Enchanted Highway facts for kids
The Enchanted Highway is a super cool collection of giant sculptures made from old metal! You can find them along a 32-mile (51 km) road in southwestern North Dakota, USA. These amazing artworks are some of the biggest scrap metal sculptures in the world!
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What You'll See on the Highway
This special road doesn't have a regular highway number. It stretches north from a town called Regent all the way to Gladstone, near Interstate 94.
Along the way, each sculpture has a special spot where you can pull over and take a closer look. Some even have picnic areas, perfect for a snack! The highway goes through beautiful farm country with cool hills called buttes.
One of the most famous sculptures is Geese in Flight. It's huge – about 110 feet (34 m) tall and 150 feet (46 m) wide! You can even see it from Interstate 94. In 2002, the Guinness Book of World Records said it was the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world!
The Story Behind the Sculptures
A local artist named Gary Greff came up with the idea for the Enchanted Highway. He started building these sculptures in 1989 and still takes care of them today. Gary got his ideas from local animals and famous people, like Theodore Roosevelt.
Gary's main goal was to help his hometown of Regent. The town's population and economy had been shrinking for many years. He hoped the highway would bring more visitors. In 2012, Gary even opened a motel in Regent called The Enchanted Castle, keeping the fun theme going.
The state of North Dakota has helped Gary with money to keep the sculptures looking great. Before that, he used his own money and donations. About 6,000 cars full of tourists visit the highway every year!
Amazing Sculptures to See
Here are some of the incredible sculptures you can find along the Enchanted Highway:
- The Tin Family (built in 1991)
- Teddy Rides Again (built in 1993)
- Pheasants on the Prairie (built in 1996)
- Grasshoppers in the Field (built in 1999)
- Geese in Flight (built in 2001)
- Deer Crossing (built in 2002)
- Fisherman's Dream (built in 2006)
- Spider Webs (still being built!)
Gallery
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Grasshoppers in the Field
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Fisherman's Dream
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Pheasants on the Prairie
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The Tin Family
