A little rock gets a lot of attention in Bend

(NOVEMBER 17, 2023) A big rock has become really famous. It is in a parking lot in Bend. It's called "Big Obvious Boulder," or "Bob" for short. It's in a shopping plaza on Northeast Third Street and Franklin Avenue. But, be careful if you drive there. Bob is famous because cars often get stuck on it, and people have to help them.

Now a Facebook group called Bend Rock has almost 6,000 fans. They love Bob. They even made stickers and signs. People share stories and pictures. People take selfies with Bob. There's even a scoreboard showing that Bob has won against cars 6-1.

Terry Heiser was the first to hit Bob in 2002. He remembers the day well. He wasn't driving fast. He was just making a turn. His truck ended up on its side. He had to climb out of the window, and his friends came to help.

Some people worry about safety, but others say it's not a big problem. Some say it's bringing the community together, and they want to keep Bob where it is. Workers in the plaza say the owner doesn't want to remove the rock. The city hasn't received complaints. It says the rock is on private property, so the city can't remove it.