Here’s a 2-For-1 Tale of Manly Big Things To See in Northern Michigan
The fun thing about driving around America in a cool rental car, looking for Big Things To See in the USA, is that you never know when & where you’ll find a great one. But to find 2 awesome Big Things at the same place? Well, that’s almost unheard of!
Da Yoopers is alternately called an “innovation museum” and a tourist trap, and VroomVroomVroom will go on record that it’s a bit of both. Da Yoopers, located at 490 North Steel Street in Ishpeming, is the home of both the World’s Largest Running Chainsaw and the World’s Largest Working Rifle!
This Big Chainsaw is nicknamed “Big Gus”, although gas — as in gasoline — might be a more appropriate word to use. Its chain actually runs, powered by a V8 engine (like a Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro)! It’s super loud!!!
“Big Ernie” is the World’s Largest Working Rifle. The staff of Da Yoopers will tell you that this Giant Gun once fired a makeshift bullet (a duct-tape wrapped rock) into a corn field, 2.5 miles away! The recoil, as the story goes, knocked the Big Rifle off of the truck it’s mounted on. Meanwhile, the shockwave broke windows at the nearest farmhouse!
To see these Big Things, just drive the cheap car rental that you booked at VroomVroomVroom to Michigan‘s Upper Peninsula — or “the U.P.”, which is where Da Yoopers gets its name — and then from Marquette, drive west on U.S. Highway 41 North for about 15 miles.
Once you and your rental car are in Ishpeming, Da Yoopers is easy to find, located south of the highway just before you get to West Ishpeming.
Da Yoopers is open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
"Big Gus" and "Big Ernie" photos by Michael Caroe Andersen
