![Can Someone Explain The Giraffe On Top of This Lansing Gas Station?](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2022/02/attachment-Giraffe.jpg?w=630&h=472&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Can Someone Explain The Giraffe On Top of This Lansing Gas Station?
Over the weekend a little road trip was in order to meet some friends and check out some local shops in Lansing, as it's not a city I get around to too often. Before heading home I needed to fill up on gas when I pulled into a Meijer gas station and notice something ridiculously awesome on top of it. It was what appeared to be either a blow-up or ceramic giraffe, overlooking W. Saginaw Highway.
We've got some hilarious roadside attractions in Michigan, but I don't think I've ever been as baffled by any other one more than this; I have questions. First, why out of all animals did they go with the giraffe? I guess it is tall and easy to spot. Second, how long has this been up there and what's the significance behind it? Amazingly I found an answer, and it goes way farther back than I would have guessed.
![107.7 WRKR-FM logo](https://townsquare.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WRKRFM.png?w=100)
I came across an article from the Lansing City Pulse that describes through some hard investigation, the Meijer, which has been around since 1966, once featured a bunch of these kinds of animals and this one managed to survive change:
Throughout the '70s and '80s, each Meijer featured a playland for children called “The Oasis” in the center of the store. Often, those were filled with kid-friendly animal statutes. During a store remodel, a contractor ordered a giraffe that was ultimately too large for the kids to play on. Rather than return it, the contractor played a “joke” on the store manager and installed the statue on the canopy roof of the gas station.
I had no idea this was such a huge deal to people in Lansing, but is no doubt hilarious. Apparently the giraffe is intended to forever remain on top of the gas station.
25 Michigan Roadside Oddities
More From 107.7 WRKR-FM
![Michigan State Supreme Court Rules Kalamazoo Man Had A Right to Flee From Police](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-09T113712.476.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Protect Yourself: The Growing Threat Of Card Skimming And Shimming In Michigan](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-03T095415.755.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Should Michigan Start Requiring Financial Literacy Courses in School?](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-06-30T203036.172.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Drug More Deadly Than Fentanyl Has Been Found In Michigan, And Could Be Growing](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-nitazenes.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Michigan’s Latest Tickets Won’t Even Require Police to be Present](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-06-24T133804.308.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Human Bone Found on University of Michigan Marching Band’s Rehearsal Field](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-06-20T062936.759.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Controversial Reason Michigan Should Consider Banning Popular Banana Brand](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-GettyImages-175328819.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘Do You Smoke?’ And 10 Other Ways to Tell If a Michigander Uses Marijuana](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-06-12T082931.115.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![A Refresher on Michigan Fireworks Laws As July 4th Tents Start to Open](http://townsquare.media/site/690/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-06-11T081733.559.jpg?w=980&q=75)