Did you know DeForest — 15 miles north of Madison — is home to a life-size pink elephant?

Venture off of I-39/90/94 near exit 126 to find the larger-than-life creature, perfect for any roadside stop or as a destination of its own.

Pinkie the Elephant is situated near a Shell gas station at 4995 County Rd. V + has called the Madison suburb home since the 1960s. The original purpose? To attract more customers to the station.

The fiberglass elephant was manufactured by Sculptured Advertising in Sparta, WI. It found its first home in front of the Pink Elephant Supper Club in Iowa in 1963 before finding a permanent place in Wisconsin. While Pinkie has traded ownership over the years, the statue has attracted visitors of all generations for 70+ years.

Take a picture with Pinkie. | Photo by 608today team

Pinkie has a few sisters… or brothers across the Midwest. Originally produced for Arco Gas Stations, Pinkie look-alikes can be found at car washes, antique malls, and other spots around Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Have you found the other elephants?

So, did the attention-grabbing roadside attraction work? We definitely thought the trip was worth it… and might’ve needed to stop + get gas while we were there. Did we mention there is Pink Elephant merch inside for the most loyal fans?