Hidden · Regent, North Dakota, United States
Enchanted Highway
A two-lane road across southwestern North Dakota lined with giant scrap metal sculptures, built by one artist to give his hometown a reason to be visited.
Thirty-two miles of farm country and giant sculptures.
The Enchanted Highway runs north from Regent to the Gladstone exit on Interstate 94, east of Dickinson, in southwestern North Dakota. The road has no highway number. Each sculpture has its own pull-out, several have picnic shelters, and the route crosses farm country broken up by buttes.
The sculptures are made of scrap metal, and together they are described as the largest collection of its kind in the world. Geese in Flight, 110 feet tall and 150 feet wide, can be seen from I-94 and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002 as the largest scrap metal sculpture. Others include The Tin Family, Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again, Pheasants on the Prairie, Grasshoppers in the Field, Deer Crossing and Fisherman's Dream.
One local artist, a shrinking town and a long project.
A local artist began the project in 1989 and continues to maintain the sculptures. He drew on local wildlife and on historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt. His aim was to revive his hometown of Regent after decades of falling population and a weaker economy.
The first sculpture, The Tin Family, dates from 1991, and new pieces have followed over the years; two more are listed as still in progress. In 2012 he opened a motel in Regent that continues the theme. For years the upkeep was paid with his own money and donations, until the state of North Dakota added support to its budget for 2019–2020. The highway draws about 6,000 tourist cars a year.
The sculptures along the road.
Practical notes.
Before you go.
How long is the Enchanted Highway?
It is a 32-mile stretch of two-lane road in southwestern North Dakota, running north from Regent to the Gladstone exit on I-94.
What are the sculptures made of?
Scrap metal. The collection is described as the world's largest of its kind, and Geese in Flight is the biggest piece at 110 feet tall and 150 feet wide.
Why was the Enchanted Highway built?
A local artist started it in 1989 to revive his hometown of Regent, which had lost population and income over several decades.
Is there an entrance fee?
The sculptures are roadside pull-outs on a public road. Check the official information about Regent and the highway before you go.
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