Betsy the Lobster is a sculpture in Islamorada, Florida depicting a large Caribbean spiny lobster. Made out of fiberglass, it was anatomically correct and was completed in 1985. It is the second-most photographed attraction in the Florida Keys, after the Southernmost Point Buoy.[1]
| Betsy the Lobster | |
|---|---|
 The sculpture in 2018 | |
| Artist | Richard Blaze |
| Year | 1985 |
| Medium | Fiberglass |
| Subject | Caribbean spiny lobster |
| Dimensions | 30 ft (9.1 m) high 40 ft (12 m) long |
| Location | Rain Barrel Village |
| 24°57′33″N 80°34′16″W / 24.9592°N 80.5711°W | |
History
editRichard Blaze, hired by a local restauranteur, created the sculpture over five years starting in 1980.[2] It represents the impact the species has had on the culture of South Florida.[3] It was made mostly in Marathon, Florida. When it was finished in 1985, the restaurant that had commissioned the sculpture had closed, so Tom Vellanti bought it and displayed it at his Treasure Village. The village was eventually turned into a school, so Betsy was put into storage. In 2009, the sculpture was moved to the Rain Barrel Village and was made into a roadside attraction.[1] During transport, the lobster's twelve legs had to be removed and later reassembled.[4]
See also
edit- The World's Largest Lobster and Big Lobster, other large lobster sculptures in New Brunswick and South Australia, respectively
References
edit- ^ a b "Betsy, Islamorada's Giant Lobster". Islamorada Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Shaughnessy, Carol (August 11, 2021). "Betsy and the Naked Chefs". Keys Voices. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Roman, Marisa (February 2, 2020). "Big Betsy In Florida Just Might Be The Strangest Roadside Attraction Yet". OnlyInYourState. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Shetler, Scott (August 24, 2020). "Quirky Attraction: Betsy, the Giant Lobster Statue in the Florida Keys". Quirky Travel Guy. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.