gretel look even smaller with the gigantic boots.
houndstooth says
February 6, 2012 at 5:57 PMI feel like I just met a kindred spirit! OMG! This is totally the kind of thing that I would (and have) do! You’ve renewed my determination to feature that Plaza Tires girl on the blog.
AdventureJess says
February 6, 2012 at 7:27 PMSome times these quirky little historic things are fun 🙂 We would love to hear about the Plaza Tires Girl.
Higgins says
February 6, 2012 at 8:48 PMNow those are some big ‘ol boots!!! This so sounds like something my parents would look up on the internet and go visit! BOL!!
~Higgins
Amy@GoPetFriendly says
February 7, 2012 at 9:24 AMDang! We missed that. We’ll have to come back. 😉
AdventureJess says
February 7, 2012 at 8:49 PMNow you have two reasons 🙂
Pup Fan says
February 7, 2012 at 12:10 PMHehe… those are some giant boots! Love the photos.
Jennifer Diaz says
May 10, 2012 at 6:50 PMHaha! Huge boots. I thought, those boots are for dogs. For their feet paws. Some cow boy boots. I like it! 🙂
Donna says
October 14, 2015 at 4:17 AMCool. Neat attraction.
Susan says
October 14, 2015 at 5:13 AM“These boots are made for walkin’ and that’s just what they’ll do!” My inner Nancy Sinatra came out as I read your blog this morn. Of course, Gretel and Oscar are much too young to know who she is.