The Big Chicken

The Big Chicken is a 61-foot-tall steel structure of a chicken with a glowing red beak and eyes that has become the emblem of Marietta, Georgia. It has been an attraction for tourists since its construction in 1963. The original restaurant was closed on July 29th, 2007 due to financial problems as well as health issues with the owner, but it was reopened on August 1st, 2007. It is currently owned by the KFC company. The Big Chicken is located at the intersection of Roswell Road and Cobb Parkway in Marietta. Drivers on I-75 can see it from a distance as they approach Atlanta. 

There are several legends surrounding the Big Chicken. One legend says that a man who owned a restaurant near the chicken had a dream in which a giant chicken told him to build it. Another legend says that the chicken was built as a marketing gimmick for a new KFC restaurant. The truth is that the chicken was actually built as part of a local restaurant called the Dwarf Grill, and it was built in 1963 to attract customers. It soon became a symbol of Marietta, and when KFC took over the Dwarf Grill in 1965, they added their own sign to the top of the chicken. The original KFC closed in 2001, but a new KFC opened up on the property. On a clear day, you can see the chicken from almost anywhere in Marietta.

The Big Chicken is currently one of the top eleven landmarks most photographed by tourists visiting Atlanta. It's also one of the most photographed objects in the state of Georgia. If you're ever in the Atlanta area, make sure you stop by and snap a picture of this giant chicken!

This information is provided by The Homestar Group.