Buck-ee's Beaver (#1) - New Braunfels, TX
N 29° 43.609 W 098° 04.677
14R E 589174 N 3288870
An over-sized bronze sculpture of the Buc-ee's beaver mascot welcomes guests coming into or out of the largest flagship Buc-ee's store of the franchise.
Waymark Code: WMHNVM
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/28/2013
Views: 9
This statue of a beaver wearing a hat, shirt and shoes is about 5 feet tall and stands with its hand-shaped paws out as if to offer hugs or handshakes to the guests coming into or out of the Buc-ee's Store #22 in New Braunfels, TX. This stand-by-me statue is on the proper right front end of the popular gas station/restaurant/gift shop/rest stop off IH-35 North where it intersects with FM-306/Creekside Crossing. Drivers heading northward on IH-35 would take Exit 191 for Canyon Lake.
The plump beaver, with the smile large enough to show off its large beaver teeth, rests on its back legs and its sizable flat beaver tail. The mascot sports shoes and a Tee-shirt along with a ball cap. Its hands are bright bronze from children and adults alike holding hands or shaking hands with Buc-ee's Beaver mascot. Adults often hug or place arms around the beaver's shoulders when posing next to the beaver. Families usually cluster around the statue with kids sitting in front and parents behind or along the sides.
The beaver was sculpted by Clint Howard in 2012 for this Store #22's opening that year. Clint Howard not only sculpts but is the majority owner and CEO of Deep in the Heart Art Foundry (see link below). The proper right shoe on the beaver indicates this statue is the first Buc-ee's beaver, with a #1 engraved next to the sculptor's name and date of creation. The sculpture is of dark bronze that has weathered into a nice patina, except where the people constantly hold onto the beaver while posing for pictures. The whole sculpture is mounted upon a concrete base about 6 inches high and 4 feet in diameter.
Additional references:
(
visit link)
(
visit link)
(
visit link) (
visit link)