The Fire Breathing Kaskaskia Dragon
2401-2599 Progress W Dr, Vandalia, IL 62471
Get there with Google Maps by clicking HERE
Date Visited: 08/30/2017
Leave to rural America to come up with a metal dragon wearing a black top hat, ready to immolate the white knight confronting him, armed only with a trust sword! Located on the southwest corner of US Hwy 40 (Veterans Avenue) and Rock Island Avenue, in Vandalia, Illinois, the dragon is open and free to view 24/7 (although the liquor store where they sell token is not 24/7)
The Kaskaskia Dragon is definitely an odd & unusual attraction. You can easily see it from the highway. You can purchase a “Dragon Token” from the liquor store across the street for $1.00, insert it into the slot and the 35-foot-long metal monster shoots propane powered flames from its snout toward the lowly white knight while eyes glow red. You get 10 seconds of fire for your $1.00 token.
Local hardware store owner Walt Barenfanger built the dragon in the winter of 1995. “We made a toy to play with,” he said. “We had no thoughts where the thing was going.”
Here’s a better look at the Kaskaskia Dragon. He/she is 35 feet long and his/her neck is 16 feet tall. Not so sure the black top hat is permanent. I have seen photos without it.
The dragon was originally designed to ride in a local Halloween Parade. Reportedly, it had (or maybe still has) hydraulics in it’s neck so that it would fit under power lines. The owner didn’t have the idea to park it by the highway until 2001.
As it gained popularity, it began to pose problems. People wanted to see a dragon that spewed fire.
“It’s not a dinosaur, it’s a dragon. Dragons breathe fire,” said Walt, who understood its appeal.
To make the dragon “breathe fire,” the owner would have to leave the hardware store and come to the location to push the secret button to create FIRE! Eventually, Walt came up with a car wash like coin box and a specially designed token.
In 2008, when Walt approached the liquor store across the street from the beast to stock the coins and the dragon’s journey was complete
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Thanks again!
Joe
