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World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker Is Up For Sale
Photo by Jose and Roxanne via Flickr
If you've driven from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, surely you've noticed the town of Baker, and its iconic giant thermometer. In recent years the 134-foot-tall landmark hasn't been working, however, and a couple of the businesses on the property on which it stands have also gone kaput. Now its owner is searching for a remedy in the form of a buyer: The thermometer is up for sale for $1.75 million.
Photo by matchity via Flickr
For that bargain price, you can not only just claim ownership of the world's tallest thermometer, but you'll also be the owner of "the vacant gift shop at the base and the four-acre parcel along Baker Boulevard," Baron Castillo of Coldwell Banker Commercial in Los Angeles tells the L.A. Times. Castillo, who is handling the sale, says it's really just a matter of the new owner fixing it up. The thermometer's owner is Matt Pike from Orange County, who currently operates Baker's Bob's Big Boy. The Bob's Big Boy isn't legit, though, unfortunately, and Pike is in legal hot water for not paying franchise fees and using the well-known chain's signange.
Once upon a time, many may recall, the restaurant was called Bun Boy, which was owned by Willis Herron. Herron is the man who first shelled out the $700,000 to build the giant thermometer in 1991. But Herron sold the thermometer and Bun Boy to a business partner, who then sold it to Pike in 2005.
Pike has said recently it costs about $8,000 a month for the light bill for the thermometer. Since business isn't exactly booming in Baker--at least it hasn't been at the gift shop--that's been a tough end to meet.
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