Answering the most common questions (pulled from the TikTok comment section) surrounding the boulder that took over my summer and changed my life.
Chapter 1: Before the Dig
Q: Why remove it at all? Was it bothering you?
Yes and no. It was sticking out of the ground JUST enough to prevent me from pushing the mower over it, so I always had to go around it. It was just one of those slightly annoying nuisances… until I saw a video on my feed of a guy removing a boulder! Then I started to wonder…
Q: How long had the boulder been there?
Roughly 12,000 to 20,000 years. During the last Ice Age, glaciers bulldozed their way across North America. Along the way, they picked up rocks from far-off places and dropped them randomly when the ice melted. Geologists call these “glacial erratics.” After being dropped off in this area, I’m sure the thing was scooted around multiple times by farmers and builders who were annoyed by its presence.
Q: Wait… so this rock isn’t from Indiana?
Probably not. Mine’s granodiorite, common in Canada and the northern U.S., but not native to Central Indiana bedrock. That means this rock took a one-way trip courtesy of an ice sheet the size of half a continent.
Q: Why are there smaller rocks mixed in around it?
Think of glaciers as nature’s ultimate rock dump trucks. They grind up mountains, pick up chunks along the way, and deposit them like trail mix when they melt. So all of the smaller pieces of different rocks traveled WITH the big boulder, and they’ve been rolling around in nature’s rock tumbler for thousands of years!
Q: Where do you live?
Central Indiana!
Chapter 2: During the Dig
Q: How much money did you spend to get it removed?
This has to be the most asked question and source of the most insults. I didn’t spend a dime, and that’s what caused the delays. SURE, I could’ve immediately rented a machine and ripped this thing out, but I wanted to try to dig as much of it out by hand, let the video gain traction, and hopefully find a company willing to do the digging in exchange for some internet promotion! The plan, even though painfully slow, worked out perfectly!
Q: How much did it weigh?
Using some rough measurements and an online calculator, we predicted 12-15,000 pounds. However, when they lifted the boulder, the crane has a built in scale that was able to reveal the weight to be 10,300 lbs. Still a monster!
Q: Did someone actually walk under the boulder while it was in the air?
The camera angle made it appear as though a worker walked right under the suspended boulder. The truth is that he was slightly off to the side!
Q: Was it dangerous?
Any time you’re lifting a 5-ton chunk of Earth into the air, there are dangers present. The crane company was very professional though, and we were only in danger of being extremely amazed at the rock floating through the air!
Q: How did you convince your wife to let you do this?
I didn’t! The wife has been very supportive of this entire thing, and is even the one holding the camera in most of my live streams. She enjoys being involved and supporting me in the things that interest me, especially when those things keep me home the way this rock did!
Q: What was under the boulder?
Nothing crazy, but we did find some additional rocks that had been smashed by the large boulder.
Q: At what point did you know there was no going back?
When random people online started saying “you’ll never get it out.” That’s like telling me “don’t press this button.”
Q: Did you really try with an F-150 first?
Lol… yes. But this attempt was made knowing that it wouldn’t pull the rock out. We truly wanted to see if the rock would budge and reveal the edges a little better.
Chapter 3: After the Dig
Q: Couldn’t you have just left it there?
Sure! But where’s the fun in that!? It’s been a lot of hard work, but I don’t regret anything.
Q: Why is it still in your yard?
Because now it’s the most epic lawn ornament in the neighborhood, a source of pride, and one heck of a conversation starter.
Q: What’s next for the boulder?
We’re talking landscaping, a possible carved nameplate, and maybe some LED lighting so she looks dramatic at night.
Q: Did TikTok cover the removal cost?
We are definitely in the green with this whole project. I’m still looking to monetize further and would love to connect with brands!
Q: Are you going to name it?
Yes. The name reveal will be posted when we install the lighting!
Q: Will you do this again if you find another one?
I’m currently leaning no… but another Boulder Saga WOULD be a lot of fun!
Bonus Boulder Facts for the Geology Nerds
- Granodiorite is an intrusive igneous rock — basically granite’s cooler cousin. It formed deep underground as magma cooled slowly, giving it those nice crystal patterns.
- My rock’s journey likely started in what’s now Canada. As the Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced, it plucked the rock from its home and carried it south.
- When the ice melted in Indiana, my rock got dumped in place — and sat there for thousands of years until one stubborn human with a TikTok account said, “Not on my watch.”
Builds By Brendan - The Boulder Bro 