In Bethel, Maine, a 122-foot-tall snowwoman named Olympia stands as a whimsical marvel. Her eyelashes are crafted from old skis, her bright red lips from painted car tires, and she sports a massive red hat, a 100-foot scarf, and rope for blond hair. A 6-foot snowflake pendant adds sparkle. “She’s stunning, especially those eyelashes,” said Robin Zinchuk, local chamber of commerce director and a key force behind this quirky project. Despite single-digit temperatures, hundreds, including schoolkids, gathered for Friday’s dedication of this snowy giant. Bethel, a ski town of about 2,400, set the record for the tallest snowman, Angus, in 1999. With no one topping it, they decided to outdo themselves with Olympia.
Mark Bancroft, who provided a 150-foot crane, highlighted the tough winter with high fuel costs and harsh weather, saying, “Bethel responds by building a snowman!” to the sound of mittened applause. The senator whose name Olympia bears couldn’t attend but sent a humorous note about her fleeting monument. It took over a month, tons of snow, and many volunteers to build her. Engineer Jim Sysko led the effort, using concentric snow frames filled by crane and packed by volunteers like David Lynch, who braved 80-foot heights. Olympia, about 30 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty (minus its base), has 27-foot evergreen arms, an 8-foot carrot nose painted by kids, and wreath eyes.
The town’s pride shines through. “Everyone pitched in,” Lynch said. The ski eyelashes, donated by Sunday River resort, charmed onlookers like Iris Roberts from Missouri, who loved the playful spirit. Angus holds the Guinness record for tallest snowman, but residents are pushing for a snowwoman category for Olympia. Snow was plentiful, with over 100 inches this season, unlike 1999. Volunteers used man-made snow and airport runway piles. “We turned all this snow into something great,” said Darlene Ginsberg, directing traffic with coffee in hand. After the ceremony, Julia Reuter led a “Winter Wonderland” sing-along, with more snow forecast. Alex Kaufman credited Olympia for the snowiest winter in 12 years, joking, “Angus brought nothing; it took a woman to deliver.”
