Ok. I know it might sound a bit odd, but when I first came to Springfield over 15 years ago, one of my first adventures led me to discovering the World’s Largest Fork.
I don’t remember the original shenanigans of the night that brought us to that area. But I do remember beholding the odd and unexpected sight of a 35ft fork towering above our heads.
I know we took a picture of our surprising discovery. That was back in the day before smartphones and Facebook were a thing, so the picture was taken with an actual camera and then printed out. Who knows what pile of pictures in the attic it hides in.
Anyway, it was an awesome sight to see and to this day still stands for all to behold.
A Little History of the Springfield Fork
The fork was originally created in the 1990s to sit in front of the then Churchill’s Coffee but now Primas on S. Glenstone Ave.
Weighing in at 11 tons and 35 feet tall, the fork is beautifully crafted in stainless steel.
After the restaurant behind the fork shut down, Noble and Associates (the designers of the fork) moved it to their Food Channel headquarters location in the Chesterfield Village area of Springfield.
It still stands tall on the property of The Food Channel for all the world to see. Well… at least all the world that knows where to find it. It’s a bit hidden from the main road.
How to Discover the Fork
You would think a 35-foot tall fork would be easy to find!
Not so much.
Local Springfieldians remember a time when you could spot it easily as you cruised the main road of the Chesterfield Village. As time marched on and additional construction came in, the fork found itself nestled among the additions and no longer visible from Chesterfield Street.
The address you’ll want to drive to is 2215 W. Chesterfield St, Springfield, Mo. That will at least get you to The Food Channel’s property. Once you spot the building you’ll want to pass it a bit and wind your way around to the parking lot and main entrance that’s actually on W Butterfield Ave.
Once you’re in front of the building, the fork is hard to miss.
And don’t be shy about taking all the fork selfies your heart desires. The Food Channel employees love welcoming fork enthusiasts from all over the world.
Springfield, MO vs. Creede, CO’s Largest Fork
The giant fork in Springfield has long been touted as the world’s largest fork. But is that true?
It depends on who you ask.
When the fork was built in the 1990s it undoubtedly was the largest fork on record. We proudly held that title for almost two decades. However, in 2012 later a new fork in Creede, CO came on the scene.
The competing fork comes in at 40 feet. So it is 5 feet longer than our Springfield fork.
BUT there are a few issues in comparing the two forks:
- The Creeds fork lays sideways (see picture below) and is supported by a building while the Springfield fork stands alone in all its glory. So technically the Springfield fork stands higher but is not as long.
- The Springfield fork is made of stainless steel. A common material for making forks. The Creede fork is made of aluminum. So can it really even be considered an actual fork?
- While the Creede fork is 600lbs, the Springfield fork weighs in at a whopping 11 tons. Weight has to count for something, right?
- The widest part of the Creede fork is about half the width of the Springfield fork. If you looked at two dinner forks, one a bit longer but one much wider, which would you consider larger?
I think it’s clear where my vote for the title of World’s Largest Fork lies. I also fully admit that as a Springfieldian I may be just a bit biased.
The Creede fork can maybe hold the title for World’s Longest Fork. I’ll give them that much. But claiming World’s Largest Fork is definitely up for debate. Maybe one of the forks will eventually grab the attention of the Guinness Book of World Records to settle it once and for all.
My money is on our giant fork in Springfield.
Food Channel or Nestle? Like real estate, there is also the location, location, location aspect.