Enchanted Highway
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures[1] constructed at intervals along a 32-mile (51 km) stretch of two-lane highway in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The road has no highway number, although its northern portion is 100 1⁄2th Avenue SW (counting from Bismarck, ND, which is 85 miles [137 km] to the east). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. The Enchanted Highway extends north from Regent to the Gladstone exit on Interstate 94 east of Dickinson. Each sculpture has a developed pull-out and several have picnic shelters, and Geese in Flight is visible from the highway, having won a Guinness World Record for largest scrap metal sculpture.[2] The highway passes through scenic farm country with intermittent buttes. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.[3]
Sculptures
- The Tin Family (1991)
- Teddy Rides Again (1993)
- Pheasants on the Prairie (1996)
- Grasshoppers in the Field (1999)
- Geese in Flight (2001)
- Deer Crossing (2002)
- Fisherman's Dream (2006)
- Spider Webs (In progress)
See also
U.S. Roads portal
References
- "Largest Scrap-Metal Sculpture". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- "Enchanted Highway Sculptures - Regent, North Dakota".
- Donovan, Lauren (June 3, 2012). "Enchanted Highway Sculptor Adds Whimsical Inn to Regent". The Bismarck Tribune.
External links
- Regent and the Enchanted Highway area placemarks for Google Earth.
- Zoomable pictures of each site
- Regent, North Dakota, and the Enchanted Highway, a Photo Gallery by J. Q. Jacobs.
- Hettinger County Historical Society Museums, Regent, North Dakota.
- North Dakota Tourism website
- National Geographic Top 10 U.S. Roadside Attractions
- The Enchanted Highway at Dakota Search