Snowzilla, Giant snowman structure in Airport Heights, Anchorage, United States
Snowzilla is a giant snowman built in the front yard of Billy Powers' home in Anchorage, Alaska. The first version, erected in 2005, stood 16 feet (4.9 m) tall and had a corncob pipe, a carrot nose, and eyes made from beer bottles. By 2008 it reached an estimated height of 25 feet (7.6 m).
The Powers family built the first version in 2005, which reached about 16 feet high, and it returned annually until city officials issued a cease order in 2008. The project was later revived and has become part of the winter landscape once again.
Snowzilla began as a private yard display by Billy Powers and became a public holiday tradition. In December 2008, after a cease and desist order, supporters launched a website on 23 December, and on Christmas morning small sign-carrying snowmen appeared in front of Anchorage city hall before the city demolished them. Alaska magazine later called Snowzilla a symbol of Alaska civil disobedience enacted in snow.
The structure is located near the airport area along Columbine Street and remains accessible throughout the entire winter season. Plan visits during the warmer parts of the day and dress warmly, as temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
The construction uses a stacking technique of small snow pieces rather than rolling traditional snowballs, which creates a more stable and taller structure. This building method allows the creation to be rebuilt each year while maintaining consistent dimensions.
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