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Woody's Ilk LbNA #48257

Owner:Lone Star Quilter
Plant date:Jun 18, 2009
Location:
City:Leona
County:Leon
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: topcrop
Last found:Feb 23, 2013
Status:FFFFFFFaa
Last edited:Jun 18, 2009
Did you ever wonder what kind of woodpecker Woody is? I mean, there are a lot of different woodpeckers in the world and not all of them look like a woodpecker. Being a resident of East Texas, and having seen a few Pileated Woodpeckers, I’d say that Woody was definitely of that ilk. I mean, it’s obvious, isn’t it, with his shaggy collar, long beak, red crest and that wild laugh? Definitely a Pileated Woodpecker. Wrong! Walter Lantz, who was responsible for creating the Woody Woodpecker character, was on honeymoon with his wife, Gracie, in the mountains of California. They were kept up all night by raucous Acorn Woodpeckers, who were making Swiss cheese out of the roof of their cabin. Walter wanted to shoot the rowdy birds, but Gracie suggested that he make a cartoon character based on them instead, and that’s what happened. Never mind the fact that Woody doesn’t look a bit like an Acorn Woodpecker, and looks a lot like a Pileated Woodpecker. Mel Blanc did the laugh for the first 3 Woody Woodpecker cartoons, but after he signed an exclusive contract with another studio, Gracie Lantz secretly auditioned for the laugh and was chosen over many male auditioners. I still think there must have been a Pileated bird somewhere in Woody’s ancestry.

Directions:
Going south on I-45, take the Centerville and go east for .4 miles on Highway 7, then south on Highway 75 for 4.9 miles to the entrance to Fort Boggy State Park on the right. From Houston, take the Leona exit and go east on FM 977 to Highway 75, then north 2.9 miles to the park entrance on the left. The park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The park is day-use only and entrance (at this time) is free. Drive to the back of the park, staying right, and park at the “Nature Hike & Bike Trail” sign.

To the box:
Walk along the trail for about 100 yards to a T-junction and turn left. You’ll be on a dirt pipeline road/trail. Go another 100 yards or so and the trail will bear to the right. You should bear right with it. On your right, look for a small yellow diamond-shaped sign on a metal post that has the number “23” stenciled on it. From the sign continue 48 steps along the road and stop. Go left 12 steps off-trail to an 8’ to 10’ tall stump. On the right side of the stump, about 4’ to 5’ above the ground, you’ll find the box, held in place by part of the tree stump and hidden with a piece of bark. Please be careful not to break the wood that’s holding it in place and put it back as you found it. If, for some reason, the tree will no longer hold Woody’s box, you can place it on the ground and cover it with bark. Thanks. By the way, when you turn off I-45, look at the Exxon station on the left. Behind it, you’ll find Woody’s Smokehouse. They have wonderful jerky and other mouthwatering goodies.