Full Size Toothpick Stagecoach Headed for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Giddy Up!

ORLANDO, Fla. – (Nov. 18, 2009) – Mark Twain once described a Wells Fargo stagecoach from the mid-1800s as “an imposing cradle on wheels.”

Imagine what Twain would say today as he viewed an exact replica of a Wells Fargo stagecoach acquired by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – made from 1.5 million toothpicks.

  Life-size stagecoach is made from 1.5 million toothpicks

Warsaw, Indiana resident Terry Woodling spent 15 years building the stagecoach in his garage, using only toothpicks and glue. It is a replica of a Concord Coach, used by Wells Fargo to transport people and mail around the country during the 1800s.

Woodling, also known as “Mr. Toothpick,” made toothpick models for years, but the stagecoach was the first project he attempted on such a large scale. He developed an on-again off-again love affair with the stagecoach, as it required countless hours of painstakingly-perfect work to create. There were several mishaps along the way, the worst being when the stagecoach narrowly survived a fall from a hoist.

Will he attempt another massive toothpick project? “Absolutely not. No way,” chuckled Woodling. “There’s not enough money in the world to ever get me to do another one!”

As he neared completion, Woodling wanted to find a place to display the stagecoach where the public could view it and appreciate the detail of his craftsmanship. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! representatives quickly made a deal with Woodling to acquire the stagecoach for its world famous collection.

“This is a true, one-of-a-kind masterpiece,” said Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits and Archives for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!  “The 15 years it took to build is a testament to his determination, dedication and skill. It is truly unbelievable!”

The final unbelievable chapter will unfold on Tuesday, November 24 when the toothpick stagecoach is taken apart for shipping to Ripley corporate headquarters in Orlando. Woodling engineered the model so it breaks down into 45 separate pieces.

Woodling says he’s excited by the prospect of millions of Ripley’s visitors viewing his creation in the future.

There’s another benefit to the stagecoach heading south.  “My wife gets her garage back,” said Woodling. 

Terry “Mr. Toothpick” Woodling and Edward Meyer from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will be available for media interviews at Woodling’s home in Warsaw, Indiana on Tuesday, November 24 from 10 am to noon (central time) before the stagecoach is taken apart for shipping.  Media interested in covering the November 24 event, or who wish to arrange interviews in advance of that date should contact:

 Contacts:

Frank Wolff
Office – 407-339-0879
Cell – 407-637-6000
frank@wellonscommunications.com

Tim O’Brien
VP Communications
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
Obrien@ripleys.com
Office – 615-646-7465
Cell – 615-496-5949

Facts About The Wells Fargo Stagecoach:

• The official name for this stagecoach is the Concord Coach.
• These coaches were developed by carriage builder J. Stephen Abbot and master wheelwright Lewis Downing.
• Stagecoach traveled at a pace between 5 and 12 mph.
• It was required that stagecoach horses be changed every 12 miles of travel at a swing station – just like refueling a car.
• A Wells Fargo stagecoach could fit up to nine people on three benches inside.
• Initially, Wells Fargo stagecoaches carried mail and passengers all over America. When railroads were built, they were used to rush business when routes were inaccessible by railroad.
• By the end of the 1860s, Wells Fargo owned and operated the largest stagecoach empire in the world for the purpose of carrying mail and passengers. This included operation of the Pony Express.
• Each Concord Coach weighed about 2,500 pounds and cost $1,500 apiece.
• The unique feature of these coaches was the suspension. Instead of steel springs, the coach body rested on leather “thoroughbraces,” made of strips of thick bullhide. This feature spared the horses from jarring and gave the stagecoach a (sometimes) gentle rocking motion, leading Mark Twain to call it, “An imposing cradle on wheels.”
• Under the stagecoach driving seat, it was not uncommon to find a green treasure box. This box stored valuable items such as gold bars, coins, gold dust, legal papers and checks. These boxes were protected by Wells Fargo shotgun messengers to keep them from road thieves. Wyatt Earp was one of these shotgun messengers at one point.
• Today, Wells Fargo continue to sprinkle events with authentic reproductions of its infamous Concord Stagecoach. Upcoming event dates for stagecoach appearances can be found at this site: http://www.wellsfargohistory.com/stagecoach/stagecoach_events.htm. (No appearances are currently scheduled in Indiana.) Businesses can request a stagecoach appearance at their local Wells Fargo.

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment, entertaining more than 13 million annually at its 70-plus attractions in 13 countries.  In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! museums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.