User:Morogris/MSP

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Ms. Pearl
Location2626 Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek, Texas, United States
DesignerBlue Genie Art Industries
TypeStatue
Height14 ft (4.3 m)
Completion date2011 (13 years ago) (2011)
Dedicated to
WebsiteMs. Pearl

Ms. Pearl is a 14 ft (4.3 m) tall squirrel statue located in Cedar Creek, Texas, United States. It is the largest squirrel statue in the world. Erected in 2011, Ms. Pearl draws between 30 to 100 visitors daily. Ms. Pearl epitomizes the "everything's bigger in Texas" idiom and stands as a cultural attraction in the region. The statue stands upright, holding a large pecan in its hands. Ms. Pearl has its dedicated website, has been featured in various TV shows, and has a variety of souvenirs inspired by it. The statue is owned and situated adjacent to the Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company. This company harvests pecan trees and offers a diverse range of pecan-inspired food items, notably their pecan pies.

History and description[edit]

Ms. Pearl is the largest squirrel statue in the world, standing at 14 ft (4.3 m) tall.[1] Situated in Cedar Creek, Texas, United States, alongside Texas State Highway 71 (SH 71) between Bastrop and Austin, the statue stands on the property of Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company. This family-owned establishment operates as both a pecan shop and orchard.[2][3] Culturally, Ms. Pearl embodies the "everything's bigger in Texas" idiom and serves as a cultural attraction in Cedar Creek.[4][5] Constructed in August 2011 by Blue Genie Art Industries,[1] the statue gained its name through a contest organized by the shop, during which several customers submitted ideas. Ms. Pearl emerged as the winning name. "It’s sassy, fun and it suits [it] perfectly", the owners said.[6] Additionally, customers played a role in choosing the design, as the owners presented several miniature molds for them to select the most appealing one.[7]

The statue stands tall in an upright position, grasping a pecan in its hands. It is visible from SH 71 for drivers traveling between Austin and Bastrop.[8][9] Adjacent to the highway, there is a large red neon sign advertising the store.[10] The signage on the statue says that between 30 to 100 people stop at the shop take pictures with Ms. Pearl on a regular basis.[2] It is popular particularly with selfies.[5] The peak season for visitors to Ms. Pearl and the pecan shop is during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Texas Longhorns football game weekends.[11]

In June 2015, the statue underwent a makeover, temporarily undergoing construction.[6] The enhancements included a new paint coating and the addition of a deck, allowing visitors to get closer to the statue.[6][12] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners playfully adorned Ms. Pearl with a giant face mask each month for 13 months. This was done as a tongue-in-cheek gesture by the owners to "keep Ms. Pearl safe" while also signaling to drivers that the Berdoll company remained open, despite pandemic-related business closures.[13][14]

Ms. Pearl has a dedicated website titled "Ms. Pearl: The Giant Squirrel Statue in Texas."[15][16] The website offers a detailed timeline of its history, a visitor-submitted gallery showcasing pictures, and videos of Ms. Pearl on TV shows.[15] There is also a shop with Ms. Pearl offering a diverse array of items such as mugs, cookies, postcards, bumper stickers, shirts, and magnets.[17][18]

Adjacent structures[edit]

Adjacent to the Ms. Pearl statue is the Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company, a pecan shop that opened in 1986.[2][19] The store is accompanied by a 9,000 sq ft (840 m2) facility equipped with shelling and candy-making equipment. Visitors are encouraged to observe the pecan processing activities through the building's windows.[20] Behind the facility is the Berdoll Pecan Farm, a 340 acres (140 ha) pecan farm that was formed in 1948.[4][8] This farm hosts an orchard boasting 15,000 trees.[4] In 2018, the shop sold over an average of 11,730 pecan pies annually.[2] As of 2022, the Berdoll company boasts an annual pecan production of about 600,000 tons that are sold across the Austin area and the entire United States.[4][7]

Ms. Pearl and the entire company are currently owned by Jennifer (Berdoll) Wammack and Jared Wammack. Previously, the company was owned by Jennifer's parents, Hal and Lisa Berdoll, who transferred management to them in 2009.[10] Around 15 individuals are employed at the store, while an additional 20 work in the shelling and candy-making facility.[21]

Ms. Pearl is accessible to the public year-long since it is located outside of the shop. The store also operates year-round with two different schedules based on the season. From January to mid-March, it opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. From mid-March to December, the opening time remains the same, but the closing time extends to 7:00 p.m.[22] During closure hours, visitors have the option to purchase pecan pies through a 24/7 vending machine,[23] a feature that has captured the attention of both the media and locals.[2][11]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Schmidt, Mary (November 2020). "Larger Than Life". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Finan, Kristin (23 September 2018). "Want to visit the World's Tallest Squirrel Statue? It's located just outside of Austin". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ Finan, Kristin (31 January 2019). "Weekend Escape: Bastrop". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Windler, Chikage (27 November 2022). "2022 pecan season faces weather challenges". CBS Austin. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b Hlavaty, Craig (11 April 2018). "Yes, you can buy a whole pecan pie from a vending machine in Texas". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Fun Facts: Get To Know MS. Pearl, the Giant Squirrel". Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b "LCRA: Uniquely Texas – Welcome to the Nut House". Lower Colorado River Authority. 25 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ a b Miller, Laurel (October 2020). "Deep Roots: The Story of Texas' Favorite Nut, From Planting to Pie-Making". Texas Highways. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023.
  9. ^ Webb, Eric (9 December 2019). "The Austin360 Christmas stocking stuffer guide". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b Harris, Mycha (2009). "Berdoll's Pecan Farm: They're Seriously Nuts!" (PDF). Texas Co-op Power Magazine, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b O'Connell, Chris (18 August 2023). "Take a Texas road trip to world's only pecan pie vending machine". MySA. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Best Squirrel Spa Vacation: Berdoll Pecan's Ms. Pearl". Austin Chronicle. 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022.
  13. ^ Reeves, Krissi (21 December 2021). "Resilient Texas Pecan Business Is a Family Affair". Reporting Texas. University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
  14. ^ Hawkins, Lori (27 April 2020). "Coronavirus in Texas: How a pecan candy company is coping amid outbreak". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Ms. Pearl: The Giant Squirrel Statue in Texas". Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  16. ^ Kelso 2018, pp. 12–14.
  17. ^ "Ms. Pearl Souvenirs". Berdoll Pecan Farm. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Destination: Berdoll Pecan Farms". Texas Highways. Vol. 63. March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024 – via University of North Texas Libraries (The Portal to Texas History).
  19. ^ "Berdoll Pecan Candy and Gift Company". Visit Bastrop (Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center). Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Pies in the Sky" (PDF). Texas Co-op Power Magazine, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
  21. ^ Wallis, Jay (14 April 2019). "Celebrating National Pecan Day at a farm in Bastrop County". KVUE. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Contact Us & Shipping". Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  23. ^ Burkes, Dawn M. (22 February 2017). "Pie vending machine in Cedar Creek makes satisfying sweet tooth easy, as, well ... pie". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022.

Bibliography[edit]

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