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All the United States North Dakota Bottineau Tommy the Turtle

Tommy the Turtle

The world's tallest turtle riding the world's largest snowmobile.

Bottineau, North Dakota

Added By
sdoneski18
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Tommy the Turtle.   Bobak Ha'Eri/cc by-sa 3.0
Tommy the Turtle.   Bobak Ha'Eri/cc by-sa 3.0
Tommy the Turtle.   Mark Goebel/cc by 2.0
Tommy the Turtle.   sdoneski18 / Atlas Obscura User
Tommy the Turtle   sdoneski18 / Atlas Obscura User
  penywisexx / Atlas Obscura User
Tommy!!!!   penywisexx / Atlas Obscura User
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About

A northern North Dakota city holds one of the state's most bizarre roadside attractions. There, an utterly enormous turtle sits atop an equally enormous snowmobile.

Towering a whopping 30-foot tall, Tommy is the touted as world’s tallest turtle. That isn’t the only record-breaking thing about him: His 34-foot-long ride is said to be the world’s largest snowmobile.

Supposedly, Tommy is meant to stand as a symbol of the Turtle Mountains, an area that stretches across this part of northern North Dakota. The three-ton turtle was constructed in 1978 by an Idaho native named Boots Reynolds. The colossal fiberglass configuration was then carted to Bottineau, via several flatbed trucks.

He’s a bit of a strange looking turtle. His eyes and nostrils take the shape of inverted quotation marks, and his mouth is no more than a black line streaking across his face, giving him a rather goofy grin.

But regardless of his unusual appearance, Tommy is a hit with local children. Kids can—and do—climb aboard his snowmobile, making for a great photo opportunity. The surrounding park, aptly named Tommy Turtle Park, is also a leisurely place to relax.

Related Tags

Giant Animals Turtles Roadside Attractions World's Tallest Statues

Know Before You Go

Tommy Turtle Park is open 24 hours a day, though it's best to go during daylight hours.

Community Contributors

Added By

sdoneski18

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe, penywisexx

  • Kerry Wolfe
  • penywisexx

Published

September 20, 2018

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Sources
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2714
  • http://cool987fm.com/tommy-the-turtle-is-the-most-bizarre-landmark-in-north-dakota/
  • https://www.ndtourism.com/bottineau/family-fun/tommy-turtle-statue
Tommy the Turtle
Tommy Turtle Park
Bottineau, North Dakota
United States
48.822479, -100.430855
Get Directions

Nearby Places

W'eel Turtle

Dunseith, North Dakota

miles away

International Peace Garden

Boissevain, Manitoba

miles away

Tommy the Turtle

Boissevain, Manitoba

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Dakota

North Dakota

United States

Places 34
Stories 5

Nearby Places

W'eel Turtle

Dunseith, North Dakota

miles away

International Peace Garden

Boissevain, Manitoba

miles away

Tommy the Turtle

Boissevain, Manitoba

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Dakota

North Dakota

United States

Places 34
Stories 5

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