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All the United States Illinois Staunton Henry's Rabbit Ranch

Henry's Rabbit Ranch

This lagomorph-obsessed Route 66 emporium is home to a giant jackrabbit that sits in a bunny graveyard.

Staunton, Illinois

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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Henry’s Rabbit Ranch   Nicholas Kaeser on Flickr
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch   Brian Marsh on Flickr
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch   Brian Marsh on Flickr
2025 welcome sign   grhmb / Atlas Obscura User
  838582020485 / Atlas Obscura User
Riding the big rabbit-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
currently as of May 2016 there are 11 rabbits-Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
Hare it is VERY small -Britt Todd   Britt Todd / Atlas Obscura User
From Route 66   grhmb / Atlas Obscura User
  hobova / Atlas Obscura User
Guest Stickers   grhmb / Atlas Obscura User
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About

There are a number of wonders along the Mother Road, Route 66, but likely the only one that is so singularly focused on rabbits of all kinds is Henry's Rabbit Ranch, a roadside attraction that has everything from actual bunnies to Volkswagen Rabbits to a giant fiberglass beast that people can ride. 

The Ranch was created when owner Rich Henry's daughter came to him with a problem. Her pet rabbits had done what rabbits do and now she found herself in possession of a whole clutch of baby bunnies that she could not look after. Luckily Rich was more than willing to babysit, and soon he fell in love with the long-eared beasts. Henry had often thought of opening a Route 66 attraction and the rabbits were just the inspiration he needed. He created Henry's Rabbit Ranch and started cultivating his little clutch as the main attraction.

After building out his attraction for a few years, it is now a complex of rabbit-related sights. The central site is the gift shop where visitors can see the actual animals, but there are also oddities spread across the grounds such as a car-henge made out of Volkswagen Rabbits that are stood up with their noses buried in the dirt. However possibly the most iconic attraction is the giant fiberglass jackrabbit that invites visitors to climb on its back. Even more bizarre are the 30 or so little headstones laying at the giant's feet where former residents of the ranch are buried.

Much of the wonder of Route 66 has disappeared over the years, but thanks to places like Henry's Rabbit Ranch, the American love of roadside oddities is still kicking.     

 

Illinois Week on Atlas Obscura was created in partnership with Enjoy Illinois as part of the launch of the new Illinois Obscura Society. Sign up to find out more about the back room tours, unusual adventures, and incredible parties that Atlas Obscura will be putting on in Chicago and greater Illinois.

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Animals Giant Animals Roadside Attractions Illinois Obscura Society

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Added By

EricGrundhauser

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Britt Todd, hobova, grhmb, 838582020485

  • Britt Todd
  • hobova
  • grhmb
  • 838582020485

Published

February 17, 2015

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  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/17358
  • http://www.legendsofamerica.com/il-henryrabbitranch.html
  • http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66Illinois/staunton.htm
Henry's Rabbit Ranch
1107 Historic Old Route 66
Staunton, Illinois, 62088
United States
39.004409, -89.781883
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