Marietta’s “Big Chicken” explained!

by Brian Ibbott | Jul 16, 2006 | Interesting | 13 comments

Special thanks to Tim, Tony, Rob and Stephanie for explaining the “Big Chicken” of Marietta, Georgia. Rob even sent a photo:

Its beak opens and closes, and its eyes even move. And Rob also adds: “Basically, you can give directions to anywhere in Atlanta, GA by starting out with, ‘From the Big Chicken…’, or ‘Take a right at the Big Chicken.'” I love it!

13 Comments

wayne from the UK on July 16, 2006 at 5:46 pm

Only in America…!

Mabe the idea is to take your mind off the reconstituted “chicken” they sell.

Jawbone listeners will surely have heard of the KFD name.

Good for directions though!
Reply
NYCSongs on July 16, 2006 at 8:37 pm

The greatness of a country is in direct proportion to the size of its Big Chickens, Wayne. The thin, irritable hens of Brittania cannot hold- nor have ever held- a candle to the mighty barrel-chested yardbirds of the New World, thank you.
But why merely describe the Big Chicken’s motion? Here he is in action!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMmJ6saX-k0
Reply
Wayne from the UK on July 17, 2006 at 6:48 am

Or the size of it’s ego NYCsongs?

I thought the days of the American “our’s is bigger than your’s” argument were long gone. I was wrong!
Reply
Jim on July 17, 2006 at 8:34 am

Ahhh, that explains it. That sucker is in GTA: San Andreas. I couldn’t imagine why they put that in the game, now I know.
Reply
JJ Daddy-O on July 17, 2006 at 1:30 pm

Actually, all directions in Marietta start with “Take a left at the Big Chicken”, but all directions in Atlanta start off with “Take a left at the Cheetah 3..”.
Reply
Adam on July 17, 2006 at 3:46 pm

That was sooo cool.. all we have in Long Island is this giant Duck.

http://fortuna.home.pipeline.com/cafe-compendium/pix/duck-2.jpg
Reply
NYCSongs on July 19, 2006 at 12:12 pm

It was just a joke, Wayne.
I guess my sense of humor’s bigger than yours. 🙂
Reply
nat on July 19, 2006 at 4:26 pm

I just listened to #221 today and rushed over to the computer to explain the Big Chicken to you, but I see that’s already taken care of! If you ever go to Marietta, you cannot miss this! (and Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q, too!)
Reply
Scott P. Johnson on July 24, 2006 at 2:47 pm

I love this interweb thing. It may just catch on.

I never thought that my mention of The Big Chicken would cause such a reaction.

I liked it better when it didn’t move, but I guess that I’d better get used to the “new” version.

Coverville rocks! Keep up the good work Brian.

Oh, and Nat, Williamson Brothers is the best, you got that right.
Reply
- Jennifer on August 5, 2009 at 10:58 pm
  
  Scott P. Johnson? Jennifer P
  Reply
- Chris on August 15, 2010 at 11:36 pm
  
  I don't remember seeing it move back in 1992. Was it?
  Reply
Mike on July 27, 2006 at 7:35 am

While Williamson Brothers is tasty, Harold’s BBQ is one of the Holy Grails of BBQdom near downtown Atlanta. You owe it to yourself to go there if visiting.
From the Big Chicken Start out going SOUTHEAST on COBB PKWY SE / FOUR LANE HWY S / US-41 / GA-3 toward WINDY HILL RD SE.
Turn LEFT onto WINDY HILL RD SE.
Merge onto I-75 S toward I-285 W / ATLANTA.
Take the UNIVERSITY AVENUE exit- EXIT 244.
Turn SHARP LEFT onto UNIVERSITY AVE SW.
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto UNIVERSITY AVE SW / GA-54. Continue to follow GA-54.
Stay STRAIGHT to go onto MCDONOUGH BLVD SE / GA-42 SPUR.
171 Mcdonough Blvd Se, Atlanta, GA 30315, US
Reply
Scott P. Johnson on July 27, 2006 at 8:46 am

Mike,

I couldn’t agree more, of course Harold’s rules all BBQ in the area, but for those of us who live so close to Williamson’s, there is no reason to go to any other joints in Marietta.

I am always shocked to see so many people at Sonny’s just down the road. Those folks don’t no nothing about BBQ, the patrons or the employees.

my two cents,
Scott P. Johnson

p.s. Williamson’s Brunswick Stew is awesome, too.
Reply