Meet the Architect of North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway | Local Legends | Atlas Obscura
On this episode of Local Legends, we take a road trip to Regent, North Dakota, where massive metal sculptures loom up alongside the highway—giant grasshoppers, pheasants, and the world’s largest tin family, among other sights. This is the work of Gary Greff, the owner and builder of the Enchanted Highway. Greff built the Enchanted Highway as a way to bring life back to Regent, and he also built the Enchanted Castle, a motel and restaurant located in the town’s old high school.
#LocalLegends
Been Here or Want to Go? Tell us here:
CREDITS
Directed and Edited by
Blair Waters
Executive Producers
Doug Baldinger
Chris Naka
Director of Photography
Carl Knight
Production Assistants
Annika White
Keegan Grandbois
At Atlas Obscura, our mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. See where we’re exploring here:
Subscribe for more videos like this:
Enchanted Highway in North Dakota
Take the 32-mile scenic drive of scrap metal sculptures on the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota. Take exit 72 at Gladstone and head south to explore the road turned into an outdoor art gallery.
We even got to meet the local artist, Gary Greff at the end of the road! He devised the project in 1989 to try to reinvigorate his hometown of Regent.
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Full Tour (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Teddy Rides Again (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Pheasants on the Prairie (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Deer Crossing (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
North Dakota: Enchanted Highway
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures constructed at intervals along a 32-mile stretch of two-lane highway in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of North Dakota.
Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989.
The Enchanted Highway extends north from Regent to the Gladstone exit of Interstate 94 east of Dickinson.
The highway passes through scenic farm country with intermittent buttes. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
Sculptures along the route:
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)
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Fisherman's Dream (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
The Enchanted Highway North Dakota
We left home at 11PM and traveled through the night, arriving at the enchanted highway about 6:30AM we spent about an hour and a half driving to and viewing the different displays. Each display is several miles apart and there is good (although dirt) parking at each.
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - The Tin Family (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Geese in Flight (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
Enchanted Highway - North Dakota
Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more videos like this:
This clip features several of the sculptures along the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota. Taken in 2007.
Regent, North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway - Grasshoppers in the Field (2019)
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures 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. 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). Local artist Gary Greff conceived of the project, built it beginning in 1989, maintains it and plans more sculptures. A goal is to counter the trend toward extinction of small towns such as Regent, North Dakota. 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. Regent is a popular pheasant hunting area, and wild game is abundant.
In 2012, Greff opened a motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent. The motel continues the theme of the Enchanted Highway.
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)
North Dakota Enchanted Highway
Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more videos like this:
The Enchanted Highway runs between Regent, ND and I-94 in North Dakota. This video shows some of the sculptures that were created to help create a tourist market for small towns in North Dakota and save them from dying.
The Flush - Regent, North Dakota
In the second season's second episode, The Flush crew heads to the loaded pheasant fields of southwest North Dakota. The Flush is presented by Pheasants Forever and Federal Premium Ammunition. The Flush airs Thursdays at 11:30AM, Fridays at 3:00AM and Saturdays at 2:00PM (all Eastern Standard Time) on Outdoor Channel.
Dateline NBC Covers the Enchanted Highway
The TV show Dateline NBC did a segment on the Enchanted Highway, a recent video that I did.
A Postcard from the Field: The Enchanted Highway | Dateline NBC
During our travel’s for Friday’s report 'A Dangerous Man', we heard the story of an enchanted land with magical beasts and tin men. And one man, who is a bit of a wizard and all heart….
Watch Full Episodes of Dateline:
Like us on Facebook:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:
Enchanted Highway Geocache Pt.2: Roosevelt Rides Again (LARGE find reveal!) Regent, ND, Travel Vlog
But he doesn't ride a moose! Ion the Leprechaun, #Geocat and I all look for the next cache along the Enchanted Highway, North Dakota, after our floofy find at the Tin Family!
Geocat bonded with us immediately and snuggled in as we had always been together!
☆:*¨¨*:★VISIT THE ENCHANTED CASTLE & HIGHWAY!☆:*¨¨*:★
►
►
☆:*¨¨*:★CHECK OUT FAIRYBLOSSOM FESTIVAL!☆:*¨¨*:★
Our annual Midsummer Games LARP-style festival approaches once more! Cross the Hedge and join us in the magical realms for a weekend of gaming and competition to see who will win the Grand Pennon!
►TICKETS!
►CONTRIBUTE:
►LIKE:
►FOLLOW:
☆:*¨¨*:★REMEMBER TO CLICK LIKE & RING THE BELL!!☆:*¨¨*:★
►PATREON
►ETSY
►INSTA
►TWITCH
►ATLAS:
►PERISCOPE
►TWITTER
►BOOKFACE
►WEBSITE
►YOUTUBE
☆:*¨¨*:★Thanks for being a subscriber!☆:*¨¨*:★
#geocat #gcnw #geocachingfinds #geocache #travelblogger #travel #faelife #silverpath #fairyprincesslolly #atlasobscura #weirdplaces #faelifeforever #travelvlog #fairy #faerie #geocaching_fun #geocachersofinstagram #ilovegeocaching #castles #northdakota #visitnorthdakota #travelusa #enchantedhighway #roosevelt
The Enchanted Highway
Regent, North Dakota was a dying town until a hometown man with vision started to make large-scale sculptures, eventually transforming a 30-mile stretch of lonesome highway into a tourist attraction. One visitor said: If I'd died before I saw this--I would've died a poorer man.
Building the Enchanted Highway with Gary Greff
Gary Greff has a bold idea. He will save his community by building the world's largest metal sculptures. For 30 miles from Regent, ND to the Interstate 94, he is lining the road with massive works of art. This from someone with no experience in wielding who does not consider himself an artist.
Learn how to save your community with a bold idea in this episode of Digital Homesteading. View photos of the Enchanted Highway and learn how to build the community you want to be a part of at