Trees of Mystery facts for kids
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues at Trees of Mystery. Note the size of the visitors at Babe's hoof.
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| Location | Klamath, California, USA |
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| Coordinates | 41°35′4.1″N 124°5′8.83″W / 41.584472°N 124.0857861°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1946 |
Trees of Mystery is a fun park and tourist spot in Klamath, California. It's located right along U.S. Route 101, a major highway. This park is famous for its amazing Giant Redwood trees. You can walk on special trails to see many unusual tree shapes.
One of the most popular parts is the Trail of Tall Tales. Here, you'll find about 50 cool chainsaw sculptures. These carvings tell stories about the legendary logger Paul Bunyan and his helpers.
The park is best known for its huge statues of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe. The Paul Bunyan statue is 49 feet tall, and Babe the Blue Ox is 35 feet tall! You can easily see them from the highway. These giant figures are made mostly from wooden beams, chicken wire, and stucco. The current Babe statue was built in 1950, and the Paul Bunyan statue was built in 1961. An earlier Paul Bunyan statue from 1946 was damaged by rain. In 2007, Babe's head, which weighed half a ton, fell off due to rain, but it has since been fixed.
In the early 1950s, a park brochure called it "Unbelievable but True, World's Largest Group of Natures Living Wonders."
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Discover the Amazing Trees of Mystery
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Trees of Mystery shows off many unique and interesting tree formations. These trees have grown into incredible shapes naturally.
Unique Tree Formations to Explore
Here are some of the special trees you can see:
- The Cathedral Tree: This is a group of nine trees growing in a half-circle from one root system. It's often used for weddings because it looks so grand.
- The Brotherhood Tree: This tree is named for its huge size. It measures 19 feet across and is 246 feet tall. It used to be even taller, but its top was likely hit by lightning.
- The Candelabra Tree: This tree formed when a large tree fell over. Younger trees then started growing straight up from its trunk, looking like a candelabra.
- The Elephant Tree: This tree has multiple branches growing from its base, making it look a lot like an elephant's trunk.
It's believed that the park's founders found these amazing tree shapes already there. They then decided to create an attraction around them. Because of its long history and unique style, Trees of Mystery is a classic roadside stop on the West Coast.
Ride the Skytrail for Forest Views
In 2001, the park added an aerial tramway called the Skytrail. This ride takes visitors on a 1/3-mile journey high above the forest floor. It gives you a new way to see the giant trees and the park. The ride ends at an observation deck where you can see the Pacific Ocean peeking out above the trees.
The End of the Trail Museum
The End of the Trail Museum has a large collection of Native American art, crafts, and tools. This private collection shows the rich history and culture of the region's first people. There's also a gift shop where you can find souvenirs. Many of these items are handmade and celebrate the colorful history of logging in the Pacific Northwest.
