A fascinating article in the Waynesville Daily Guide talks about the history of the Frog Rock landmark along Route 66 in Waynesville, Mo., and the urban legends associated with it:
Contrary to popular belief, the large frog-shaped boulder that sits on the side of Waynesville Hill wasn’t
always shaped like a frog.
And contrary to other popular beliefs, the rock did not get its shape magically after the Missouri Department of Transportation widened Historical Route 66 in the 1990s.
The creator of Frog Rock, aka W.H. Croaker, is local tattoo artist and former Army medic Phil Nelson. He also was known as a talented sculptor.
The tale of Frog Rock begins in 1996. The Guide reported:
So one day, Sheila Debo of Waynesville came to Nelson asking him to sculpt the ugly rock formation into something worthy of Waynesville Hill.
“I thought it would make for the perfect tiger head to go with the Waynesville mascot, but the people in the city had something else in mind.” Nelson said. “They wanted a frog. Someone on city council or something liked frogs. And that was it, I was to sculpt a frog.”
Nelson was offered money for the job, but he refused. His only request was that the city would provide him sculpting tools for carving. As an artist, he likes using his talents to give back. And since the city of Waynesville was his home, he felt he owed it to them.
And for the next nine months, Nelson spent his mornings from roughly 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. sculpting. He sculpted through the granite in all sorts of weather — through snowy mornings and though blistering heat— all free of charge.
The Frog Rock eventually led to the Frog Fest event each year in October. The landmark is listed on Roadside America, Missouri Tourism, and a few thousand other websites.
Also, the Guide reported, Mayor Luge Hardman during a City Council meeting Thursday night honored Nelson for creating Frog Rock. And Nelson said he’s tickled that his nine grandchildren and other area kids love it.
For years , this section of highway has always been referred to as “Waynesville Hill”. Nowdays if I have to give directions thru that area I always refer to it as “Frog Hill” . I think that is appropriate , what do you think?
Growing up in the area in the 60-70’s it will always be Waynesville Hill.
I grew up in St. Robert just down the road and spent lots of time in Waynesville. I remember the huge rock that stuck out the side of the hill that everyone said looked like a frog. So some kid went up to the rock one night and spray painted a smile on it. It looked like crap. So the city painted it to look like a frog to cover up the graffiti. This was around that same time quoted in the article. I don’t remember anyone actually carving it. And I went past it every single day on the way to school. I guess they needed a feel good story to go along with it
I rember riding the bus everyday and passing that big rock. I wasn’t here when it was modified but prior to it I always thought it looked like a giant eagles head. The point being the beak.