About
Guarding the entrance to Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center stands one of Wisconsin’s strangest icons: the World’s Largest Hodag, a towering fiberglass beast that has become both a roadside attraction and a symbol of an entire city. Created by local artist Tracy Goberville, this larger-than-life creature draws thousands of visitors each year, many stopping for photos beneath its horns, glowing eyes, and jagged spine.
To understand why this statue matters, you have to understand the legend. The Hodag was first “discovered” in 1896 by Rhinelander timber cruiser Eugene Shepard, who claimed to have captured a ferocious, horned swamp beast, only to later admit it was an elaborate hoax built from wood, hides, and imagination. But instead of fading away, the creature took hold. Today, the Hodag is the official symbol of Rhinelander, its name stamped on schools, festivals, businesses, and nearly every corner of town.
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