Wendover Will, Neon cowboy statue in West Wendover, Nevada.
Wendover Will is a fiberglass and concrete cowboy figure standing along Interstate 80 at the Nevada-Utah border in West Wendover. The figure holds a hat in one raised arm and is covered with neon tubing that lights it up at night.
The figure was built in 1952 for the Stateline Casino and designed by Pat Denner. The name refers both to the town of Wendover and to William Smith, the casino's founder.
On the west-facing side, the figure reads "Where the West begins," and on the east-facing side it says "This is the place." These two messages greet drivers crossing the Nevada-Utah state line from opposite directions.
The figure is visible directly from Interstate 80 and easy to spot without leaving the main route. The neon lighting is most noticeable after dark, though the figure is easy to make out during the day as well.
The arm holding the hat is motorized and waves continuously without stopping, driven by electric motors built into the frame. The Guinness Book of Records recognized it as the largest mechanical cowboy in the world.
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