Inflatable Animal Greets Anglers at International Falls Bass Championship

Inflatable Animal "Toadzilla" Greets Bass Tournament Guests

In northern Minnesota, exceptionally large bass are known as "toads." So when the organizers of the International Falls Bass Championship erected an inflatable wildlife replica of the tournament's famed fish, the community quickly stepped up to give him a name. Toadzilla was born.

 Event president Gary Potter says the organization was looking for a way to grow their social media following and build a buzz around the event. The inflatable bass made a big splash at the 2016 tournament, bringing in more than 20,000 new "likes" on their Facebook page, thanks in part to Toadzilla's larger-than-life presence. The 30-foot-tall fish, his mouth open wide, leaps from a wave in pursuit of a lure cast by the park's longstanding mascot, Smokey the Bear.

Durable enough for years of service and a clear fan favorite, Toadzilla is sure to make regular appearances around town and at the annual tournament.

Partners Chief Zaruk and Seth England like to push the boundaries when designing a stage show, and this time it pays off. Not only do the trees add plenty of visual interest to the show, but they've even prompted concert goers to ask what they're really made of. We'd say that's quite a compliment to our designers!

Perhaps best of all though, these inflatable trees are both easy to set up and made to last. Because the band is working with a packed schedule that includes both domestic and international venues, durability was a critical consideration for Big Loud Mountain, and these stage props have definitely delivered.