Big Brutus: Midwest Americana at its best
Big Brutus is one of those amazing and slightly eccentric pieces of Americana that curious travelers can find in the American Midwest…West Mineral, Kansas to be exact. Big Brutus is a shockingly huge mining machine that was used to dig for coal in the 60’s and 70’s. The giant shovel is not longer in use today but it is still standing as a reminder of West Mineral’s mining past and because, hey, who doesn't want to marvel at an 11 million pound (that’s over 5,000 tons) machine? The other nice thing about visiting Big Brutus is the spectacular slab of protected parkland that surrounds it. Yes, Big Brutus is found on the Mined Land Wildlife Area, a 15,000-acre expanse that’s a great stop for deer and turkey hunters, bass fishers, and campers (both tent and RV sites are available).