This roadside attraction is so very fraa-jeel-aay you might think you’d find it in Italy. But you’ll actually find it in Oklahoma. If you love the movie A Christmas Story, you’ll love the Giant Leg Lamp in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
A Christmas Story is one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. If you have never seen A Christmas Story (Watch it here if you haven’t…I’ll wait), it is a popular Christmas movie, released in 1983, about young Ralphie Parker, a boy whose only Christmas wish is to receive a BB gun. More specifically, an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. Of course, his family, teachers, and even the department-store Santa are against it, famously proclaiming “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out.” In the end he finally gets his wish and his gun…and only manages to prove everyone right.
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One of the most famous scenes in this Christmas movie happens after Ralphie’s father wins a trivia contest from a newspaper. The “Major Award” prize ends up being a lamp shaped like a slender woman’s leg, decked out in black fishnet stockings, a black pump, and a golden silk fringed lampshade.
- DVD
- Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen
- English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
The movie is a Christmas classic and the leg lamp has become a popular symbol of the film.
But everyone knows that A Christmas Story took place in Indiana, and was partially filmed in Ohio (where you can even visit the A Christmas Story House where exterior shots were filmed). So why is there a giant leg lamp in Chickasha, Oklahoma?
The idea behind this Oklahoma roadside attraction came from local resident Tim Elliot. Inspired by a 2018 cross-country road trip that took him to Winslow, Arizona’s famous Standin’ on the Corner attraction, he wanted to bring a similar vibe to Chickasha. And what better idea than to create a huge A Christmas Story leg lamp. Why? Why not!
Chickasha was already known as the “Christmas Town” of Oklahoma, and their annual holiday-season Festival of Lights was a popular holiday event. So it was only natural for this Christmas Town to have a roadside attraction that screamed Christmas.
And, unbeknownst to even him, Chickasha had major ties to this major award. Late resident and Oklahoma University visual arts teacher Noland James claimed to have invented the lady leg lamp. Long before the movie, he had created a version of his own out of the lower half of a mannequin, black pantyhose, black high heels, and wastebasket. He kept this creation in his office and, one day, a visiting man became fascinated by it. That man, it is said, went on to be involved in the A Christmas Story movie, cementing the idea that Noland’s lamp was the inspiration for this holiday icon.
Armed with that knowledge, Elliot was more determined than ever that Chickasha should have a giant leg lamp. So, in 2020, he purchased a 40-foot-tall inflatable leg lamp and blew it up for the town. And blow up it did when the attraction went viral online and attracted news media and visitors from around the country. Unfortunately, that inflatable lamp only stood for a few days before the strong winds of Oklahoma took it down. And, as many times as they tried to re-erect it, it just kept taking a beating.
It was clear an inflatable leg lamp wasn’t a permanent solution. But fiberglass would be.
On November 5, 2022 a permanent giant leg lamp roadside attraction was unveiled in Chickasha. This 40-foot tall leg lamp features a shapely woman’s leg wearing a black high heel pump. The fiberglass structure is topped off with an oversized silk fringe lampshade. The big lamp stands on top of a 10-foot-tall wooden crate marked FRAGILE (fraa-jeel-aay if you’re Italian) and color changing LED lights emit the “soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.”
Christmas or not, I triple dog dare you to visit the Chickasha Leg Lamp!
More Photos of the Giant Leg Lamp in Chickasha, Oklahoma
- DVD
- Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen
- English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
A Christmas Story Leg Lamp FAQ
Chickasha was home to the late Noland James, who claimed to have invented the leg lamp and be inspiration towards the lamp used in the popular holiday movie, A Christmas Story.
The giant leg lamp in Chickasha is located at Train Depot Park, 101 W Chickasha Ave, Chickasha, OK 73018. It is the centerpiece of a small park right across the street from the main street in town.
Three leg lamps were made for the movie and none of them survived production. All three original props were broken on set while the movie was being filmed. You can buy a replica online, visit the gift shop at the A Christmas Story House, or visit the giant leg lamp in Chickasha, Oklahoma!
Chickasha is the town in Oklahoma that has the leg lamp!
Where was Christmas Story filmed? While the movie itself takes place in the fictional town of Hulman, Indiana (based off of Hammond), it actually had several filming locations. The Christmas Story House is in Cleveland, Ohio. This Cleveland home was only used for exterior shots, the interior was filmed on a sound stage in Toronto, Ontario. Other filming locations can be found in both Cleveland and Canada.
Yes! This Oklahoma roadside attraction in now a permanent fixture in Chickasha. Visit any time of year!
Giant Leg Lamp from A Christmas Story
Address: Train Depot Park, 101 W Chickasha Ave, Chickasha, OK 73018
Hours: Always Visible
Cost: Free to See
Pin this Giant Leg Lamp from A Christmas Story to save for your next road trip itinerary!
