A 65-foot muskie with red eyes made from old Coca-Cola signs sits beside a highway, mouth wide open. Back in 1958, people walked through that mouth to order hamburgers and ice cream in its belly. The cooking happened in the tail.
I love that someone looked at a fish and saw a dining room. That fish even sneaked into the opening credits of a famous 1983 road trip comedy. Not many roadside snack stands can say that.
Today the fish mostly handles storage and photo duty. Dinner moved next door to a cozy log building that has fed hungry travelers since 1972. Cabins, lake fishing, and a Friday prime rib that vanishes fast round out the scene.
I believe every road trip through northern Minnesota deserves at least one stop this delightfully odd. So who’s ready to meet the most famous muskie on the highway?
A Wooden Muskie Built To Stop Traffic
Back in 1958, an entrepreneur named Wayne Kumpula had a bold plan to pull drivers off the highway. His answer was a 65-foot muskie, which is a pretty loud way to say hello.
That fish now greets everyone at The Big Fish Supper Club and Resort in Bena, Minnesota. It stretches about 15 feet wide, so it’s hard to miss from Highway 2.
Kumpula built the frame with white ash beams, almost like a skeleton. Then he covered it with roofing paper and painted on stripes to look like a real muskie.
The eyes are my favorite detail. They were first made from Coca-Cola signs that got painted over and turned red.
Some sources say construction started in 1957, while others point to 1958. Either way, this muskie has been watching traffic for well over sixty years.
Roadside giants were a big deal during the golden age of car travel. Families wanted reasons to stop, stretch, and point out the window.
Plenty of those old attractions have faded away. This one is still standing, still striped, and still making drivers hit the brakes in surprise.
Honestly, a fish this size earns a little respect. It’s been doing its job longer than most of us have been alive.
Yes, That Is The Fish From National Lampoon’s Vacation
Movie fans, here’s your trivia win of the week. The Big Fish made a cameo in the opening credits of the 1983 film National Lampoon’s Vacation.
That movie is all about a family road trip that keeps going sideways. Putting a giant muskie in the credits fits the mood perfectly.
Cultural historian Eric Dregni, who writes about Midwestern culture, even named it one of Minnesota’s seven wonders. That’s quite a promotion for a fish made of ash beams and roofing paper.
Fame didn’t protect it from wear and tear, though. In 2009, the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota put the Big Fish on its list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Places.
Then something nice happened. An anonymous donor gave money, and the community helped restore the landmark.
I like how a whole area rallied around a striped fish. It shows how much quirky landmarks can mean to the people who grow up near them.
So when you stop, you’re seeing more than a photo prop. You’re looking at a small piece of film history and a true community comeback story.
Feel free to hum a road trip tune while you’re there. The fish won’t mind.
Your Camera Will Want To Climb Into That Mouth
Smile and say walleye. The open mouth of this muskie makes one of the funniest photo frames in the state.
These days, the fish building is mostly used for storage. Its real job now is posing for pictures, and it’s very good at it.
Kids can stand right in front of the jaws for a classic shot. It looks like the fish is about to swallow your whole family, which is exactly the point.
The stripes and red eyes add plenty of character. Even a quick phone snapshot comes out looking like a vintage postcard.
You don’t need a dinner reservation to stop for a picture. Plenty of road trippers pull over just to grab a photo and keep rolling.
Try a few angles while you’re there. A wide shot shows the full 65-foot length, while a close-up shows off those famous eyes.
Morning light or late afternoon usually makes outdoor photos look softer. Midday works too if you’re just passing through.
My tip is to plan a little extra time. One picture tends to turn into ten once everyone wants their own turn inside the mouth.
Walleye, Ribs, And A Prime Rib That Sells Out
Walleye at a fish-themed supper club just makes sense. The walleye dinner here is one of the stars, along with a walleye sandwich and fish and chips.
Meat lovers aren’t left out. The ribs get plenty of attention, and so does the flat iron steak paired with shrimp.
Most dinners come with two sides. There’s also a salad bar, which is a classic supper club move.
Friday night brings the prime rib special. It’s popular enough that it sometimes sells out before 7 PM, even though doors open at 5.
That means timing matters. If prime rib is your dream, arriving early is your best strategy.
Broasted chicken is another name that pops up often on the menu. It’s a pressure-fried style that’s especially beloved in the Midwest.
The menu may shift by night, so it’s smart to ask about specials when you call ahead. Specials are part of the fun at a place like this.
Good luck picking just one plate. Splitting a couple of dinners with your table might be the wisest move of the whole trip.
Dinner Lives In The Log Building Next Door
Since 1972, a separate log building has handled the serious eating. That’s where the supper club part of the name comes in.
