The New and improved Muddy--still the same old fish at heart, just a little brighter on the outside!
Did you know Muddy the Mudcat was first installed back in 2010? It was built by Mike Walker, who actually froze a real mudcat to use as his model. Since that time, Muddy has become one of Dunnville’s most loved landmarks.
Over the years he’s needed a little TLC — kids climbing into his mouth and pulling off whiskers meant the first restoration took place in 2019 by a group of volunteers from Dunnville Rotary and Lions Club.
The restoration of Muddy, has been a vibrant community effort, spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Dunnville with help from some valued Lions Club Members. With the support of two beautification grants from Haldimand County, the project has not only focused on reviving Muddy himself but also enhancing the garden that surrounds him.
In 2024 a dedicated team of volunteers and paid labourers were hard at work for five weeks restoring Muddy to his original glory. The process included a good bath and extensive fiberglass repairs, ensuring the statue stands strong for years to come. Then in August of 2025 Muddy underwent a thorough pressure washing, followed by a fresh coat of paint with the guidance from a marine biologist to reflect the true colours of a Grand River Mudcat.
With a $4,000 beautification grant from Haldimand County, $7752.73 covered by the Rotary Club and $6,740 in kind donations from community companies, Muddy was fully restored and repainted!
The County also provided a $1,750 beautification grant along with $831 from Rotary and 3,393 from community companies the garden under Muddy has been revamped with Riverstone to make it look realistic.
This initiative reflects the community's commitment to preserving local heritage and beautifying public spaces.