As you drive through the Great Plains on a cross-country road trip, you may be wondering what’s worth stop to see in Nebraska. I wondered the same until I came across Carhenge.
Make no mistake: We didn’t actually plan a special trip to get here—though I wouldn’t necessarily put it past us—but as it just so happened the road we were taking up to South Dakota also passed through Alliance.
Sure, I’d heard of Carhenge before, but it would have never occurred to me, “hey, I’m in Nebraska! I need to look for that wacky replica of Stonehenge made out of spray-painted cars!”
Besides, I think I’ve mentioned before that my husband is an automotive geek. How could I deprive him of such an attraction?
But Carhenge doesn’t stop at just cars. Oh, no, there’s a giant Spawning Salmon, too!
Of course there would be a giant Spawning Salmon. What car exhibit is whole without one? Random dinosaur head constructed from car parts, too.
There was also living, breathing “wildlife,” not of the mechanical variety.
Carhenge has been in Alliance since 1987. I’d dare say it drives the tiny town’s “tourism industry” (if you can call it that). Regardless, it was a fun excuse for us to get out and stretch our legs en route to South Dakota!
Car sculptor Jim Reinders constructed it as a memorial to his dad after having lived in England and studied every facet of the real Stonehenge, its layout and its purpose.
It’s such a random, bizarre little roadside attraction, but also one of the things I so love about this country.
How random. Some things never cease to amaze me.
That’s America for you!
Some of these cars are classics. I believe a Studebaker, an International, a Cadillac and maybe even a Ford Comet!
Of course, you would know that!
So comical, I just giggled at the absurdity!
How funny.
Wow I had no idea this existed! How random and awesome.
That is so random but cool!
I’m sure Oklahoma has equally as quirky attractions that we’ll need to find when we drive through your lovely state this fall =)
Love it, so quirky! Did you know there is a foam “Stonehenge” in Virginia? I think it’s called, aptly, Foamhenge.
Um, no, I had NO idea. That’s hysterical. I’ll have to go to Foamhenge since I’ve now been to Carhenge and Stonehenge if ever I visit my sister’s family in Virginia!
Ah yes, I was there just last month. But Alliance is “on the way” to nowhere! Too bad, because this is such a fun attraction.
Ha, you were–seriously? And it actually *was* on our way to South Dakota! We were entering Custer from the south due to the winds in Wyoming and had no idea Carhenge was on the route until about two hours out. Happy fate!
That’s actually pretty cool. I kind-of dig the whole make-art-out-of-crap thing. Still not a good enough reason to go to Nebraska, but I dig your pictures. Especially the one with the bird; juxtaposition awesome!
Things like this is what I always imagine when I think of a cross-country trip. I am so glad to see that these wacky things are still alive and well in the U.S.
We haven’t actually encountered too much weird stuff during our four weeks on the road…so far. (Then again, we’ve primarily been in national parks.) I think we’ll see a lot odder attractions when we drive to Tennessee in August, as they seem to be clustered in the Midwest–Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, etc.
Love it! I have been known to go out of my way just to see something weird like that. Roadside America is one of my favorite sites and I always check it as we are driving through towns and cities.
Great pics, as always.
I love that site, too! Admittedly, I get a lot of ideas for some of my more out-there print stories from Roadside American (*guilty*).
How random! And I totally did not even know that Carhenge existed. Love it!
this is so cool! thanks… can’t believe I missed this in all my travels in the US.
This is insane!! I had never heard of it before. Great photos.
Yessssss!! You went to Car Henge! I was on a road trip across the states and we had to nix it from our plans to save time! I so wanted to go though!
Yes! One of the high points of our trip so far (probably because it wasn’t raining for a change!).
How bizarre! (How bizarre)
ha had to do it!
America is so weird sometimes! In a purely awesome way, of course.
Awesome post and pics…I love the one with the writing about Detroit “being awake”…time’s gone by. Look forward to more of the adventures!