I'm a firm believer that at one point in time, dragons were real. The ocean is too deep and the world is too wide and there are too many matching stories for us to be able to say without a doubt that dragons didn't exist.

Whether we'll ever find proof of their existence is another matter entirely. For now, we'll just have to settle for some awesome recreations, like this one.

In Vandalia, Illinois, there is a massive, fire-breathing sculpture of a dragon. It's 35 feet long, and open to the public 24 hours a day. It was created in 1995 and moved to its current location six years later.

To make it spew fire, you just need a token, though I'd bet more than a few people channel their inner Game of Thrones and say "Dracarys." At least, I would.

Here's everything you need to know about how to get there and where you'll find it waiting.

More From ESPN 104.1 FM and 1170AM