Kissing a Frog in Wisconsin

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Kissing a Frog in Wisconsin

Recently, I had the quirky experience of kissing a frog in Sparta, Wisconsin. Yes, completely voluntary and absolutely delightful! This frog is one of the hundreds of giant composite plastic figures scattered across a vast expanse of land, reminiscent of a soccer field, behind a rather unremarkable aluminum building along Highway Q.

This enchanting site is home to FAST - Fiberglass Animals, Shapes, and Trademarks, a company that has been crafting oversized roadside statues, mascots, and water play structures since the 1970s. Founded in 1983 by Jerome Vettrus, FAST has grown into a giant in the American statue manufacturing industry, boasting impressive creations like a 200-foot sea monster at House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and a 145-foot muskie fish in Hayward.

A Unique Graveyard

After each project, they keep all the molds. All of them. For decades. This is why a quiet field in Wisconsin has transformed into one of the most whimsical places I’ve ever visited. Here, you’ll find massive skulls, gigantic dogs, a Santa Claus the size of a small house, and enormous mice. The composite plastic has weathered over time, giving the molds an antiquated charm, as if they are remnants of a peculiar civilization that has long since passed.

Strolling among these figures is both mysterious and beautiful. Some molds are in disrepair, overrun with wild grass or puddles of water, while others remain in relatively good condition, ready for immediate reuse. In fact, these molds are preserved for future projects, as creating new ones from scratch would be quite costly.

This Place is More Than a Graveyard

So, this site is not just a graveyard. It’s a library, a catalog, an archive of quirky roadside attractions nestled among the tall grass of Wisconsin. I found the mold for a frog slide, and yes, I kissed it (still searching for my prince!). FAST has been producing these frog slides for over 35 years, and chances are you’ve seen one at a water park somewhere without even realizing it.

I couldn’t resist sliding down a few more slides—how could I not? Then, I stood there imagining all the places these figures have traveled, wondering if they were once painted bright yellow or fiery red, or if they had graced a mini-golf course in Arizona or a splash pad in Ohio.

Joyful Memories

I pictured the faces of happy children, blissfully unaware that their beloved frog came from a field in Wisconsin. The current owner took over around 2020, and if you visit during business hours, he might just give you a tour. It’s all free. Open 24 hours a day. No amenities—just pure magic.

Reflections on Beauty and Waste

This place got me thinking about waste and beauty. There’s something truly satisfying about a location where the byproducts of industry become random works of art. FAST’s mold graveyard isn’t the only example. Ghanaian artist El Anatsui is renowned for creating shimmering tapestries from discarded bottle caps. Artists on Everest have transformed abandoned oxygen tanks and helicopter wreckage into sculptures.

The things we throw away lead a strange life when someone chooses to see them differently. That’s the gift that Atlas Obscura offers: they continuously point you to places where someone has done just that.

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