BATH, Pa. — If you've ever driven down the main thoroughfare in Bath, you've likely seen the eclectic collection of animals that stand guard on the lawn at 308 W. Main St.
The animals have been there for decades — part of life for those who grew up in the small borough of 2,800 for those who grew up there, or just passed through frequently.
Now, there's up for sale, and some are garnering bidding wars — racking up pricetags of more than $800.
- Animal figurines from a recognizable "yard zoo" are up for auction until June 21 at 5 p.m.
- Bidding wars have already brought the price up to $800 on one item
- The sculptures include gorillas, a giant goldfish, as well as E.T. and Yoda
A Facebook post advertising the auction now has more than 500 shares, and the comments include people tagging friends and reminiscing over seeing the animals many times.
"A sleepy suburban home has about 20 big animals and fish and dinosaurs parked out front, where normal people would plant something else -- like azalea bushes. There's a "No Trespassing" sign in the yard, but the creatures can be easily seen from the sidewalk, on the main drag through town."Roadside America entry for the "yard statue zoo," submitted to the website by Randy Hoopes
The online auction is live until 5 p.m. June 21.
Animals looking for a new home
Among the animal statues listed are a gorilla, goldfish, dinosaur, giraffe and even a figurine of the title character from the 1982 Steven Spielberg movie "E.T." (E.T. currently stands in the window of the home.)
At the time of writing, bidding for the E.T. figure is at $425.
According to the listing of the Velociraptor, erroneosly titled "valasta raptor," bidding is at $400, with 65 bids — indicating a bidding war already is underway.
A Yoda figurine, from the "Star Wars" film series, is at $230.
The most expensive figure so far is a giant Sasquatch. Bids are at $800.
Yard statue zoo
The collection has become such a staple of Bath that it once had an entry in "Roadside America," a national guide for "off-beat tourist attractions."
The "Roadside America" entry called "Bath Lawn Zoo" has since been removed online, but according to an archive, it read: "A sleepy suburban home has about 20 big animals and fish and dinosaurs parked out front, where normal people would plant something else — like azalea bushes."
An editor's note added: "The oversized fiberglass menagerie has been accumulating gradually on the lawn for the past five years. The 'No Trespassing' sign is a recent addition."
The home and its owners
On Monday, there were fewer animals in the home's front yard (they've been moved to the backyard) and a lawn sign advertises the online auction.
The person advertising the auction through Facebook buy and sell groups, Ann Kostishak Hansen, appears to have a connection to the owners of the home and figurines.
Hansen did not respond to a request for an interview, but commented on several of the Facebook posts about the yard zoo, saying the owner of the home is fine, and is getting rid of the ornaments because he is moving.
The owners of the home did not respond to requests for an interview, and no one answered a knock at the door of the home.
