This South Carolina landmark is officially known as “The Peachoid.”
The Peachoid
This South Carolina landmark is located on Interstate 85 between exits 90 and 92, near Gaffney, South Carolina. It stands four-stories tall (about 150 feet) and to most looks like a giant butt. It’s the cause of many a chuckle for motorists not familiar with the sight. Some even refer to it as the “Moon Over Gaffney.”
Peachoid History
Apparently, the idea for the Peachoid emerged at a late-night meeting of the Gaffney Board of Public Works. A water study that had been commissioned revealed that the town needed a new elevated water storage tank. The staff was pondering how to get the government to pay for it. They say it was Dick Crater (later known as “Peachoid King”) who at the time was Board Manager, who spoke the words: “Let’s build it in the shape of a Peach!” The idea gained popularity among the town’s citizens, and the project was born. Ultimately, federal funds were acquired from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments. The Peachoid was built by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in 1981. The peach design may also have been a statement about how South Carolina producing more peaches than its “Peach State” neighbor, Georgia.
