Is there any more prominent of a cultural icon from the 1970s and 80s than André Roussimoff, a.k.a. André the Giant? From his phenomenal career in wrestling that included at least 5,000 matches to his many appearances on television and in movies (“The Princess Bride” may be our favorite…), the gentle giant known as André captured the hearts of people all over the world.
That being said, did you know André the Giant lived on a 160-acre ranch he owned in Ellerbe, North Carolina?
At the time of his death in 1993, he'd reached seven-feet-four inches and weighed in at 520 pounds. Roussimoff was a mere 46 years old when he died.
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From 1964 to 1973, Roussimoff wrestled in Paris, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Africa before arriving in the U.S.A. to wrestle for the World Wide Wrestling Federation beginning in 1973.
His career with the WWWF (which became the WWF) lasted until 1991, a little more than a year before his death in January 1993.
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Perhaps you remember the famous OBEY campaign that plastered the likeness of André the Giant all over town and cityscapes across the country in the 1980s.
And although André the Giant didn't die at his ranch (he actually passed away of congestive heart failure in his hotel in Paris just after attending his father's funeral), his will directed he be returned to The Ranch and that his ashes be buried in the garden. In accordance with his final wishes, they were.
While you can't go inside André the Giant's ranch house and there are certainly No Trespassing signs posted on the property, you CAN walk down memory lane with a visit to the Rankin Museum of American Heritage.
The museum holds dear many of Roussimoff's wrestling memorabilia and it's the real deal, too. You won't find another small town collection any larger or more complete than this one, which includes a pair of his wrestling shoes in SIZE 16.
It's worth a trip over to Ellerbe all on its own to see the collection of André the Giant's professional and personal memorabilia.
And when you're done — if you arrive at the right time — you can skip on over to the Dixie Burger to have a seat and scarf down the food that André the Giant so loved here in the town he called home.
Be sure to call ahead or at least check the internet to make sure Dixie B. is open when you plan to visit.
A little known fact about André: on more than one occasion, he was known to scarf down more than a hundred beers in under six hours (reportedly). But not here at the Dixie Burger.
Check out Ellerbe and learn more insider information about this beloved 1970s and 80s cultural icon by watching the following short video from YouTube user Random Earth:
Never been to Ellerbe and wondering where it is in North Carolina? It’s 77 miles east of Charlotte, 90 miles southwest of Raleigh and only 58 miles west of Fayetteville. It’s just the right distance for a day trip! Learn more about the Rankin Museum and check the museum’s hours here.
Do you remember André the Giant? Ever watch him wrestle (in person!)?? What’s your favorite Roussimoff movie? You know ours!
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