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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Bob is the latest Bend feature to take the spotlight, by far. In this case it’s really BOB, which stands for Big Obvious Boulder. But this “rock star” was obviously not obvious enough for several pilots who landed there.
Bob is a 2-ton lava rock that currently calls the Franklin Avenue 7-Eleven parking lot home.
Bob the Bend Rock was placed on the sidewalk 10 years ago to prevent people from driving on the sidewalk and ruining ADA access.
But in the past few months, eight cars entering the parking lot from Franklin and Third Street have fallen victim to Bob.
“Because believe it or not, the little rock was too small, but it was heavy enough to blow me off the curb at the same time,” Larry Freeland, property manager for the complex where Bob is staying, told us Friday.
Freeland explained how Bob got there: “So I took the smallest rock, discarded it, and said to a gentleman with a backhoe, ‘Go get me a big rock’—well, two blocks away in the distance is a large pile of rocks.” And the rest is history.
At the Pine Tavern Restaurant, Bend’s oldest, they’ll give you a free drink or meal if you’ve been victimized by Bob.
“Being in Bend, we have to adopt a rock,” said Pine Tavern owner Bill McCormick, offering some consolation for rock victims. “I think if you end up on the rocks, come down to the Pine Tavern and I’ll give you something on the rocks that will put a smile on your face – just bring a picture of the devastation.”
The owner of MidCity SmashedBurger, located in the Waypoint Hotel, is also offering free food to anyone with proof of being hooked on Bob.
“I think everybody’s just kind of surprised and you’re like, ‘How does this happen?’” Mike Aldridge said, “It’s funny that it happens. So it brings everyone together in the community. It’s something we can all laugh and joke about.”
In just one week, Bob has been joined by more than 5,000 people on his Facebook page and is now even listed as a tourist destination on Google Maps.
Like Mt. Bachelor, Pilot Butte and the World’s Last Blockbuster before, Bob the rock is now synonymous with Bend.
But these now-famous encounters might be over; time will tell.
Bob moved forward a few inches this week, to deter drivers from getting stuck with him in the future.
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