Babe the Blue Ox toppled by storms in Brainerd, Minnesota
BRAINERD, Minn. (KMSP) - Paul Bunyan Land’s Babe the Blue Ox was toppled by severe storms early Thursday morning in Brainerd, Minnesota. It wasn’t too long before family, friends and neighbors came together to get the landmark back on its feet.
Around 9 a.m. Thursday, Paul Bunyan Land posted a photo of Babe back up on his feet with the caption, “A little dinged up, but in true Paul Bunyan fashion, back up in his feet in no time.”
Paul Bunyan Land says Babe the Blue Ox stands 18 1/2 feet tall, 24 feet wide and weighs 6,000 pounds. The park opened back up at 10 a.m.
Yes, there's another one
The Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues in Bemidji, Minn. were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
READ THIS NEXT: Crow Wing County storm damage, fairgrounds closed
Morning storms caused heavy damage throughout Crow Wing County. The areas near County Road 115 and County Road sustained heavy damage, Sheriff Todd Dahl said in a news release. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who is not a resident of those areas or a member of the emergency crews to avoid the area.
“There have already been numerous reports of persons in the area taking photographs and driving through road closed signs,” Dahl said in statement. “If you are located in these areas, and don’t belong there at this time, you may be cited by law enforcement.”
At approximately 9:00 a.m., Minnesota Power reported about 4,200 people in Nisswa, Brainerd, Pine River and Menahga were without power. The sheriff’s office says emergency crews are working to restore power and open roads in the area.
The Crow Wing County sheriff’s office says the county fair, which was scheduled to open at 8 a.m. on Thursday, will be closed until 1 p.m. while emergency crews work to clean up and repair the damage. The Crow Wing County Fair runs through Saturday.
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