An Oasis of Absurdity

The first thing you see when you walk through the doors of the Dort Mall in Flint, Michigan, is an old helicopter. It is followed by five or six old row boats and dorys. Next is the root system of a sycamore fig tree and then a huge fish tank with an enormous fish circling around.

The walls are covered with lighted vintage neon and tin signs. Airplanes and soapbox derby cars suspend from the ceiling along with every imaginable kind of sign and advertising. Every square inch of the space is occupied by some artifact from American history: from the 1600s to the present. Absorbing it all may just put you into sensory overload.

The collector of this astounding compilation is Bob Perani, a local minor league hockey star and the founder of the largest independent hockey store in the country. The flagship store anchors the mall that once fell on hard times as the surrounding community struggled with drugs and violence. Things are getting better, though. Dort Mall serves as an oasis of absurdity in an often harsh world. Who cannot smile at the Dort Mall car, after all? Not to mention the full-sized anamatronic elephant or the one-of-kind heli-boat? Or the gigantic golf ball or the 1910 drunk tank from Otisville, Michigan. And, yes, that is Spiderman on top.


The Dort Mall also features a large selection movie memorabilia, including life-sized versions of R2D2 and C3PO, Yoda, Darth Mal and Darth Vader among many, many others. There is also a huge selection of movie miniatures including a large viking ship that was used in Ben Hur and a variety of mini battle ships.

Perani definitely loves the nautical collection and there are some astounding finds: Original deep sea diving suits, a wooden periscope from one of the first submarines, carved figures from the front of ships in an astounding variety and cannons in varying conditions.

There are merry go rounds and carnival rides, "Wate and Fate" machines and other carnival contraptions, most in working order. If a sign can be lit, it is, and the same goes for the rides and machines.

The collection is called the "Museum," but I really wouldn't go that far. Many of the items are tagged, but many others are just there. Every few years part of the collection is sold to make room for more stuff. And, oh, the stuff that is there.


Dort Mall is located on Dort Highway about a mile and a half south of I-69 in Flint, Michigan. A visit is highly recommended. Take a camera and eat at the Star Diner. Be sure to order a coney dog. They only use Koegel hot dogs and everyone knows those are the best. Made in Flint, by the way.

Jet