The Big Fish Supper Club and Resort serves American comfort food with a focus on bar classics and seafood. The setting is cozy, warm, and clean, which feels right after a long drive.
Supper clubs are a cherished tradition in the upper Midwest. They’re the kind of places where dinner feels like a small event, even on a regular weeknight.
Al and Amy Hemme bought the business in 2010. It’s a real family affair, with Amy waiting tables and her son Tyler cooking in the kitchen.
I love knowing the people serving your plate are the same people running the place. That kind of setup usually means they care about every detail.
The dining room opens at 5 PM, Wednesday through Sunday. It stays open until midnight, so late arrivals still have a shot at supper.
Plan around those days if you’re mapping out your trip. Showing up on a Monday means you’ll only be visiting the fish.
And the fish, while lovely, doesn’t serve dinner anymore.
Call Ahead Or Risk Eating With The Fish Outside
Reservations here aren’t a fancy formality. They’re your ticket to actually getting a seat.
The Big Fish Supper Club and Resort often turns away 30 to 40 people a night. Friday nights are especially busy, thanks in part to that famous prime rib.
Calling ahead is highly recommended. It takes two minutes and saves you from a sad drive back down the highway.
This matters even more for road trippers. Bena is a small spot, so backup dinner options aren’t always right around the corner.
Bigger groups should plan extra carefully. A table for eight is much harder to squeeze in than a table for two.
Remember the schedule too. The supper club runs Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 5 PM.
I think a little planning is a fair trade for a meal this memorable. Popular small-town spots stay popular for a reason.
So add the call to your trip checklist right next to snacks and a full tank of gas. Then you can relax and enjoy the drive.
Your stomach will thank you later. The fish will still be there for photos either way.
Burgers In The Belly Was The Original Plan
Hamburgers and ice cream once came straight out of a fish. That’s not a riddle, it’s real Minnesota history.
Kumpula opened the muskie as The Big Muskie Drive-In in 1958. Diners walked in through the open mouth and ate at a counter inside the belly.
Cooking happened back in the tail. There was also a walk-up window for folks who wanted their treats without the full fish tour.
Sadly, eating inside a giant fish didn’t catch on the way he hoped. One big problem was the heat, since the inside of the structure got pretty toasty.
By 1963, the drive-in had been turned into a souvenir stand. So the dining room plan lasted only a few short years.
Still, I can’t imagine a more memorable place to eat a cone. Saying you once had lunch in a muskie’s stomach is an unbeatable story.
That early idea is part of why the fish feels so charming today. It wasn’t built just to look silly, it was built to feed people.
And in a way, it still does. The dinners simply moved next door, where the air conditioning is much friendlier.
Five Quiet Cabins Make It An Overnight Trip
Supper doesn’t have to end with a long drive home. The resort side of the business offers five individual cabins for rent.
All five have been newly remodeled and sit in secluded spots. They’re known for being clean and comfortable, which is exactly what you want after a big dinner.
Kitchen or kitchenette facilities may be included. That’s handy for breakfast, snacks, or cooking up your catch of the day.
Here’s a fun bonus for cold-weather fans. The cabins are available in winter, too.
Winter in northern Minnesota has its own charm. Snowy pines and frozen lakes set a whole different scene from summer.
Staying overnight also solves the reservation puzzle in a cozy way. You can plan dinner, sleep nearby, and wake up close to the water.
The address is 456 US-2, Bena, MN 56626. It sits a few miles outside Bena and about 15 miles east of Cass Lake.
I like the idea of falling asleep a short walk from a giant muskie. It’s a bedtime story you’ll be telling for years.
Just don’t expect the fish to tuck you in.
Lake Winnie Brings The Real Fish Stories
Real muskies swim nearby, and they’re much harder to photograph. Lake Winnibigoshish, better known as Lake Winnie, sits close to the resort.
It’s the fourth-largest lake in Minnesota. Anglers come for walleye, northern pike, perch, and muskellunge.
The resort helps you make the most of it. Fishing and hunting guides are available, along with ice fishing houses for winter trips.
A guide can be a smart choice on a lake this big. Local knowledge helps you find where the fish are actually biting.
There’s also a fish cleaning house for guests. That’s a welcome perk when your cooler is full and your hands are cold.
Ice fishing is a beloved winter tradition up here. Sitting in a warm shelter over a hole in the ice is an experience every traveler should try once.
Summer brings open water and long evenings. Either season gives you a great excuse to linger a few days.
And picture the ending to your day. You catch a walleye on Lake Winnie, then order walleye for supper anyway.
Nobody will judge you. It’s practically tradition.
