Look, I’m not going to lie to you: the Enchanted Highway is in the middle of nowhere. We’re talking “you’ll pass more tractors than cars” territory. But that’s exactly the point. This isn’t a polished, corporate attraction. It’s one man’s crazy dream made real with scrap metal, welding torches, and sheer stubbornness.
You’ll find the highway off Interstate 94, exit 72, near the town of Gladstone. And the best part? It’s completely free. You just pull over at each sculpture, park your car, and walk right up to these absurdly huge creations. There’s no ticket booth, no gift shop (yet), and no one telling you not to touch. It’s pure, unadulterated Americana.
But here’s a pro-tip: bring bug spray. The mosquitoes out there aren’t sculptures—they’re real and they’re hungry. I’m pretty sure one of them tried to use me as a ride to the next town.
The tiny towns that almost weren’t
Greff’s real goal wasn’t just to make cool art—it was to save the dying town of Regan, where he grew up. He figured if he built something wild enough, people would come. And they did. Now, the highway draws thousands of tourists a year, from Japan to Germany to your weird uncle from Minnesota.
Guide to the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota
The town of Regan even has a gift shop now, and a café where you can sit and eat a burger while staring at a 70-foot fish. It’s the kind of small-town magic that makes you believe in the power of one person’s imagination. And welding skills. Lots of welding skills.
So, is the Enchanted Highway silly? Absolutely. Is it a little bit cheesy? You bet. But after a year of scrolling through screens and worrying about the news, standing under a giant metal goose that glints in the sun feels like a tiny, wonderful miracle.
