A Rat Lover's Tour of the World

"Outside of Austin, Texas, off of an uneventful stretch of Highway 71, sits a U-turn worthy site for the squirrel worshiper in us all. Standing at 14 feet tall, Ms. Pearl beckons anywhere from 30 to 100 passersby a day from the highway to have their picture taken with her. If you’re wondering why she is clutching a pecan bigger than your head, it probably has something to do with the nearby Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company, a family-owned business that includes a gift shop, a pecan orchard, and an enormously adorable squirrel statue. Originally constructed in August of 2011 by Blue Genie Art Industries for Berdoll, Ms. Pearl received her sassy name from a customer as part of a contest. In 2015, the squirrel goddess received a facelift in the form of a fresh coat of paint as well as a deck to support her many worshipers. She is available 24 hours a day and while the nearby gift shop has regular business hours, there is an eternally available vending machine outside the shop with fresh, full-sized pecan pies replenished daily for any late night, squirrel-inspired snacking needs." - ATLAS_OBSCURA