Cape Coral’s Big John statue won’t be home for Christmas after repair delay

Cape Coral’s beloved statue, Big John, was supposed to be back on his feet by Christmas. But instead, he’s still in pieces across town … undergoing a massive surgery that’s taking longer than expected.Right now, Big John’s torso sits on a trailer. His legs are parked nearby. But there is progress being made. His back, which was blown out during Hurricane Ian, has finally been sealed up. The repairs are happening at Brand One Ink, a shop off Southeast 10th Street, where crews have been quietly working on a full rebuild.Originally, the job was supposed to be a relatively straightforward repaint and touch-up. But once the crew dug in, they found much more to fix.”All this rust dictated that we weren’t going to be able to rebuild him and put him back up the way that he is,” said Clinton Strand, who’s leading the restoration. “We had to dig in and grind all that stuff out.”What they found underneath was poorly done patchwork and a hidden bit of history.”On his original transport down from the shop he was manufactured in, he actually hit a bridge in Atlanta, and it took his head off,” said Strand. “So they had done a repair, reattaching his head … as we uncover all this stuff, we’re getting rid of the bad and putting all new in.”They’re reinforcing his body with thicker fiberglass, reworking the steel, and giving him an automotive-style finish designed to hold up against Florida’s harsh conditions. Strand says Big John will be stronger than ever. But just not quite on schedule.The new timeline? Late January.Meanwhile, over at the plaza that bears his name, Big John’s pedestal still sits empty.”They’re building up this Big John Plaza … but without Big John,” said Katie Misowitz, a Cape Coral resident. “His presence is just missing.”Frank Kelly, who owns Barunch in the plaza, says the statue is more than just decoration; it’s part of the plaza’s identity.”He was rusted out. He was ready to go down. So I’m glad they took him,” Kelly said. “As long as they do it right and do it good … we’ll throw a party when he’s back.”And that return is coming — just a little later than everyone hoped.When Big John finally returns to his spot on Southeast 47th Terrace, Cape Coral won’t just be getting its statue back; they’ll be getting back a piece of the city’s soul, which has towered over the Cape since the late 1960s.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Cape Coral’s beloved statue, Big John, was supposed to be back on his feet by Christmas. But instead, he’s still in pieces across town … undergoing a massive surgery that’s taking longer than expected.

Right now, Big John’s torso sits on a trailer. His legs are parked nearby.

But there is progress being made. His back, which was blown out during Hurricane Ian, has finally been sealed up. The repairs are happening at Brand One Ink, a shop off Southeast 10th Street, where crews have been quietly working on a full rebuild.

Originally, the job was supposed to be a relatively straightforward repaint and touch-up. But once the crew dug in, they found much more to fix.

“All this rust dictated that we weren’t going to be able to rebuild him and put him back up the way that he is,” said Clinton Strand, who’s leading the restoration. “We had to dig in and grind all that stuff out.”

What they found underneath was poorly done patchwork and a hidden bit of history.

“On his original transport down from the shop he was manufactured in, he actually hit a bridge in Atlanta, and it took his head off,” said Strand. “So they had done a repair, reattaching his head … as we uncover all this stuff, we’re getting rid of the bad and putting all new in.”

They’re reinforcing his body with thicker fiberglass, reworking the steel, and giving him an automotive-style finish designed to hold up against Florida’s harsh conditions. Strand says Big John will be stronger than ever. But just not quite on schedule.

The new timeline? Late January.

Meanwhile, over at the plaza that bears his name, Big John’s pedestal still sits empty.

“They’re building up this Big John Plaza … but without Big John,” said Katie Misowitz, a Cape Coral resident. “His presence is just missing.”

Frank Kelly, who owns Barunch in the plaza, says the statue is more than just decoration; it’s part of the plaza’s identity.

“He was rusted out. He was ready to go down. So I’m glad they took him,” Kelly said. “As long as they do it right and do it good … we’ll throw a party when he’s back.”

And that return is coming — just a little later than everyone hoped.

When Big John finally returns to his spot on Southeast 47th Terrace, Cape Coral won’t just be getting its statue back; they’ll be getting back a piece of the city’s soul, which has towered over the Cape since the late 1960s.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.