Trees of Mystery

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues at Trees of Mystery. Note the size of the visitors at Babe's hoof.

Trees of Mystery is a roadside attraction in Klamath, California 36 miles south of the Oregon border. This private enterprise, founded in 1931, is located adjacent to US Highway 101 on private land surrounded by Redwood National and State Parks. The property contains towering redwoods and a number of unique tree formations, many of which can be seen from the "Trail of Mysterious Trees." The "Trail of Tall Tales" features some 50 chainsaw sculptures and carvings illustrating the imaginative stories about Paul Bunyan and his logging crew. The "Cathedral Tree", nine trees growing in a semicircle out of one root structure, is sometimes used for outdoor weddings.[1]

Trees of Mystery is best known for the 49-foot (15 m) tall statue of Paul Bunyan and the 35-foot (11 m) tall Babe the Blue Ox, both of which are visible from Highway 101. It is said that a scene from the opening of the show Gravity Falls was inspired by this statue.[2] Constructed largely of wooden beams, chicken wire and stucco, the current Babe was built in 1950 and the current Bunyan was built in 1961. The original Bunyan was built in 1946 but was destroyed by rain that winter.[3] In late 2007, the half-ton, nine-foot-wide head of Babe fell to the ground as a result of rotting materials damaged from rain. The head has since been replaced.[4]

The attraction also features The End of the Trail Museum, a large private collection of Native American art, crafts and tools. In 2001 an aerial tramway was installed called the Skytrail. It takes visitors to an observation deck where they can enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding forest.[5]

Radio show This American Life featured Trees of Mystery in episode #506, Secret Identity.

In 1950 this attraction was called "Unbelievable but True, World's Largest Group of Natures Living Wonders".

References

  1. ↑ Bisbort, Alan; Puterbaugh, Parke (2009). Moon California Beaches: The Best Places to Swim, Play, Eat, and Stay. Avalon Travel. p. 525.
  2. ↑ Jensen, Jamie (2013). Road Trip USA: Pacific Coast Highway. Avalon Travel. p. 53. ISBN 9781612383170.
  3. ↑ http://www.timepassagesnostalgia.com/&searchkeywords=tree+mystery+babe+head&sis=1&rdir=1
  4. ↑ http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7547326?IADID Klamath tourist attraction loses its head The Times-Standard 11-24-2007
  5. ↑ Hall, Christopher. "Travel Advisory: Aerial Gondola Offers High Redwood Views". New York Times. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
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Coordinates: 41°35′4.1″N 124°5′8.83″W / 41.584472°N 124.0857861°W / 41.584472; -124.0857861

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