Big Bird is the latest sculpture I've made using materials I've found on the beaches near my home in Venice, Florida. Here in Florida, the Sesame Street Muppets can be found at Busch Gardens in Tampa (Sesame Street Safari of Fun, opened in 2010) and SeaWorld in Orlando (Sesame Street Land, opened in 2019). While these are relatively new additions, Sesame Street is no stranger to theme parks.
The very first Sesame Street theme park, Sesame Place, opened in Pennsylvania in 1980. The small play park, operated by Busch, eventually morphed into a (still small) ride and water park. Eventually, Sesame Place started getting cross promoted in materials for its sister Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Parks, appearing on brochures, shopping bags, and eventually in the form of small "lands" with attractions and shows.
A second Sesame Place is coming to San Diego in 2021 (replacing the existing SeaWorld Aquatica water park).
While Big Bird is no longer considered the main character of Sesame Street, the endearing modern day feathered dinosaur is still the mascot for Sesame Place parks. For now.
I also made Oscar the Grouch. He's created using genuine sea trash, like bits of coral and sharkteeth.
Sesame Street's resident bad boy got his own wooden roller coaster, "Oscar's Wacky Taxi"
at Sesame Place in Pennsylvania in 2018.
Oscar and Big Bird were both performed by puppeteer Carroll Spinney. Oscar's character was inspired by a taxi driver that Spinney encountered.
OK, that's it. Now SCRAM!