Explore the Enchantment of North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway

Nestled in Western North Dakota is a 32-mile scenic drive lined with incredible metal artwork — the efforts of one man to bring tourists to a quiet part of the Peace Garden State — that has been listed as one of the top tourist attractions in the nation.

The Enchanted Highway, which stretches from Regent to just east of Dickinson, showcases the incredible work of artist Gary Greff, seven intricate metal sculptures — two more are in progress — that attract thousands of visitors each year.

Collectively, the Enchanted Highway’s works are among the largest metal sculptures in the world, but one is so massive that it’s been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records!

The Midwest is filled with amazing roadside attractions and the Enchanted Highway is the perfect stretch of road for a memorable road trip in the heart of the Midwest Plains.

One Artist’s Labor of Love

The genesis for the Enchanted Highway began in 1989 when Regent resident Gary Greff took inspiration from historical figures and local wildlife. Greff aimed to revive his hometown of Regent and has maintained these giant metal sculptures himself, welding, sandblasting, and painting these impressive works.

The Enchanted Highway begins at Exit 72 on Interstate 94 near Gladstone, North Dakota, and continues for a 32-mile stretch to Regent.

There are seven completed sculptures on the highway, each with a parking area and a kiosk (except one). Many also have picnic shelters, allowing travelers to stop and enjoy each sculpture on its own. The journey itself takes travelers through North Dakota farm country, which offers the chance to see intermittent buttes.

RELATED: Greff opened the Enchanted Castle in 2012, a whimsical destination that’s one of many unique castles in the Midwest. The Enchanted Highway gift shop has lots of fun items too, including miniature versions of each statue.

A Unique Collection of Sculptures

Greff’s first sculpture — The Tin Family — features a mom, dad, and son, and was erected in 1991. Three more sculptures — Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again (1993), Pheasants on the Prairie (1996), and Grasshoppers in the Field (1999) were added before the end of the decade.

In 2001, Greff completed Geese in Flight, which stands 110 feet tall and 150 feet wide. Geese in Flight is the first sculpture visitors see on the highway. It was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002 as the World’s Largest Scrap Metal Sculpture.

Greff added Deer Crossing (2002), Fisherman’s Dream (2006), and Wirly Gigs (unknown) before the end of the next decade. Two more sculptures — Sir Albert and the Dragon and Spider Webs — are in progress.

 The mile markers from I-94 where the statues can be found are:

• Mile 0: Geese in Flight (features a flock of geese flying across a sunburst; the road leading to the sculpture is lined with 200 smaller geese).
• Mile 3: Deer Crossing (features a 75-foot-tall buck and a 50-foot-tall doe).
• Mile 15: Grasshoppers in the Field (features a 60-foot-long giant grasshopper and several smaller grasshoppers).
• Mile 19: Fisherman’s Dream (features a 70-foot-tall trout and other small fish jumping out of water).
• Mile 24: Phesants on the Prairie (features a 40-foot-tall rooster, two chicks, and a 35-foot-tall hen).
• Mile 26: Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again (features a giant sculpture of Teddy Roosevelt, horses, and a stagecoach).
• Mile 30: The Tin Family (the dad is 45 feet tall, the mom is 44 feet tall, and the son is 23 feet tall).
• Mile 32: The Enchanted Castle Gift Shop in Regent.

Gary is an incredible guy who built all the sculptures by hand! We drove the length of the road and then stopped for dinner at the medieval themed restaurant where Gary himself was our waiter, very nice guy! We ended up staying the night in the super cute medieval themed rooms. This place is a gem off the beaten path and I highly recommend!

– Elizabeth via TripAdvisor

Explore More of North Dakota

Travelers who love exploring new places have a lot of ground to cover in North Dakota, but the state is home to plenty of hidden gems and roadside attractions that make additional trips worth it.

Paul Broste Rock Museum

This museum is the envy of rockhounds everywhere. The museum itself is made of area granite and visitors can marvel at the sheer beauty of nature in rock displays, framed arrowheads, art, and educational displays.

On a Slant Village

For many years, a Mandan settlement thrived in Mandan, North Dakota, allowing visitors to take a fascinating step back in time. The village includes five earthlodges and interpretive tours that offer glimpses into Mandan culture.

Chateau de Mores State Historic Site

This site near Medora memorializes Marquis de Mores, an 1880s frontier ranchman and businessman in the Badlands. His 26-room, two-story home is open for public tours where visitors can see many of the de Mores family’s original furnishings and personal effects.

Rusty the Turtle

This majestic roadside attraction is a two-ton turtle that can be found on the south side of Turtle Lake as the centerpiece of a park. It was erected in 1995 in memory of a local community leader to commemorate Turtle Lake.

See the Gigantic Sculptures of the Enchanted Highway

With massive, intricate, and beautifully designed sculptures spaced every few miles, a trip along North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway is worth every mile. From the massive sculpture that is Geese in Flight to the sheer size of Tin Family, Fisherman’s Dream, and Pheasants on the Prairie, each of Gary Greff’s creations is awe-inspiring, photo-worthy, and a fun roadside attraction in the heart of the Midwest.