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"​It's art."

 

 

-Corky Underwood

THE GIANT U

                     Constructed by  Corky Underwood

© 2014 by  The Giant U team Proudly created with Wix.com

If you drive the short distance to Glen Rose, you will pass by a geographical landmark that the locals know as “Chalk Mountain”. This mountain has been known as the middle point between Stephenville and Glen Rose, the highest point of Somervell County, and now it is known for the large red ‘U’ at the top. For the past couple of months people have been wondering where this huge ‘U’ came from. Why is it there? Who put it there? What does it stand for?


The person to answer all of these questions and so much more was Corky Underwood of Glen Rose, Texas. Underwood owns the land that the giant ‘U’ is on. When asked why he built this completely awe striking structure his only response was “Why not build me a giant ‘U’?”  


Underwood went into great depth of how the idea came about, “part of my inspiration was from the giant ‘U’ on the outskirts of Ulysses, Kansas,” explained Underwood, though he had originally been planning on doing something unique before he had seen their creativity, this jumpstarted his imagination.
The ‘U’ simply stands for Underwood. It is made of Military surplus. The colossal structure stands 40 feet tall and is 36 feet wide. From the time the idea came along until it was completely finished, it took about 3 months. It took a lot of planning and strategy to figure out the perfect location. “A frame is very important, you wouldn’t take a second look at the ‘Mona Lisa’ if there wasn’t a frame around it,” said Underwood, “I did the same with my ‘U’.”


By placing The ‘U’ in just the right spot, people are surprise by the sight when it comes out of nowhere behind the trees.  As you are diving west towards Stephenville, you can see it barely over some trees, and then it disappears. This grabs your attention, wanting to see more and wondering where it went. Then suddenly, bam, it is right there. If you drive by at just the right time in the evening, you can witness the breath taking sight of the sun setting right behind The ‘U’.
“I am so proud of The ‘U’. I hope it stays there for years to come,” Underwood explained, “Whoever tears it down will have a nice surprise when they do! I left a time capsule in the middle of the ‘U’. 

 

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Story written by McKinsey Hall of Tarleton State Univesity

 

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