Near Fairmead in Madera County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Mammoth Orange
In the early days of highway travel, there was very little in the way of convenience for hot and tired travelers. In 1926, Frank “Pops” Pohl got the idea to open a giant orange shaped juice stand in Tracy, Ca. The stand sold orange juice, lemonade, orangeade, and grapefruit juice, and became very popular.
Pops soon expanded his operation, and his “Giant Orange” juice stands appeared on many California highways. In 1947, the Mammoth Orange was built in Chowchilla, near old Highway 99 and Robertson Blvd. The stand first sold various juice blends and hot dogs. As hamburger stands became more popular, the Mammoth Orange began to sell “Alaska Sized Burgers and Texas Sized Fries.” Its owner, Margaret “Peggy” Dorler, could take ten orders and never pick up a pen. In 1954, due to construction of the “new” Highway 99, the Mammoth Orange was moved to the intersection of Highway 99 and Ave 22 1/2 in Fairmead, Ca.
In 1991, the Stiggins family bought the Mammoth Orange, and the competing Whoa Boy Orange across Highway 99. The Whoa Boy Orange closed in the mid 1990’s. Still very popular, the Mammoth Orange finally closed in 2008, a victim of highway realignment construction. It was the last operating giant orange on Highway 99. The name Mammoth Orange is quite fitting, since history now shows it probably had mammoth fossils buried under it at the Fairmead location.
Erected 2021 by E Clampus Vitus Grub Clutch Chapter 41-49.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list.
Location. 37° 3.685′ N, 120° 11.637′ W. Marker is near Fairmead, California, in Madera County. Marker is on Avenue 21 1/2. Located at the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19450 Ave 21 1/2, Chowchilla CA 93610, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Berenda (approx. 2.8 miles away); Dixieland School (approx. 3.1 miles away); Chowchilla Union High School (approx. 5.4 miles away); Railroads of Chowchilla (approx. 5½ miles away); a different marker also named Railroads of Chowchilla (approx. 5½ miles away); Dairyland School (approx. 7.1 miles away); Madera County Library Service (approx. 10.1 miles away); Madera to Yosemite Stage Route (approx. 10.1 miles away).
Additional keywords. Giant Orange
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2023. This page has been viewed 1,358 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on November 1, 2023. Photo 1. submitted on June 11, 2023, by Patrick Duggan of Los Angeles, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.