The well-known Great Dane dog statue that has stood guard over Great Dane’s Savannah corporate office on Lathrop Avenue since 2002 is being relocated to the company’s largest manufacturing plant located in Brazil, Indiana.
Great Dane’s Savannah office relocated to a new facility on Technology Circle in August.
“ ‘Champ’ the Great Dane has been a fixture in the community and a great attraction for tourists for many years,” said Chris Hammond, Great Dane’s executive vice president of Sales. “We will miss having him in Savannah, but we’re excited for him to move to our facility in Brazil, Indiana, where he will greet customers, employees, suppliers and the Brazil community as a representative of our brand.”
The Great Dane statue was originally constructed in 1953 for a trailer dealership in Orlando, Florida, that was acquired by Great Dane in the late 1960s. In 2002, Great Dane moved the statue to its Savannah office, but it was in a state of disrepair. The company commissioned Savannah Shipyard to refurbish the statue, removing the former papier mache construction and replacing it with fiberglass. Since its renovation, the statue has stood strong, overlooking Bay Street and becoming a beloved Savannah attraction for both locals and tourists.
“We hope Champ will bring as much joy to the Brazil community as he has to Savannah for the past 15 years,” Hammond said.