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mammoth orange

With $50,000 in donations and support from the Chowchilla, Madera, and Madera Sunrise Rotary Clubs, the original 20-foot Mammoth Orange has been restored. Photo contributed

published on September 8, 2023 - 2:44 PM
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Mammoth Orange is squeezing back into business at the Fossil Discovery Center in Madera County.

Older travelers may remember the Mammoth Orange refreshment stand built along Highway 99 in Chowchilla in 1947. Like the other “Giant Orange” stands dating back to 1926 that were among the first convenience stops for tired motorists in California, the Mammoth Orange was shaped like a giant orange, beckoning travelers for juice and hot dogs at first and eventually “Alaska Sized Burgers and Texas Sized Fries.”

The stand became a local landmark.

mammoth orange
The Mammoth Orange structure was stored after its closure in 2008, falling into disrepair. Photo contributed

 

After closing in 2008, the 20-foot structure was abandoned in a storage yard. With community support, it will make a comeback Sept. 23 at its home at the Fossil Discovery Center museum in Fairmead.

With $50,000 in donations from the Chowchilla, Madera and Madera Sunrise Rotary Clubs, the Fossil Discovery Center has carefully restored the structure as a concession stand befitting a San Joaquin Valley attraction.

Donations helped fund the materials needed for the restoration and some labor. Volunteers donated time and labor to restore the local landmark.

mammoth orange plaque
A new plaque commemorating the Mammoth Orange was installed at the Fossil Discovery Center. Photo contributed

 

“We are thrilled to be reopening the Mammoth Orange at the Fossil Discovery Center,” said Michele Pecina, director of the Fossil Discovery Center. “This iconic landmark is a believed part of our community, and we are excited to share it with a new generation of visitors. The Mammoth Orange is a great example of how history creates unique and memorable experiences.”

The Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County invites the public to celebrate a piece of local history with a fundraising dinner and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept 23 at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the ribbon-cutting event are $25 for members of the Fossil Discovery Center and $30 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased through the QR code on the center’s flier. The tickets also include a Smashburger meal served from the Mammoth Orange.

 


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