Giganticus Headicus draws eyes on Route 66
KINGMAN, Ariz. — Gregg Arnold doesn’t take offense when people tell him he has a big head.
That’s because he’s got one. A really, really big one. It’s called Giganticus Headicus, and anyone who’s seen it while driving down Route 66 about 18 miles north of Interstate 40 in Kingman has undoubtedly done a double take.
Giganticus Headicus is green, stands 14 feet tall and is essentially a replica of the ancient stone monoliths known as Maoi that surround Easter Island in the South Pacific.
A certified welder by trade, Arnold said “The Andy Warhol Diaries,” which were published after the artist’s death in 1987, inspired him.
“The creativity just flew there,” Arnold said. “I always wanted a place like that, and I thought, “What better place than Route 66?’
“I want this for artists, painters, poets, whatever their outlet is.”
For about nine years, Giganticus Headicus has stood sentinel along Route 66, and it has become one of the more popular stops along one of America’s most famous roads.
Joining Giganticus at what was once the Kozy Korner trailer park are giant robotic ants that “crawl” on the outside walls and a windmill-type creation that uses a chair and table from the 1950s for blades.
And somewhere on the property is a drum that warns visitors there are baby rattlers inside. They soon overcome their aversion to the reptiles when they see the rattlers are for babies, not baby rattlesnakes.
Arnold is in the middle of remodeling the A-frame building that once housed a bar and restaurant.
His goal has two prongs: One is to give motorists a reason to stop and hopefully buy a bite to eat and a souvenir or two, including miniature replicas of Giganticus Headicus.
The second is to attract artists to the site who could channel their muse’s inspiration in one of the backrooms.
Since its creation, Arnold said Giganticus Headicus has been featured in several television commercials and was named one of the 60 most interesting places to visit along the whole of Route 66.
