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.

Geese in Flight sculpture

Description

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). 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; the highway passes through scenic farm country with intermittent buttes. Geese in Flight is visible from I-94, standing 110 feet tall and 150 feet wide.[2] In 2002, it was recognized as the world's largest scrap metal sculpture by the Guinness Book of World Records.[3]

History

Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project and began building it in 1989, and continues to maintain the sculptures.[4] He took inspiration from local wildlife and historical figures, including Theodore Roosevelt.[5] Greff's intention was to revive his hometown of Regent, after decades of population and economy decline.[4][2] In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent, continuing the theme of the Enchanted Highway.[6] The state of North Dakota provided $75,000 in its 2019-2020 budget to assist Greff in maintaining the sculptures; prior to that year, he had used his own money and donations to pay for upkeep.[4][5] The highway attracts approximately 6,000 tourist cars per year.[2]

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)
  • Grasshoppers in the Field
  • Fisherman's Dream
  • Pheasants on the Prairie
  • The Tin Family
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See also
  •  U.S. Roads portal

References
  1. "Largest Scrap-Metal Sculpture". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  2. Riddle, Holly (2019-07-26). "Man's 'Enchanted Highway' saved a small American town from dying". Accuweather. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  3. "Enchanted Highway Sculptures - Regent, North Dakota".
  4. Dura, Jack (2019-05-07). "ND lawmakers give $75,000 for Enchanted Highway maintenance". The Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  5. "American Wonders: North Dakota's "Enchanted Highway"". CBS News. 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  6. Donovan, Lauren (2012-06-03). "Enchanted Highway Sculptor Adds Whimsical Inn to Regent". The Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-21.

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