Giant Metal Grasshoppers, Flying Geese, And A Tin Family Line A 32-Mile Road Through North Dakota
A flock of metal geese towers over the prairie beside a busy interstate. It holds a world record, and it is only the beginning.
A paved road leads south through farm country in North Dakota. Giant sculptures appear along the way, each one bigger than you expect.
Who builds a grasshopper taller than a house? A former teacher did, along with deer, fish, and a tin family.
He had a simple goal. He wanted travelers to leave the highway and visit his shrinking hometown.
Did it work? Thousands of curious drivers now make the trip every year.
Every stop is free, and most have room to park and stretch your legs. Kids love the sheer scale.
Which giant will you meet first on this North Dakota drive?
Start Under A Flock Of Giant Geese
Enchanted Highway begins at Exit 72 off Interstate 94, near Gladstone. The first sculpture waits right there, and you can see it from the interstate.
It is called Geese in Flight.
Gary Greff finished it in August 2001. Guinness recognized it in 2002 as the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world.
It stands 110 feet tall and 154 feet wide.
The numbers keep going. It weighs about 157,659 pounds, or roughly 78 tons.
That is a lot of metal shaped into birds.
The sculpture is free to see and open at all times. Nothing is staffed, and there are no gates.
That makes it an easy first photo stop on a North Dakota road trip.
One thing to know before you go. Geese in Flight is viewed from beside the interstate, so it does not have the same pull-out area the other sculptures have.
Plan your photo from the exit area and keep traffic in mind.
Think of it as the welcome sign for the whole drive. The remaining sculptures spread out along the 32 miles ahead, so settle in and enjoy the start.
Meet The Artist With A Hometown Mission
Gary Greff was a school teacher and principal from Regent. He started this project in 1989.
His hometown was shrinking, and he wanted to change that.
His plan was simple. Build something big enough to pull drivers off Interstate 94.
Then lead them down a road to Regent.
He taught himself the art. He drew ideas from local wildlife and from historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt.
The result is a road trip built on one person’s stubborn hope.
Maintenance is a big job. The state of North Dakota provided money in its 2019-2020 budget to help, after Greff had covered much of the cost himself.
The Friends of the Enchanted Highway Foundation also works to support the sculptures for the long term.
Greff is still creating. Spider Webs is mentioned as a future sculpture, and he finished a new knight and dragon in summer 2024.
A road that keeps growing is rare.
Knowing the story changes the drive. Each sculpture feels like a chapter in a very big letter to a small town.
Deer Crossing Is Built From Oil Well Tanks
Mile 3 brings the Deer Crossing sculpture. Gary Greff finished it in 2002.
A buck and a doe stand tall over the prairie.
Both animals are made from oil well tanks. The buck measures 60 feet wide and 75 feet tall.
The doe is 50 feet wide and 50 feet tall.
Bring a camera, because the scale is hard to believe in person. A parked car looks tiny next to those antlers.
Good luck getting the whole buck into one frame.
Every sculpture except the geese has its own pull-out area. Pulling off is easy and safe, and several stops include picnic shelters.
Some even add extras for families.
There is also a QR code sign in each parking lot. Scanning it opens an app with narrations that explain the sculptures and their background.
It is a smart way to learn more without reading a long sign.
After this stop, the road stretches out for a while. The next sculpture is many miles away, so enjoy the quiet farm country in between.
Grasshoppers Hide Among Giant Wheat
Around Mile 15, the road gets playful. Grasshoppers in the Field rises from the prairie.
Giant insects sit among huge blades of metal wheat.
It was finished in 1999, before the geese and the deer. That makes it one of the earlier pieces along the route.
The wheat fits the surrounding farm country well.
Visitors report that the first three sculptures sit far apart, about 15 miles between some of them. After this one, the stops come closer together.
That means you can park and walk around more often.
This is a good spot to let kids stretch their legs. Many sites include a pull-out, and some have shelters or play features.
One visitor mentioned a small maze at a stop.
Look at the fields on the way. Sunflowers and corn both appear in visitor photos, depending on the season.
The scenery shifts with the calendar.
The grasshoppers earn a place in the title for good reason. They turn a plain farm field into a very odd, very memorable picture.
