Enchanted Highway

State: North Dakota. Type: 32-mile (51 km) scenic route in Hettinger County lined with large scrap-metal sculptures, running from Interstate 94's Gladstone exit south to Regent. Created by local artist Gary Greff, who began building it in 1989. Includes 'Geese in Flight,' recognized by Guinness World Records in 2002 as the world's largest scrap-metal sculpture (110 feet tall, 150 feet wide).

The Enchanted Highway is a 32-mile stretch of North Dakota county road running from the Gladstone exit on Interstate 94, east of Dickinson, south to the small town of Regent. Along the route stand a series of oversized scrap-metal sculptures built by local artist Gary Greff, who began the project in 1989 as a way to draw travelers off the interstate and revive his declining hometown. Works completed over the following decades include The Tin Family (1991), Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again (1993), Pheasants on the Prairie (1996), Grasshoppers in the Field (1999), Geese in Flight (2001), Deer Crossing (2002), Fisherman's Dream (2006) and Wirly Gigs, with additional pieces reported as in progress. Geese in Flight, the largest, was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2002 as the world's largest scrap-metal sculpture. The road itself, and Regent's gift shop at its southern end, have become a genuine roadside-Americana attraction, drawing an estimated 6,000 tourist vehicles a year and prompting Greff to open a themed motel, The Enchanted Castle, in Regent in 2012.

The highway runs through Hettinger County in southwestern North Dakota, extending from the Gladstone exit on Interstate 94 (east of Dickinson) south to the town of Regent, a distance of about 32 miles. The sculptures are spaced along this stretch of county road, with Regent's gift shop serving as the informal visitor hub at the southern end.

Southwestern North Dakota has a continental climate with hot summers and cold, often windy winters; because the sculptures are all outdoors along an open rural road, exposure to sun, wind and winter cold is a real factor for anyone stopping to view them. Summer daytime temperatures often reach the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit, while winters bring sub-freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow-covered roads.

Late spring through early fall (roughly May through September) is the most practical window, when the gift shop in Regent is more likely to be open and the roads are clear of ice and snow. Because sculptures are viewed from pull-offs along an open highway, the milder shoulder-season weather makes for a more comfortable stop than midwinter.

Gary Greff, a local resident, conceived of and began building the Enchanted Highway's sculptures in 1989, driven by a desire to draw tourists off Interstate 94 and revive Regent, which had been losing population for decades. He built each sculpture using scrap metal, adding new pieces over time: The Tin Family in 1991, Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again in 1993, Pheasants on the Prairie in 1996, Grasshoppers in the Field in 1999, Geese in Flight in 2001, Deer Crossing in 2002, and Fisherman's Dream in 2006, with Wirly Gigs and further works added later. Geese in Flight earned Guinness World Records recognition in 2002 as the world's largest scrap-metal sculpture. The State of North Dakota contributed $75,000 toward maintenance of the sculptures in 2019-2020. In 2012, Greff opened The Enchanted Castle, a themed motel in Regent, extending the project's tourism ambitions beyond the roadside sculptures themselves.

Visitors drive the 32-mile route, stopping at pull-offs to view and photograph each large-scale sculpture up close. Regent's gift shop, which doubles as the project's visitor center, sells miniature replicas of the sculptures, T-shirts and other souvenirs. Because the sculptures are spread over 32 miles, most visitors treat the drive itself as a scenic road trip rather than a single-stop attraction, often combining it with a night at the Enchanted Castle motel in Regent.

The sculptures, in order of completion, include The Tin Family (1991), Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again (1993), Pheasants on the Prairie (1996), Grasshoppers in the Field (1999), Geese in Flight (2001), Deer Crossing (2002), Fisherman's Dream (2006) and Wirly Gigs, with additional works such as Sir Albert and the Dragon and Spider Webs reported as in progress. Geese in Flight, at 110 feet tall and 150 feet wide, is the largest and most famous, holding Guinness recognition as the world's largest scrap-metal sculpture.

The highway begins at the Gladstone exit on Interstate 94, east of Dickinson, making it an easy detour for travelers already on I-94 across western North Dakota. From there, the route runs south roughly 32 miles to Regent on a paved county road suitable for standard passenger vehicles. There is no public transit to the route; a personal or rental vehicle is required.

The sculptures themselves are outdoor, roadside installations viewable at any hour, since the highway is a public road. The Regent gift shop, which functions as the visitor center, keeps its own posted retail hours (reported as roughly 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on most days as of research); confirm current hours before planning a stop there specifically.

Driving the Enchanted Highway and viewing the roadside sculptures is free. The Regent gift shop sells souvenirs at normal retail prices but does not appear to charge a general admission fee based on available sources.

Driving the full 32-mile route with stops to view and photograph each sculpture typically takes about two to three hours, depending on how long visitors linger at each pull-off.

Regent, at the southern end of the route, offers Gary Greff's own themed lodging, the Enchanted Castle, opened in 2012, along with any additional small-town lodging in the area. Dickinson, near the northern end of the route on I-94, has a much wider selection of standard hotel chains for visitors who prefer a larger town as a base.

Regent has small-town dining and the on-site gift shop's ice cream and snack offerings at the southern end of the route, while Dickinson, at the northern end near I-94, offers a considerably larger range of restaurant chains and local eateries for visitors passing through.

Dickinson, at the route's northern end, serves as a regional hub with additional attractions and services. Theodore Roosevelt National Park's Badlands scenery lies further west and is sometimes combined with an Enchanted Highway detour by travelers touring southwestern North Dakota.

There is no direct public transit or rail service to the Enchanted Highway; Dickinson-Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, near the route's northern end, is the closest airport, with a rental car needed to drive the route itself.

Because the sculptures are viewed from roadside pull-offs on a rural highway, watch for traffic when parking and crossing to viewing areas, and be cautious of livestock or wildlife on the open road, especially at dawn or dusk. Cell service can be limited in stretches of rural Hettinger County, so plan routes and fuel stops accordingly.

A camera or phone for photographing the large sculptures, sun protection for stops at the open roadside pull-offs, and a full tank of gas before setting out, since services are limited along the rural stretch between Dickinson and Regent.

Plan the drive with stops in both directions in mind, since some sculptures are easier to view heading one way versus the other along the route. Visiting the Regent gift shop lets you pick up a printed map or guide to the sculptures and pairs well with an overnight at the Enchanted Castle if you want to break up the drive. Because this is a rural stretch, fuel up in Dickinson or Regent before setting out.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The Enchanted Highway Gift Shop in Regent, which serves as the de facto visitor center, can be reached at 701-563-4880 as of research.

Enchanted Highway (Regent, ND) - https://enchantedhighwaynd.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.