An "unspecified electrical short" was eventually blamed for causing the spark that ignited the 52-foot-tall, 60-year-old towering cowboy, leaving behind only a steel frame and the two sleeves of his Dickies Western-wear shirt.
Attendees at the State Fair of Texas react to the destructive fire that burnt through the iconic Big Tex.
His 75-gallon hat, 50-pound belt buckle, jeans, boots and face, all destroyed by fire.
It didn't take the State Fair of Texas long to begin plans to replace the icon, though plans for the new Big Tex were shrouded in secrecy.
Ray Villeda, NBC 5
The rebuilt Big Tex makes his debut one day early after high winds pulled at the curtain hiding him.
bjbonnett
Big Tex catches fire on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012.
Flickr/carolina terp
Photo of Big Tex taken on May 3, 2012.
Getty Images
Scenes from the State Fair of Texas 2011.
Big Tex in his 2011 Dickie's Western wear.
State Fair of Texas
Big Tex, raised into position Sept. 26, 2011.
Big Tex wore yellow in 2012.
flickr.com/steevithak
Big Tex waves hello at the State Fair of Texas. (Credit: Flickr.com user steevithak)
BigTex.com
Big Tex watches over the State Fair of Texas every year dressed in his clothes from Dickies in 2010..
BigTex.com
Big Tex watches over the State Fair of Texas every year dressed in his clothes from Dickies.
BigTex.com
Big Tex watches over the State Fair of Texas every year dressed in his clothes from Dickies.
Greg Janda
Big Tex hollers "Howdy" to fair-goers in 2009.
Greg Janda
Big Tex says "Howdy" to all the fair-goers
Telemundo
Big Tex sends a green message at the 2008's State Fair of Texas.
Flicker/stepnout
Big Tex at the State Fair of Texas, taken on October 8, 2007.
Flicker/stepnout
Big Tex wearing red at the State Fair of Texas, photo taken on October 1, 2005.
After being constructed in San Antonio, the new Big Tex was secretly driven to Fair Park where it was installed in a reconstructed plaza under a drape -- the plan being to reveal Tex's new look the day the fair opened to the public.
Mother Nature had other plans, a strong wind spoiled the surprise and whisked away the ornamental covering being used to keep Tex hidden until his debut.
Big Tex catches fire and is destroyed while welcoming visitors to the State Fair of Texas.
The new Big Tex, now 4 years old, boasts and even stronger steel frame, a fire suppression system and fire-retardant duds (lesson learned); he's also got a moving arm in addition to the moving mouth. He's taller, at 55 feet, and weighs 19,000 pounds more than his predecessor, bringing him to a total of 25,000 pounds.
Dallas design firm Studio Outside released renderings of the plans that show a limestone seating wall surrounding the center ring where Big Tex will stand. The rendering depicts the Big Tex’s old design — his new look will be revealed later this year.
Big tex
Big Tex IMG_0073 IMG_1143
Big Tex Incredible to witness! Sheri Mohr from Coppell
Big Tex
untitled Sent by Enhanced Email for Android
Big Tex
Big Tex
Photo courtesy of Joel Malone
Big Tex IMG_0073 IMG_1143
Fire
untitled Big tex on fire
State fair
Big tex burning
untitled Big Tex from Theal Shadden
untitled Big Tex Photo from Amy Baker.