Fish Leap Over The Prairie At Fisherman’s Dream
North Dakota has plenty of lakes, but here the fish swim through the sky. Fisherman’s Dream sits near Mile 19.
Gary Greff finished it in 2006.
Some of the large fish rise as high as 70 feet. They look like they are jumping from a hidden pond.
The prairie wind adds to the effect.
The sculpture is another free stop. Pull in, park, and walk around.
Nothing is locked or timed.
The stops now come closer together. The second half of the drive is shorter between sculptures, so you can keep a steady rhythm.
It helps if you travel with restless passengers.
Scan the QR code in the parking lot if you want the story. The app gives narrations about highlights and background for each site.
It turns a quick photo into a short lesson.
Some sites have donation boxes. They help with upkeep, since the sculptures need constant care.
A small gift goes toward keeping the road open for the next traveler.
A Pheasant Family Struts Near Mile 24
One visitor spotted real pheasants crossing the road, and they looked just like the big male bird sculpture. That is a nice bit of luck.
It shows how closely the art matches the land.
Pheasants on the Prairie stands near Mile 24. Gary Greff finished it in 1996.
It shows a pheasant family.
The sculpture is among the older pieces on the route. Its bold colors and shapes stand out against the fields.
Look for the long tail on the male bird.
Each stop has room to park. Several include picnic shelters, so this is a handy place for lunch.
Bring snacks, since the route is rural.
The road is paved and passes through farm country with the occasional butte. Driving is easy, but take your time.
A slow pace makes the sculptures feel even bigger.
Visitors suggest allowing about 90 minutes for the whole drive. More stops mean more time.
Pheasants are a good reason to linger.
Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again On A Bucking Horse
Theodore Roosevelt has a strong link to North Dakota. Here he returns as a larger-than-life figure.
Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again sits near Mile 26.
Gary Greff finished it in 1993. It shows the president on a bucking horse.
The pose is full of motion.
This sculpture shows Greff’s habit of using local history as inspiration. Wildlife and famous figures both appear along the highway.
It gives the road a mix of nature and story.
Plan on a quick stop and a longer look. The pull-out is easy to use.
Walk around to see how the pieces fit together.
Visitors who come from Theodore Roosevelt National Park will find this a fitting stop. The route can also connect with trips toward South Dakota.
One traveler noted a long, straight drive on Highway 79 afterward.
Try the QR code app here, too. Narration adds context about the sculpture and its place on the road.
It makes Teddy’s ride feel even livelier.
The Tin Family Was Where It All Began
Every big road starts with a first step. For this one, it was The Tin Family.
Gary Greff built it in 1991.
He made it from farm equipment and telephone poles. Tin Mom stands 44 feet tall.
It is the first sculpture he completed.
It sits near Mile 30, close to Regent. Visitors call it the World’s Largest Tin Family.
That fits the scale.
This stop connects the road to its purpose. Greff wanted to give a small town a reason to be visited.
A family made of farm parts feels right for that mission.
Pull in and take a family photo. The pull-out is simple and free.
Little ones can enjoy the open space.
Notice how much the road changed over time. Newer sculptures grew bigger.
The Tin Family reminds you that big ideas can start small.
Regent Ends The Drive With A Castle And A Dragon
The road ends in Regent, and the finish is dramatic. Sir Albert and the Dragon stands outside the Enchanted Castle.
The knight is 41 feet tall, while the dragon is 42 feet tall and 100 feet long.
Greff completed these sculptures in summer 2024. They sit by the Enchanted Castle, a hotel and steakhouse he opened in 2012.
He made it by refurbishing the town’s old high school.
The building has a castle theme. It includes a drawbridge entrance and knights in armor.
Visitors say guests can meet the artist, who runs the hotel.
Nearby, the Enchanted Highway Gift Shop sells miniatures of the statues. It has whirligigs and Tin Family cutouts for photos.
It also serves 16 flavors of ice cream.
Whirligigs are moving sculptures that start with a push of a button.
One visitor saw a whirligig next door to the gift shop. Check what is open when you arrive.
Remember, the highway is open all day. Plan your trip from Interstate 94, Exit 72, near Gladstone, east of Dickinson.
Then enjoy all 32 miles.