If you’ve been driving around Wells or Ogunquit this summer, you’ve probably run into the Roosters of Ogunquit — six-foot-tall, wildly colorful metal rooster statues standing outside gas stations, banks, restaurants, even someone’s front porch. Guests ask us about them constantly. “Is that… a rooster? Outside the bank?” Yes. Yes it is. And the story behind them might be the nicest thing you hear all week.

The Story Behind the Roosters of Ogunquit

It started with one family in Ogunquit. Dave and Sara LeBlanc had a small flock of these giant tin roosters decorating the lawn outside their home and their restaurant, The Omelette Factory — because their six-year-old daughter Pyper, who is autistic, adores them. She calls them her friends. They’re part of her routine, her safe space, especially during the school-year bus wait.

The town saw it differently, citing the roosters as unpermitted signage for the attached restaurant. After some back-and-forth, the LeBlancs worked out an agreement to keep a couple by their porch — but that left a flock of roosters without a home.

That’s where the town stepped in. Neighbors, local business owners, and complete strangers started putting up their own roosters in solidarity — turning a zoning dispute into a community-wide symbol of kindness and autism acceptance. What began as a handful of birds on one lawn has spread across Wells and Ogunquit, and even as far as New Zealand.

Where to Spot Them

Honestly — the Roosters of Ogunquit are everywhere. We’ve counted them outside gas stations, banks, restaurants, motels, and private homes all along the Wells and Ogunquit stretch of Route 1. No two look alike; each one’s hand-painted in its own colors and pattern.

Good to Know

• They’re not part of an official self-guided tour or map — it’s a genuinely grassroots thing, so half the fun is stumbling on ones you weren’t expecting.
• Follow along (and see how far it’s spread) on the Roosters of Ogunquit Facebook page.
• They’re on private property, so admire and photograph from the sidewalk or roadside rather than walking up onto someone’s lawn.

Make It a Game

Turn your stay into a rooster hunt. See how many different ones you can spot before you check out — we’ve personally counted over a dozen between Wells and Ogunquit alone. Comment below with your final count!

Hungry after all that hunting? Grab a slice at Seacoast Pizza and Pasta — it’s right in Wells too.