It’s mutiny in the high mountains near Wapiti. The iconic Big Boy, perched along U.S. Highway 14/16/10 en route to Yellowstone National Park, has been replaced by Captain Morgan.
Locals and tourists quickly noticed the change on the concrete pedestal along the highway. Big Boy is so iconic he has a marker on Google Maps, but it looks like the pirate has a leg up.
“We think it changed overnight,” said area resident Scott Potter. “It was Big Boy when we went to town (on Monday), and it was the Captain when we went to town on Tuesday.”
It appears to have been a coup under the cover of darkness. Now, passersby are greeted by Captain Morgan's snide sneer rather than Big Boy's cheeky grin.
What happened to Wapiti’s Big Boy? Is piracy becoming a problem in northwest Wyoming?
The iconic Wapiti Big Boy, perched along the North Fork Highway between Cody and Yellowstone National Park for 13 years, has been replaced by Seagram's Captain Morgan. Not to worry, says owner James Geier: Big Boy will return after a little rehab. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily) 
The iconic Wapiti Big Boy, perched along the North Fork Highway between Cody and Yellowstone National Park for 13 years, has been replaced by Seagram's Captain Morgan. Not to worry, says owner James Geier: Big Boy will return after a little rehab. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily)
Big Break
"Big Boy" is the mascot of the Big Boy Restaurant Group, a chain of American restaurants with 45 locations in the Midwest, California, Thailand, and Japan. The closest Big Boy restaurant to Wyoming is in Bismarck, North Dakota.
James Geier is the proud owner of the Wapiti Big Boy and the plot of land where he’s stood since 2013. He reassured alarmed observers that there has been no mutiny – Captain Morgan is doing Big Boy a favor.
“Big Boy is taking a little hiatus,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “He wanted to make sure there was somebody in his place to keep the community excited, interested in the tourism, and enthralled with what goes on here on the North Fork in Wapiti.”
Geier is aware of “the importance of bringing a smile to people's faces.” Big Boy, with his checkerboard overalls and Statue of Liberty-esque pose triumphantly hoisting a delicious cheeseburger skyward, has successfully done that year after year, but even he needs a break.
Captain Morgan, the mascot of the Seagram Company’s rum-based alcoholic beverages, is modeled after 17th-century privateer Sir Henry Morgan. He’s known for his scarlet captain apparel and the right leg perpetually perched on a keg of his namesake drink of choice.
According to Geier, Captain Morgan was ready to step up for Big Boy and “just wants to keep the love going.”
“Captain Morgan's been hanging out around here for quite some time,” he said. “We have quite a bit of water up here on the North Fork, so you never know what you might see plying the water.”
While Big Boy is getting a much-needed rest, Captain Morgan reminded gawkers to gawk and drive responsibly. Nobody should try to sneak any rum from his footrest, and nobody should enjoy Captain Morgan while driving on the highway.
Geier couldn’t give precise details on how Big Boy plans to spend his vacation, or how long Captain Morgan has been asked to take his place.
“They don't discuss everything with me,” he said. “I'm just a caretaker of the property in the area and a promoter and supporter of great, great, fun stuff here in the North Fork.”
Rehabilitation
Cheekiness aside, the Wapiti Big Boy has been taken down for some restoration. Several years of exposure to the North Fork's harsh weather would wipe the smile off anyone’s face.
The last time the Wapiti Big Boy got touched up was in 2020. His pedestal was left empty, which immediately alarmed his fans in the community and around the world.
At the time, people believed Big Boy had been stolen, much as they thought he’d been shanghaied this week. In reality, he was just getting a makeover.
“I took him down for a little paint restoration,” Geier said. “People kind of freaked out: ‘What happened to Big Boy?’”
Six years later, Big Boy’s vacant pedestal has been filled by Captain Morgan. Geier hopes people will enjoy the change in scenery for the time being, because pirates aren’t known to hang around in one place for too long.
“I would have to think there's a very good chance that Big Boy does make his return in the very near future,” Geier said.
Big Boy And Friends
When Big Boy first appeared along U.S. 14/16/20, Geier said it was like “an Easter Island statue.”
“I heard people say it just showed up, like Easter Island, and nobody knew how it got there,” he said.
Since then, Geier has added more sculptures to keep Big Boy company. One of them is “Shadow,” a stallion made of twisted rebar.
“Shadow” was sculpted by Geier, an artist who specializes in big, eye-catching pieces. While he didn’t sculpt the Wapiti Big Boy, he deliberately placed the out-of-place mascot to get people’s attention.
“It’s strategically located,” he said. “I love the conversation that goes on about it. People go home and say, ‘You’ll never believe what I saw on my way to Yellowstone.’ He’s really become a part of the wonderful fabric of our community.”
Big Boy will be back, Geier said. Captain Morgan might hang around, too, and Geier said people shouldn’t be surprised to see more pieces worth a stop or a second look as they drive along the highway.
“Shadow probably has some friends showing up in the near future, and there might be a few other beautiful items out here,” he said. “You never know what could happen out here.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
