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117 parks in 7 regions

Lux Mundi ("Hug Me Jesus")

Monroe · Warren County

Giant statue

Visiting information you can trust

Check before driving — this site is seasonal, approximate, privately run, or otherwise uncertain. Confirm hours and access with the official source above.

Content last reviewed: September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source: Official page
Location confidence: Approximate — boundary or exact point not confirmed
Approximate location, use the address
Check current conditions: Official conditions or closures
Reservations or tickets: Tickets or admission info

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

A 52-foot fiberglass Christ with open arms beside I-75, built after lightning burned down its 62-foot predecessor, nicknamed Touchdown Jesus, in 2010.

First statue: King of Kings, unveiled in 2004: about 62 feet tall and 16,000 pounds, styrofoam and fiberglass over a steel frame, sculpted by James Lynch to a design by Brad Coriell, at a cost of about $250,000
Nicknames: Touchdown Jesus, for its raised arms, and Big Butter Jesus, for its smooth, waxy look
Fire: Struck by lightning on the night of June 14, 2010; burned to its steel skeleton within minutes, with flames reported around 100 feet high, and also damaged the church's adjacent amphitheater
Damage: About $700,000, with no injuries reported
Replacement: Lux Mundi, meaning Light of the World, by sculptor Tom Tsuchiya: about 52 feet tall, in fire-resistant composite materials with a built-in lightning-suppression system, assembled in September 2012
Nickname: Hug Me Jesus, for its open, welcoming pose

The story

In 2004, Solid Rock Church, a nondenominational congregation along Interstate 75 north of Cincinnati, unveiled a 62-foot statue of the risen Christ, arms raised, towering over its amphitheater and baptismal pool. Sculptor James Lynch built the roughly $250,000 statue, styrofoam and fiberglass over a steel frame, to a design by Brad Coriell, meaning it as a devotional landmark for the church. Passing drivers quickly gave it irreverent nicknames: Touchdown Jesus, for its resemblance to the raised arms of Notre Dame's famous mural, and Big Butter Jesus, mocking its smooth, waxy finish. It became one of Ohio's best-known roadside sights, drawing photographs from the interstate and inspiring novelty songs.

Its run ended on the night of June 14, 2010, when lightning struck the statue during a storm and set its foam-and-fiberglass shell on fire. Despite lightning rods built into the design, it burned rapidly down to its bare steel skeleton, with flames reported around 100 feet high, and the fire also damaged the church's nearby music theater, for about $700,000 in total losses. Rather than rebuild the same design, the church commissioned Cincinnati sculptor Tom Tsuchiya to create a new, fire-resistant statue named Lux Mundi, Latin for Light of the World, assembled in September 2012 with a lightning-suppression system built in from the start. Standing 52 feet tall with open arms, it quickly earned its own nickname, Hug Me Jesus, and still stands on the property today.

The statue standing today is Lux Mundi, not a cross; some sources describe the site loosely as 'Monroe,' though the church's street address is in Lebanon.

Visiting

Status

Visible from I-75; church property

Hours

Visible from the interstate at any time; the church grounds are generally open during daylight, but services still take place on site, so visit respectfully.

Cost

Free.

Phone

513-423-7040

Please note

Park in the church lot and walk the path around the small pond in front of the statue, which faces west toward I-75.

Address

903 Union Rd, Lebanon, OH 45036

More information →Directions Show on the map

The pin on the map is approximate; use the address for directions.

Hours, prices and even the attractions themselves can change. Confirm before a long drive.