The BIG Chicken

The BIG Chicken Proudest, tallest, most steel honorary citizen of Marietta, GA. #1 roadside attraction in Georgia R. The renovations began January 23, 2017.

The restaurant was built in 1956 at 12 Cobb Parkway, on the newly constructed stretch of Highway 41, the first divided highway in Cobb County. Taking advantage of the prime location on the new and quicker route for travelers on U.S. 41, Johnny Reb's Chick, Chuck and Shake owner S. "Tubby" Davis erected the 56-foot (17-meter) tall structure over his restaurant in 1963 as a method of advertising. Th

e novelty architecture was designed by Hubert Puckett, a Georgia Tech student of architecture, and fabricated by Atlantic Steel in nearby Atlanta (of which Marietta is a suburb). Davis later sold it to his brother, and it became a franchise of KFC. In January 1993, storm winds damaged the structure, and rather than tear it down KFC was forced by public outcry to re-erect the building. Among those who complained about the Big Chicken being torn down were pilots, who used the building as a reference point when approaching Atlanta and Dobbins Air Reserve Base. The new Big Chicken includes the original design of beak and eyes which move, although this time the vibrations which plagued the first structure (even to the point of breaking windows) have been eliminated. Pieces of the original structure were sold to collectors as souvenirs. In early April 2006, the structure narrowly escaped a small eastward-moving nighttime tornado, which overturned a tractor-trailer at a Kmart across the street, and damaged another building nearby. The Big Chicken is commonly used as a landmark for driving directions. Locals will often include "make a turn at the Big Chicken", or "it's about x miles past the Big Chicken". This is referenced in music video game Rock Band 3's "Road Challenge Mode", when the player is told "Don't be alarmed if you're asking for directions in the bus and the locals tell you to 'turn left at the Big Chicken'". It has also led to a small cottage industry of sorts, selling souvenirs emblazoned with the monument, including one sweatshirt showing Big Ben in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, and of course, the Big Chicken in Marietta. A board game featuring the Big Chicken and other local landmarks was also produced. There is a barbershop-style singing group called the Big Chicken Chorus, formed in 1986, which gives concerts throughout the year. The Big Chicken was also featured on a promotional card in Sim City: The Card Game. The Big Chicken has also appeared in the comic strip Zippy the Pinhead as a part of artist Bill Griffith's fascination with roadside icons. In early 2017 it was announced that The Big Chicken would undergo a twelve-week, $2 million renovation, incorporating the chain's newest design and a gift shop. The restaurant is tentatively scheduled to re-open on April 17, 2017.

It's another great day in Marietta. Happy Monday!
10/23/2023

It's another great day in Marietta. Happy Monday!

Thank you for the nice story, Southern Living
09/07/2023

Thank you for the nice story, Southern Living

Marietta’s “Big Chicken,” a 56-foot tall steel sided structure has adorned the northwest Atlanta suburb skyline since 1963.

Happy Birthday Pops!
08/15/2023

Happy Birthday Pops!

The birthdays of the Big Chicken, which turned 60, and its architect Hubert Puckett, who turned 90, were celebrated at the iconic Marietta restaurant on Sunday.

I’m gonna have to get one of these…
08/15/2023

I’m gonna have to get one of these…

Happy 60th Birthday to The BIG Chicken! We think every home should have something with the Big Chicken on it.

Our newest item to the Museum Store is this fun towel for the lovers out there!

This towel is available in-store or online for $20: https://mariettahistorycenter.shopsettings.com/

Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 4pm

I really love this town
08/15/2023

I really love this town

The Big Chicken has long been a recognizable landmark on Cobb Parkway in Marietta.

I don’t feel a day over 59
08/15/2023

I don’t feel a day over 59

I’m blushing, and also craving a pecan roll
03/26/2022

I’m blushing, and also craving a pecan roll

Wayfinding. Anyone from Marietta, GA knows The Big Chicken. It’s not just a directional compass – “turn left at the Big Chicken” – it’s an integral part of the community. Yet this cultural icon was almost completely demolished. Here’s the fascinating story of my favorite fast food chain location.
The clucking landmark at the intersection of Cobb Pkwy and Roswell Rd was originally built on the site of an old dairy farm as a restaurant called “Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-N’-Shake” in 1963. The owner, Tubby Davis, was a product of his time – an era when roadside businesses boasted towering coffee pots and teepees to lure motorists off the road to visit their cafes and motels. After years of feeding the community with sacks of fried chicken, dressed hotdogs, and fried pies, Tubby sold the business to his brother in 1974, who turned it into a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.
In 1993, after extensive storm damage and years of deterioration, the Big Chicken was at risk of being destroyed. But thanks to the public who rallied to save the 56-foot-tall, towering monument – and to KFC agreeing to rebuild it – the beloved chicken underwent a couple of renovations, including most recently in 2017. The big bird now has a moving beak, wobbly eyes, and even clucks.
Always a fan of the gift shop, the store even has a nice selection of Big Chicken souvenirs, plus displays with the history of KFC. Next time you’re up Marietta way, I hope you won’t just turn left at the Big Chicken but will stop for a spell and enjoy a big slice of Americana. Visit Marietta, GA Kentucky Fried Chicken The BIG Chicken Explore Georgia

OK, so I'm sitting up here looking at some logo designs to put on hats, shirts, and other stuff. But, I can't decide whi...
02/22/2022

OK, so I'm sitting up here looking at some logo designs to put on hats, shirts, and other stuff. But, I can't decide which one I like best.
What do you think?

1963. If my math is right, that means I’m 39 years old, or something like that.
01/14/2022

1963. If my math is right, that means I’m 39 years old, or something like that.

In 1956, Stanley “Tubby” Davis came to Marietta and opened a restaurant called Johnny Reb’s Chick, Chuck and Shake. Wanting to capitalize on the north/south traffic on Highway 41, Tubby decided he needed to erect something to attract travelers. He hired Hubert Puckett, a Georgia Tech architecture student, to design a novelty chicken structure over his restaurant. Fabricated by Atlantic Steel, the 56-foot-high chicken was completed in 1963. The restaurant was taken over by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in 1974. Renovated in 2017, the Big Chicken continues to be one of Marietta’s most recognizable landmarks.

I love history.
08/24/2021

I love history.

OMG! Look what is arriving soon at the Museum Store. This sweet, little, Big Chicken! That's right, we will be selling these plush chickens real soon. Cost for a chicken is only $5 and they can be shipped. The BIG Chicken

Anybody gonna be a chicken bush this Halloween?
06/07/2021

Anybody gonna be a chicken bush this Halloween?

In honor of , let's take it back to Halloween. We LOVE this Big Chicken themed costume. What would Marietta be without the Big Chicken? 📷: ashtonnicolemontgo, IG

The BIG Chicken

Address

12 Cobb Parkway N
Marietta, GA
30062

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 11pm
Tuesday 10am - 11pm
Wednesday 10am - 11pm
Thursday 10am - 11pm
Friday 10am - 11pm
Saturday 10am - 11pm
Sunday 10am - 11pm

Telephone

+17704224716

Website

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