On August 19, 2026, Florida State University announced a new interactive attraction at Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) that lets travelers recreate one of the university’s most recognizable traditions: “Plant the Spear.” 

The new display is located inside the FSU Welcome Center at the airport. It features a 7-foot, hand-painted aluminum replica of FSU’s flaming spear, installed in artificial turf and positioned in front of a floor-to-ceiling image of Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium.

That means travelers do not have to attend an FSU football game to recreate the iconic pose. They can step onto the turf, hold the replica spear and take photographs with the stadium backdrop. FSU is encouraging visitors to share their photos on social media using #PlantTheSpearTLH.

Who can participate?

The attraction is open to any traveler passing through Tallahassee Airport. FSU specifically highlighted:

• FSU students
• Alumni
• Football fans
• Families
• Campus visitors
• Travelers attending FSU gamedays
• People visiting for campus tours
• Students arriving for move-in week
• General airport travelers

So, it is designed as a public airport experience rather than an attraction exclusively for students or alumni.

How was the airport spear created?

The project is a collaboration involving FSU University Marketing, the FSU Master Craftsman Studio and FSU Athletics. The Master Craftsman Studio incorporated design elements from previous FSU projects, including the university’s large spear installation outside the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

The craftsmen created several parts of the airport installation by hand:

• Precision-cut metal feathers
• A leather-wrapped spear shaft
• A flame created using a specialized resin-layering technique
• Hand-painted aluminum construction

The result is intended to resemble the flaming spear used during FSU football’s traditional pregame ceremony.

Why did FSU add it to the airport?

FSU describes Tallahassee International Airport as an important gateway to Florida’s capital city. The university sees the installation as a way to showcase its presence in education, research and athletics while giving visitors a memorable welcome to Tallahassee. The spear installation is also part of a broader refresh of the FSU Welcome Center. The updated space includes new furniture and displays focused on the university’s academics, research and athletics.

Another FSU attraction is nearby

The airport installation isn’t the only FSU-related artwork in the area. Visitors can also see “Levitation,” a sculpture created by the FSU Master Craftsman Studio in collaboration with Florida State University, FSU President Richard McCullough, the City of Tallahassee and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

What is the “Plant the Spear” tradition?

The airport attraction is based on one of FSU football’s signature gameday traditions. Before home football games, Osceola rides Renegade, an Appaloosa horse, onto the field. Osceola then plants a flaming spear at midfield. The ceremony has become closely associated with FSU football and its gameday identity. The tradition dates back to September 16, 1978, when a student portraying Osceola rode onto the field on horseback before Florida State’s game against Oklahoma State.

The new “Plant the Spear” installation is one of the newest attractions at Tallahassee International Airport. FSU unveiled it on August 19, inviting travelers to stop at the FSU Welcome Center, pose with the 7-foot replica flaming spear and share their photos using #PlantTheSpearTLH. The timing is particularly relevant because FSU is preparing to welcome nearly 6,000 first-year students for its Class of 2030, with the fall semester beginning August 24.

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