Enchanted Highway

Route of the Enchanted Highway

The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures^[1] constructed by Gary Greff at intervals along a 32-mile (51 km) stretch of a two-lane highway in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of North Dakota.

Description

The road has no highway number, although its northern portion is 100+1⁄2th Avenue SW (counting from Bismarck, 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]