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Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin

What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef. What do you call a giant white and brown spotted fiberglass cow with four giant fiberglass legs? Bessie the Cow. At least, that’s what they do in Janesville, Wisconsin. Because this Janesville Cow is an udderly fun road trip stop who has been a-moo-sing visitors since 1966!

Last August I took a road trip to Mount Rushmore and back. My friend and I drove through Wisconsin and the first stop of the trip was Janesville to see Bessie the Cow — a 16-foot-tall, 20-foot-long, one-ton fiberglass giant cow statue. I was moo-ved to check it out!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Photos of Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin:

Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin

This Wisconsin roadside attraction was constructed in the 1960s and originally watched guard outside of the Oasis Restaurant, Motel and Cheese Shop. In 2006 the Oasis was closed and demolished, leaving the poor bovine homeless. Luckily the public spoke and the Janesville Cow was moved to her new spot, in the parking lot of a strip mall, where she proudly greets visitors who pass. (And allows them to milk her!)

Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
The whole beef!
Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
Heads up!
Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
A look from below

I even tried my hand at milking the cattle…too bad I didn’t have a big enough glass! Oh well, maybe I will find one for next time.

Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
Milking the cow
Fiberglass Bessie the Cow in Janesville, Wisconsin
Milking the cow

All the same — it was an udderly fantastic Wisconsin roadside attraction!

Bessie the Cow — A Giant Fiberglass Cow

Location: 3511-3507, WI-26 Trunk, Janesville, WI 53545
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Visible at all hours.
Date: of Photos August 29, 2008

Love Bessie? Check out a similar cow statue at Lambs Farm Pet Store in Libertyville, Illinois or Sissy the Cow in nearby DeForest, Wisconsin.

Pin this Wisconsin Roadside Attraction to save it for your next road trip itinerary!

What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef? What do you call a giant fiberglass cow with four giant legs in Janesville, Wisconsin? Bessie the Cow. This big bovine roadside attraction is sure to MOO-VE you! This place to see in Wisconsin is a weird roadside attraction perfect for any Wisconsin road trip itinerary or travel bucket list.
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What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef? What do you call a giant fiberglass cow with four giant legs in Janesville, Wisconsin? Bessie the Cow. This big bovine roadside attraction is sure to MOO-VE you! This place to see in Wisconsin is a weird roadside attraction perfect for any Wisconsin road trip itinerary or travel bucket list.

VALerie BROMANN

Founder & Head Road Tripper

Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Having grown up near Berwyn's famed car kabob, The Spindle, and a restaurant with a cow on its roof, her fascination with roadside attractions started early. Today, Val has visited hundreds roadside attractions across the United States and is constantly on the lookout for the next BIG thing!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.