In perhaps some of the weirdest news yet to emerge from Portland, thousands of “cult” fans of the airport’s aquamarine carpet are flocking to take selfies or “footies” before it’s gone.
The carpet has gone viral, with nearly 30,000 selfies or “footies” as they’re call them, being posted on Instagram, with the hashtag #pdxcarpet and the callout: “Outdated, unfashionable, and absolutely charming. Like your grandpa with a shoe fetish. Look down@ your feet, take a pic, and TAG me for a regram!” You can also follow the carpet on Facebook, where it has nearly 12,000 likes.
Additionally, the carpet has inspired a website of gear, and of course, its own Rogue IPA. You can even snag a piece of the carpet if you wish, as the Port of Portland is selling it in 1,000-square-foot increments.
The event is so spectacular, the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams did a segment on it. Several fans showed up to pay respects, including one woman who said she was “super-duper bummed” enough about it to get a tattoo on her back of the carpet’s pattern.
Oregon Live asked many carpet fans why it was such a big deal to them? One military man said this: “When I finally arrive in Portland and see that carpet it just means I’m home now. I get so tore up over it I feel like rolling all over the carpet because to me it’s a symbol of being where I belong.”
Watch the NBC news report below:
