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Oakhurst plans to be bear carving capitol

New bear at True Value Home Center needs a name

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Friday, November 19, 2010, 5:27 PM)

By A 13-foot, 2,800 pound bear took up residence at the True Value Home Center on Highway 49 last week and he plans on staying there since Oakhurst will soon be trademarked as the ‘Carved Bear Capitol of the World.’

The Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce has filed the application and paid the $325 fee with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to secure the exclusive use of the slogan and finale approval is expected in March.

‘It’s truly amazing that slogan has not been trademarked by anyone else in the world,’ said Kathy McCorry, executive director of the chamber.

The 2011 chamber directory has already been updated with a different carved bear photo next to each heading in the publication.

‘We have also acquired the domain name: Carvedbearcapitol.com and we are building the website now,’ McCorry said.

The Bryant family, owners of True Value Home Center, decided to purchase the bear after hearing about the pending designation.

‘We decided to join others in the community that have decorated their businesses with a carved bear and as a way to celebrate the town’s new designation as the carved bear capitol of the world,’ Paul Bryant said.’

Bryant said the store is asking the public top come up with a name for the bear. Those with name ideas are asked to go the the store’s website at truevaluehomecenter.com and go to the facebook link to suggest a name.

‘For years, the Chamber, and for that matter the entire community, has felt we needed to establish ourselves as more than a Yosemite gateway community,’ said Kathy McCorry, executive director of the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce. McCorry said that with the support and direction from the chamber executive board, the Economic Development Committee was asked at the start of the year to look for a way to brand Oakhurst.

‘After all, Coarsegold is where the gold was, North Fork is the exact center of California, Ahwahnee has the stage coach run, Bass Lake is home to well…. Bass Lake, so Oakhurst could surely be known for something,’ said McCorry.

It turns out the idea of displaying carved bears around town had gotten underway years ago by many businesses so chamber officials decided it was time to implement a marketing plan around the bears.

‘Members of the Chamber Economic Development Committee decided to trademark Oakhurst as the ‘Carved Bear Capitol of the World,‘ McCorry said. ‘Our carved bears can be found inside and outside and they come in all shapes and sizes.’

McCorry said Oakhurst even has a Bear Park on Crane Valley Road (426) and a Bear Poster created to map out the locations of many of the carved bears.

‘The intersection of Highways 41 and 49 will eventually become another Bear Park with the addition of a 20 foot carved bear welcoming everyone to Oakhurst,’ McCorry said. The bear will be created from a tree provided by Supervisor Tom Wheeler.

Beginning next year children will have a passport game they can play to locate carved bears in Oakhurst and win prizes. ‘We hope to add ‘The Carved Bear Capitol of the World’ to the Welcome to Oakhurst sign,’ McCorry said. ‘In 2012 we will bring a new event to the community — The Carved Bear Festival.’

The True Value Home Center bear is the handiwork of Giovanni Dalpoggetto, owner of the Carving Station south of Coarsegold at 33742 Highway 41. It is the latest carved bear to join about 40 other outside bears in and around Oakhurst.

Dalpoggetto has been carving at the location for the past eight years. Prior to that he had sign carving stores in 15 Six Flags amusement parks. He began doing chain saw carvings in 2004 after leaning the skill from Dan Foursler of Redding.

He carves primarily bears and eagles out of cedar and redwood along with signs and recently furniture.