In Marietta, Georgia, stands a kfc” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener” title=”KFC” data-wpil-keyword-link=”linked”>KFC restaurant unlike any other—housed within a towering, 56-foot-tall building shaped like a chicken. Known locally as “The Big Chicken,” this landmark is hard to miss with its rotating eyes and a beak that opens and closes.
Originally built in 1963 by S. R. “Tubby” Davis as an advertisement for his restaurant Johnny Reb’s Chick, Chuck and Shake, The Big Chicken was designed by Hubert Puckett, a Georgia Tech architecture student, and fabricated by Atlantic Steel in Atlanta. Although it started as part of a different restaurant, it was eventually acquired by KFC in 1974 and has since become a beloved fixture in the community.
Over the years, The Big Chicken has faced threats of removal due to corporate branding changes and storm damage.
However, its popularity among locals and tourists alike has ensured its survival. In 2017, the location underwent a $2 million renovation, updating both its interior and exterior while adding amenities such as a gift shop and a radio station where visitors can hear the chicken’s voice on 820 AM.
“It’s a landmark we use for directions around Marietta, like ‘One mile north of the Big Chicken,'” explained Christa McCay, collections manager at the Marietta History Center. “It’s even used by pilots as a reference point when flying overhead. The Big Chicken has even been a question on ‘Jeopardy!’ a few times.”
Recently celebrating its 60th anniversary, The Big Chicken is not just a restaurant but a cultural icon. It continues to operate as a full-service KFC, serving lunch and dinner daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.