An enchanted road trip

THE ENCHANTED HIGHWAY, N.D. – Alaina Dow, wife of Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow, 5th Bomb Wing public affairs craftsman, looks up at the sculpture titled “Geese in Flight” at the start of the Enchanted Highway here April 23. The highway stretches north from Regent, N.D., to exit 72 on Interstate 94. “Geese in Flight” is one of seven sculptures by artist Gary Greff, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest scrap metal sculpture. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow)

An enchanted road trip

THE ENCHANTED HIGHWAY, N.D. – The male deer, or buck, in the sculpture called “Deer Crossing” is 70 ft. tall. “Deer Crossing” is one of the seven metal sculptures by artist Gary Greff along the Enchanted Highway. The enchanted highway stretches south from exit 72 on Interstate 94 to Regent, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow)

An enchanted road trip

THE ENCHANTED HIGHWAY, N.D. – The rooster pheasant in the sculpture called “Pheasants on the Prairie” is over 40 ft. tall. “Pheasants on the Prairie” is one of the seven metal sculptures by artist Gary Greff along the Enchanted Highway. The enchanted highway stretches south from exit 72 on Interstate 94 to Regent, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow)

An enchanted road trip

Published April 28, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow
5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

THE ENCHANTED HIGHWAY, N.D. -- Every now and then a person needs to fill up the tank with gas, grab some snacks and just get away from it all.

This is exactly what my wife and I did this past weekend. We found ourselves on a long stretch of road south west of Bismarck, N.D., called the "Enchanted Highway." It was definitely a sight to see.

The Enchanted Highway is a 32-mile stretch of asphalt straight south of Interstate 94's exit 72. On that exit is the first of seven giant metal sculptures, each created by artist Gary Greff. As we traveled south we were greeted every five or six miles by another sculpture, each more grand than the last.

We started anticipating what we would see next as we went up and down along the twisty highway. There were parking lots at each stop, along with an area containing information about the artist and his works.

Our journey ended when we reached Regent, N.D. There we saw the Enchanted Highway gift shop, along with whirly-gigs and trees also made of metal.

The artist relies on donations and gift shop sales to continue his passion for creating magic from metal.

It was definitely a road trip to remember.