A Life-Sized Homer Simpson Meme Has Become An Unlikely Tourist Attraction

There are a number of real-world landmarks that Simpsons fans might be curious to visit, from Universal Studios’ replica of Springfield, to Nevada Simpsons house that was tragically de-Simpson-ized. 

Well, now you can add some random house in Everett, Washington to the list. That’s because a homeowner there has recreated one of the show’s most popular memes: Homer emerging from (and then backing into) Flanders’ bushes, which was first seen in Season Five’s “Homer Loves Flanders.”

The gag’s online afterlife has inspired countless social media posts and at least one Chia Pet.

As reported by The Everett Herald, in 2023, local couple Ryan McMeans and Caitlin Swanson erected a life-sized version of Homer in the bushes as part of a Halloween decoration. They dug out an old pair of blue pants, bought a white shirt from Value Village and ordered a rubber Homer mask off of Amazon. Then they attached it all to a wooden stand and stuck it inside their hedge. 

While the display was only meant to be temporary, after a stranger shouted “I love your Homer!” as they drove past, McMeans decided to leave the dummy up. And it’s subsequently become a hit with local fans, who randomly show up to take photos with Homer Simpson. “We spend countless hours every week trying to maintain and improve the property. And yet, all anyone cares about is Homer,” McMeans told the newspaper. 

The owners also revealed that Homer does scare them at night sometimes, and stressed that they will leave him be, pointing out that “it could get tacky real quick if we added too much.”

Coincidentally, the city, which is 25 miles north of Seattle, already had a significant connection to the show. Matt Groening’s mother, Marge Wiggum, grew up in Everett. And his uncle became the principal at a local elementary school, hence why one of Everett’s parks shares a name with Springfield’s incompetent police chief.

And in September 1984, four million tires were set ablaze in Everett, and continued to burn for seven whole months. Given Groening’s familial connection, fans have theorized that this incident is what inspired Springfield’s perpetually-burning tire fire. 

So there’s perhaps no better location for an homage to Homer backing into bushes. And if the owners ever get tired of the dummy, they can just set him on fire in the backyard.