Jim Fisher of Eagle Grove gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “The great outdoors.” If you’ve spent any amount of time in or around Eagle Grove, it’s likely you’ve seen Fisher’s unique outdoor oasis he has built over the years. Some of it he has created by hand – like their swimming hole and beach area, and other attractions are things he has recycled and repurposed – like old playground equipment (park slides that go into the swimming hole), a carousel, and even a Ferris wheel. However, these are just the tip of the iceberg and Fischer is always working on or expanding his own personal great outdoors.
Fisher’s eight-year-old granddaughter, Jacqueline Sanders, enjoys spending time out there with her grandpa, but she also enjoys helping him build parts of it. Last week, after school was dismissed, she was ready and waiting to help him repurpose an old aluminum TV satellite and turn it into a unique beach umbrella. Fisher had already set the four posts in the sand, but Sanders got to help put the “umbrella” piece on top of them. Yep, that’s right. This eight-year-old little girl got to run the crane to set their shade piece in place. But don’t worry, it wasn’t her first time operating a crane. In fact, she and her grandpa have even developed their own form of communicating directions.
“I give her hand signals about what to do,” said Fisher of how she knows whether it needs to go up or down or back and forth.
Sure enough, this little girl knew exactly what she was doing. With the satellite already attached to the crane, Sanders hopped up on the truck, and very slowly started raising the “umbrella” up. Fisher stood a safe distance away, giving her hand signals, watching and looking to make sure she cleared the trees and positioned the satellite perfectly above the poles. Sanders was very proud of the job she had accomplished.
Now they just have to wait for the temperatures to warm up so they can start enjoying their homemade beach umbrella this summer.
Fisher’s “great outdoors” setup is somewhat visible from Hwy 17 driving south out of Eagle Grove. Be sure to slow down a little and take a look at the set up. You might also want to take a look and see if you can spot a lighted “Eagle Grove” sign that hangs close to the Ferris wheel. Fisher said he is thrilled to have gotten that from an old Eagle Grove Greenhouses sign.
