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The World’s Largest Peanut

by Joe Earle | 6, Add your Comment | May 29, 2009

#8 in a series of 10 Extraordinary Roadside Attractions in Georgia. Summer’s here and the time is right for finding odd things by the streets.Thinking road trip? Georgia’s back roads bloom with odd sites, strange creatures and mystic wonders. Here are a few worth checking out.

185665142_003efb80a0jpgCertified as the World’s Largest by no less an authority than RoadsideAmerica.com, this giant goober honors Georgia’s favorite crop. It rises above a golden crown atop a brick pedestal and is easily visible from I-75.

Links: State Symbols, CNN, Wikipedia, Wedding Mapper,

How to get there: Take I-75 South to just past Exit 82


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6 Responses to “The World’s Largest Peanut”

  1. Billy Howard Billy Howard says:
    May 29, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    What a great series of quirky but wonderful Georgia sites! Despite our flaws, at least we have a sense of humor! Thanks for sharing these with the Dew, you’ve been a wonderful tour guide!

    Reply
  2. Tim Oliver says:
    May 30, 2009 at 9:05 am

    Sorry that I, recently, besmudged this giant peanut by saying that I wanted to paint “Salmonella Free” on it, and placing it near Cordele instead of Ashburn. My days of creative vandalism are over. But, wouldn’t it look cool with a giant tophat, cane, and monocle…?

    Reply
  3. Sharon Riley says:
    May 30, 2009 at 9:29 am

    I agree with Tim – this peanut could use some personification. Must make a pilgrimage to this salmonella-free (hopefully) site!

    Reply
  4. Kay Powell says:
    May 30, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I was economic developer at the Coastal Plain Area Planning and Development Commission based in Valdosta when Ashburn, one of the cities we served, wanted to promote its prime peanut position. Ralph Avila, graphic designer at the APDC, designed the king peanut monument. Probably federal or state grant money helped finance its construction. To my knowledge, the grant award never won a Golden Fleece award.
    Kay Powell

    Reply
  5. Chrys B. Graham chrys says:
    May 30, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    Thanks for sharing Georgia’s largest peanut. I think that it is definitely a more welcoming sight that the Big Chicken.

    Reply
  6. Keith Graham says:
    May 31, 2009 at 1:43 am

    Like most people, I love this series, and I also love the comments. Wonderful stuff, Joe, and I wish people would write a series like this on every Southern state. Very interesting to hear about Kay Powell’s connection to this lasting work of art. Tim’s comment on the tophat, cane and monocle does remind me, though, of a smaller icon that used to be on Decatur Street in Atlanta. Only very old Atlantans will remember that Mr. Peanut figure who used to be on the sidewalk there (too many) decades ago. But I can still remember walking by with my grandfather and smelling those hot roasted nuts inside the store. And, yes, they must have been salmonella free or I might not be writing this comment.

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Joe Earle
Joe Earle
About the author Joe Earle: Extensive experience as a reporter, line editor, section editor and assignment editor. Have covered and directed coverage of government, politics, law and courts and crime and reported and edited articles on the arts and entertainment, business and other topics. Regularly designated rewrite man to combine multiple feeds during breaking news events. Self-starter with a good eye for stories. Have written, directed or edited watchdog reports, investigative reports, narrative stories, Web bursts and briefs, multiple-part stories and stand-alone features. Have taken management training courses, including courses on hiring staff, and have managed experienced reporters and rookies, directed “mobile journalists“ (known as "mojos“) and worked with writers based in distant bureaus or filing from the road. Specialties Coverage of courts, the law and crime. Coverage of the arts. Breaking news. Personality profiles and human interest stories.

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