What to See in Nebraska: Alliance’s Quirky Carhenge

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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.

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

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.

Carhenge: Nebraska's quirkiest roadside attraction

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!”

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

Besides, I think I’ve mentioned before that my husband is an automotive geek. How could I deprive him of such an attraction?

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

But Carhenge doesn’t stop at just cars. Oh, no, there’s a giant Spawning Salmon, too!

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

Of course there would be a giant Spawning Salmon. What car exhibit is whole without one? Random dinosaur head constructed from car parts, too.

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

There was also living, breathing “wildlife,” not of the mechanical variety.

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

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!

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

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.

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

It’s such a random, bizarre little roadside attraction, but also one of the things I so love about this country.

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

Carhenge in Nebraska: Quirk Roadside Attractions

Carhenge: Nebraska's quirkiest roadside attraction

Carhenge: Nebraska's quirkiest roadside attraction

Carhenge: Nebraska's quirkiest roadside attraction

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COMMENTS
  • June 9, 2011
    Sonja

    How random. Some things never cease to amaze me.

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      That’s America for you!

  • June 9, 2011
    SVV

    Some of these cars are classics. I believe a Studebaker, an International, a Cadillac and maybe even a Ford Comet!

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      Of course, you would know that!

  • June 10, 2011
    Lauren

    So comical, I just giggled at the absurdity!

  • June 10, 2011
    The Modern Gal

    How funny.

  • June 10, 2011
    Ris

    Wow I had no idea this existed! How random and awesome.

  • June 10, 2011

    That is so random but cool!

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      I’m sure Oklahoma has equally as quirky attractions that we’ll need to find when we drive through your lovely state this fall =)

  • June 10, 2011
    heidikins

    Love it, so quirky! Did you know there is a foam “Stonehenge” in Virginia? I think it’s called, aptly, Foamhenge.

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      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!

  • June 10, 2011

    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.

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      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!

  • June 10, 2011

    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!

  • June 10, 2011

    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.

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      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.

  • June 10, 2011
    Jessica

    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.

    • June 10, 2011
      Kristin

      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*).

  • June 11, 2011
    Brandy

    How random! And I totally did not even know that Carhenge existed. Love it!

  • June 12, 2011
    JeJe

    this is so cool! thanks… can’t believe I missed this in all my travels in the US.

  • June 13, 2011
    Hope

    This is insane!! I had never heard of it before. Great photos.

  • June 16, 2011
    Kate

    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!

    • June 17, 2011
      Kristin

      Yes! One of the high points of our trip so far (probably because it wasn’t raining for a change!).

  • June 16, 2011
    sensibly sassy

    How bizarre! (How bizarre)
    ha had to do it!

    • June 17, 2011
      Kristin

      America is so weird sometimes! In a purely awesome way, of course.

  • June 17, 2011

    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!

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