Tag Archives: Big Indian

Honest John’s, Kingsport TN

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honesdtjohns
This is a fairly common card, a Haynes Distributing Company issue out of Roanoke VA.  Chrome, of course.  Plate number is 45031-B.
On the reverse: “BIG INDIAN, 32 feet tall  Weight 10,000 pounds  Located on Stone Drive Super Hiway Route 11W, Kingsport, Tennessee
As far as known, it is the world’s largest wooden Indian.  Built by Honest John.
Honest John’s Gift Shop, John D. Barker, owner”
There’s interesting information on this indian here.
Pratt’s bought the building in 1971. It will be demolished to make way for a gas station (2026)
In the message area on this card, in ball point pen, script:
“Helen   1972-card sent”
The address:  Pratts, 1225 E Stone Dr.  Kingsport, Tenn
It was never sent.

I am told that when this statue was in its original location on Memorial Boulevard (the old Bristol Highway, about halfway up to Edens Ridge), Honest John (Barker) had a loudspeaker installed in it.  He would use an attached amplifier and microphone to issue cheery greetings to tourists passing by.

Probably freaked the hell out of them…

 

The Indian

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This used to be on Memorial Boulevard, roughly between 93 and Harbor Chapel Road, on the right as you’re ascending the hill.  Later, it was Abe’s Pies (the pies were pretty good).  I’ve heard that John Barker had a speaker in it connected to a microphone so he could surprise tourists (this was, after all, originally a tourist attraction).  It’s now in pieces somewhere.  I’ve also heard that, at one time, a fun-loving family of wasps built a nest under the loincloth, resulting in some startled expressions from people who happened to glance up ‘twixt the faux Native American’s legs.
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