Popeye The Sailor in Arkansas

Remember Popeye the Sailor Man? Alma, Arkansas does and it erected a statue of everyone's favorite sailor to prove it. If you're a big Popeye fan, you can also check out the spinach can water tower that proclaims Alma the spinach capital of the world. The spinach can is found off U.S. 71 North and also proudly sports Popeye the Sailor man.

The first Popeye statue was built in 1987 out of paper mache and fiberglass. Tourists in cars and buses would stop by to see it, laugh and leave. Residents of Alma were a bit embarrassed by it all so they decided to either get rid of the statue or make it into something to be proud of. After much discussion and debate, paper mache Popeye was retired in 2007 and replaced with the bronze statue and fountain now in Alma's town square. The original statue is in a store called Kustom Kaps right up the street.

Why all the Popeye love in Alma? Alma is the home of Allen's Canning Company, which cans spinach. They are also home to the annual Spinach Festival held the 3rd weekend each April.

To see Popeye for yourself like Lil Dude Troll did, take exit 12 on I-40 and go south on US 71. Go through the traffic light, bear left, then turn right onto Fayetteville Ave./Hwy 162 into downtown. The Park is near the end of town, on the right.

Popeye and Lil Dude Troll in Alma, Arkansas

Remember Popeye the Sailor Man? Alma, Arkansas does and it erected a statue of everyone's favorite sailor to prove it. If you're a big Popeye fan like Lil Dude Troll is, you can also check out the spinach can water tower that proclaims Alma the spinach capital of the world.

The first Popeye statue was built in 1987 out of paper mache and fiberglass. Tourists in cars and buses would stop by to see it, laugh and leave. Residents of Alma were embarrassed that people were laughing so they decided to either get rid of the statue or make it into something to be proud of. After much discussion, paper mache Popeye was retired in 2007 and replaced with the bronze statue and fountain now in Alma's town square. The original statue is in a store called Kustom Kaps right up the street.

Why all the Popeye love in Alma? Alma is the home of Allen's Canning Company, which cans spinach. They are also home to the annual Spinach Festival held the 3rd weekend each April.

To see Popeye for yourself like Lil Dude did, take exit 12 on I-40 and go south on US 71. Go through the traffic light, bear left, then turn right onto Fayetteville Ave./Hwy 162 into downtown. The Park is near the end of town, on the right.

The Spinach Capital of the World

The large statue of Popeye in downtown
Crystal City

For 32 years, Crystal City, Texas, the self-proclaimed "Spinach Capital of the World" has held their annual Spinach Festival on the 2nd weekend in November. Lil Dude Troll hasn't made it to the festival yet, but he visited the town to see the statue of Popeye, one of his hero's, and now he is looking forward to coming back for the festival. No doubt fun will be had by all!

Yes, Lil Dude is in this picture.
Here's a hint - Popeye's feet.

Lil Dude dropped in on the good folks at the
Festival Assoc.

The very nice and friendly Elsa of the Festival Association.
They have all kinds of cool spinach-themed goodies.
Lil Dude especially liked the spinach can piggy bank! 

Popeye in Arkansas

At the Popeye statue located in Alma, Arkansas, which calls itself the spinach capital of America. There are more statues erected to honor Popeye The Sailor Man than any other Sunday Funnies celebrity. Interestingly, all known statues are located in land-locked towns far away from any ocean.

I yam what I yam!