Benji’s statue will be unveiled and installed on the sidewalk at the southeast corner of Tennessee and Virginia streets as part of the city’s Krewe of Barkus celebration on Feb. 19, an annual Mardi Gras dog parade at Dr. Glenn Mitchell Park.
The sculpture commemorates 50 years since the movie was filmed in 1973 before it was released in 1974. McKinney served as the main outdoor shooting location for the film, according to the Visit McKinney website.
Fans of the movie can also recognize the movie’s haunted house as the now-retired Dowell House Bed and Breakfast located at 1104 S. Tennessee St, McKinney. Although it no longer functions as a bed and breakfast, it lives on as a stop on the Texas Classic Film Commission’s Texas Classic Movies trail.
Plans for the statue were first announced June 8 following a June 7 city council meeting where council members approved a $15,000 contract with sculptor Susan Norris.
A “Benji” movie screening is also planned for fall 2024 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film’s release.
More information about the sculpture unveiling can be found here.
