The Kaskaskia Dragon RV park - fire-breathing fun
A fire-breathing dragon in an RV park - the Kaskaskia Dragon
In Vandalia, Illinois there is an RV park with a true fire-breathing dragon. While it might cause concern, don’t worry, it’s just Goofy USA! What are we talking about? The Kaskaskia Dragon.
The Kaskaskia Dragon is a 35 foot metal dragon on the roadside edge of the RV park that bears it’s name and, yes, it breathes fire! There is also a knight challenging the dragon. For a gold coin, you can feed the dragon which causes it to breathe fire into the night sky and it’s really fun.
The Kaskaskia Dragon is a 35-foot-long, 12-foot-tall steel dragon located on Veterans Avenue in Vandalia, Illinois. Originally built in 1995 for a local Halloween parade, it has since become a permanent roadside attraction. What makes it extra special? With the help of a special token that you can purchase nearby, the dragon actually breathes fire!
At night, the Kaskaskia Dragon lights up in glowing green, making it a fun photo opportunity and a memorable stop for kids and adults alike.
The Kaskaskia Dragon RV park is a simple collection of a few full hook-up RV sites on the side of Veterans Avenue. You check in at the local hardware store where you are given a couple of gold coins and instructed to feed the dragon after dark.
We got the first site adjacent to the dragon which also borders a corn field. After backing in and hooking up you have to check out this giant metal menace and see the knight that’s there to protect the innocent.
Once nightfall descends, we plopped a coin in the slot and, sure enough, the dragon breathes fire! It’s pretty darned cool. Er, hot. Whatever.
If you’re like me and want more tokens, and perhaps a tasty beverage, there is a liquor store across the street that conveniently sells more of the coins. I think I paid a buck apiece but it’s been a while so I don’t actually remember that. What I do remember is the fact that you put in a coin and the dragon breathes fire.
The Kaskaskia Dragon is being challenged by a knight - who is saving Peggy
Interestingly this started as a parade float and you can still see the hinge in the dragon’s neck where the head had to bow down to the power gods. Well, it had to be able to get under power lines. It also didn’t originally breathe fire - that came later after the dragon invaded the RV park.
The Kaskaskia Dragon actually breathes fire
This 35-foot-long metal dragon was created in 1995 by Walt Barenfanger and his team at Kaskaskia Supply during a slow winter. Originally designed as a parade float, it was later moved to its current location near a highway in 2001, where it quickly gained popularity.
Initially the dragon was sometimes confused for being a dinosaur but Walt got the inspiration from a local coin-operated car wash to enable the dragon to truly breathe fire.
The liquor store across the street was also happy to be a co-conspirator and sell the coins. People assumed it was their doing as it is and so the plan came together.
Oh, and I got a Voodoo Ranger. That was good, too.
We mentioned this in podcast 215 so you can listen there and we did this video recently.
