Richard Blaze, hired by a local restauranteur, created the sculpture over five years starting in 1980.[2] It represents the impact the species has had on the culture of South Florida.[3] It was made mostly in Marathon, Florida. When it was finished in 1985, the restaurant that had commissioned the sculpture had closed, so Tom Vellanti bought it and displayed it at his Treasure Village. The village was eventually turned into a school, so Betsy was put into storage. In 2009, the sculpture was moved to the Rain Barrel Village and was made into a roadside attraction.[1] During transport, the lobster's twelve legs had to be removed and later reassembled.[4]
^Shaughnessy, Carol (August 11, 2021). "Betsy and the Naked Chefs". Keys Voices. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
