Who: Jim Gary was a native of Central Jersey and famous world-wide for his art. Though quite capable of more "serious" pieces (he won several awards), he's best known for his nearly full-scale dinosaurs made from automotive scrap metal. Once, when asked "Why dinosaurs?" Jim Gary replied, "Because people like them." And we do. They spawned a traveling exhibit: "Dinosaurs of the Twentieth Century" that spent three decades roaming the earth and breaking attendance records wherever they went.
What: This specific "Garysaurus" is a nearly life-sized Stegosaurus painted a vibrant green and still decorated with the Christmas lights that Jim draped around it. Anatomically, it is very close to accurate. Is it realistic or abstract based on his choice of medium and colors? This distinction, for which Jim Gary was unique, made him unclassifiable in artistic circles. The cache itself is easily classified: Magnetic micro. However it is NOT located anywhere on the sculpture or newspaper boxes. Due to the pandemic the hiding spot has been removed and the cache is now a bit easier. See the hint if you wish to make a quick find.
Where: His dinosaur sculptures are getting harder to find "in the wild" like this and many are only displayed seasonally. This excellent example of his art is located by one of Jim's favorite eateries - the Roadside Diner in Wall Township. He lived in nearby Farmingdale & ate here nearly every day. He would periodically swap out the sculpture changing from one giant colorful dinosaur to another. The building itself is a central Jersey classic. It opened in 1950 as the Silk City serving hearty breakfasts & lunches - a tradition that continues to this day. Bon Jovi posed here for the cover of their "Crossroad" album and the movie "Baby It's You" shot a scene here.
This cache is #2 in a series of caches near publicly available Jim Gary sculptures. Here's a full visual listing of confirmed sculpture locations in New Jersey.
This cache is certified Central Jersey!
