This has become Rhinelander's Hodag stuff store! Anything you can think of is here, with a Hodag on…read moreit! Through the front window of this repurposed service station, you can see an array of Hodag themed merchandise. Most of it is new, however, there are old, brown. Rhinelander Shorty bottles for sale, the same ones my mother and father used to drink Rhinelander beer from.
Yellow diamond signs, reflective and manufactured to DOT standards warn of Hodag crossings. Other signs indicate Hodag parking only, others will be crushed. You'll find front license plates, license plate frames, mouse pads, thimbles, bells, bottle openers, salt and pepper shakers, refrigerator magnets, decals, geocaching emblems and, of course, sweatshirts and t-shirts in a wide range of sizes. The Hodag store shares the space with a resale shop filled with artifacts of several varieties.
In addition, there are works of art for sale, of course, also themed around the Hodag. Because of the nature of art, the inventory is subject to change. During my visit, there was a cross-cut saw painted with a scene featuring the Hodag.
What's a Hodag? It's a mythical beast that sprang from the fertile mind of another Rhinelander legend, Gene Shepard, a practical joker of renown. The fearsome creature was "captured" by Shepard in 1896. It was made by Shepard and an expert carver; Shepard exhibited the creature in carnival side-shows. It has since become the official symbol of Rhinelander, his image appearing on water towers, squad cars, and signage, he's even the mascot of the high school. A park is named for the Hodag and now there's even a huge music festival that uses his name.
And now, thanks to the Hodag Store, you can own a piece of Rhinelander's ambassador and official mascot.