The Long Way
Monterey County
A giant green artichoke sculpture sits outside a building.
Plate I. World's Largest Artichoke, Castroville. From sfgate.com
A large artichoke sculpture sits between buildings in front of parked cars.
Plate II. World's Largest Artichoke sculpture, Castroville. From atlasobscura.com

World's Largest Artichoke

Castroville, Monterey County, California. Concrete sculpture.

Details

Map. Castroville, Monterey County, California. Larger map
Where
11261 Merritt St, Castroville, CA 11261. Directions
Fees
$$.
Access
Announced last day of operation Wednesday September 30; the building owners are selling the building.
Phone
(831) 633-3501
Website
giantartichokerestaurant.com
Managed by
Giant Artichoke Restaurant.
Coordinates
36.762309, -121.752887.

20-foot tall, 12-foot wide concrete version of an artichoke, erected at the front of the fruit stand and restaurant called the Giant Artichoke in Castroville.

Notable Events

  1. 1973Caltrans documents say the commercial building was constructed in 1973 and that the adjacent restaurant, which operated under the same name, was remodeled that year. sfchronicle.com
  2. 2026The Giant Artichoke Restaurant in Castroville will close Wednesday, Sept. 30, after 25 years under its current operators. ksbw.com

People

  • Daniel Boudreault, Owner of the Giant Artichoke Restaurant property.
  • Ray Bei, Builder of the artichoke; founder of Ray Bei's Giant Artichoke Restaurant and Fruit Stand (1963).

Sources

  1. facebook.com/thegiantartichoke
  2. seemonterey.com/food-drink/artichoke-trail
  3. smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/top-10-biggest-roadside-foods-in-america-5631422
  4. ksbw.com/article/castroville-giant-artichoke-restaurant-closes/73928454
  5. ksbw.com/article/central-coast-landmark-sale-owner-looking-sell/70978993
  6. sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/giant-artichoke-restaurant-castroville-closing-22453797.php
  7. latimes.com/travel/la-tr-supersize-roadside-attractions-20180401-htmlstory.html