Still Old School
Cut Bank Penguin
Some towns complain about the cold. Cut Bank built it a monument.
The Story
A 27-foot concrete penguin on the east side of Cut Bank since 1989, standing on an iceberg that calls the town the coldest spot in the nation. Bold claim. Big bird.
Ron Gustafson built the Cut Bank Penguin in 1989, after the wind chill in town hit 64 below. Some people complain about the cold. Ron built a monument to it. It’s concrete, 27 feet tall and about five tons: a cartoon penguin in a red hat, standing on an iceberg that reads “Welcome to Cut Bank MT, Coldest Spot in the Nation.”
The idea came from the penguin-shaped garbage cans the city had downtown when Gustafson was young. The penguin once had a hidden speaker so it could talk to whoever pulled over. Whether Cut Bank really is the coldest spot in the lower 48 is still argued, which is half the fun.
The Gustafsons ran an appliance store on the east edge of town off US Highway 2. They built the penguin there, then turned the store into a motel in 1992 because the bird was stopping so much traffic. It went quiet when Ron sold the motel and retired in 2004. As of 2024 it was still standing, red hat and all.
Pull over and take the picture. It’s earned it.
Why It's Still Old School
Built after the wind chill hit 64 below. Five tons, red hat. It used to talk. These days it just stands there being cold, which is fair.
Photos
Coming soon. Know something that belongs here?
Still There.
- Address
- E. Railroad St. at US Highway 2, Cut Bank, MT, 59427
Sources
Got a Story About This Place?
You're Old School Montana if... you took visiting relatives to see the giant penguin and promised them yes, it really does get that cold
What do you say?
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