As is usually the case, I am up for hours before Steven begins stirring for the day. So as not to disturb him that June morning in the northeastern California town of Burney, I spent a couple of hours in the motel bathroom working on a blog post. Luckily, I had remembered the night before to move the chair into the large bathroom so I had a more comfortable seat than I would have had otherwise, i.e. the toilet seat!
We had come to Burney as it was the nearest town to Lassen Volcanic National Park, which we wanted to visit again after a 20-plus year absence. Instead of heading directly to the park, Steven suggested we detour to this 'junkyard art' display he'd found about ten miles away in Cassel. It sounded like a blast and we had plenty of time for a change, so off we went! I read online that in late 2008 the owners of Packway Materials Inc. had used bits and pieces from their company's junkyard and other scrap heaps to create some fabulous animal sculptures. Look at this 40-foot-long, 5-ton dinosaur, which grabbed our attention right away! The neat thing was there was no admission charge and we could also wander around the animals at will with no signs saying Do Not Touch.
Walking around and looking at all the animals was a big treat even for us 'big kids!' I would love to bring our infant granddaughter, Max, here from San Francisco when she's a few years older so we could see the sculptures through her eyes. I wonder what one would captivate her the most.
Janina: I imagine this penguin would have been your favorite sculpture! Before you ask me which was mine, I truly got a big kick out of all of them! I was so impressed by the owners' creative genius amassing these animals for people to enjoy and without having to spend a penny to do so. I would have been very curious knowing how long it took to make all the animals and the owners' backgrounds as one doesn't normally associate such artistry with a construction site.
Was this 'junk'? Yes, indisputably. However, I was still very happy Steven had found this intriguing place and wouldn't hesitate it to recommend to anyone traveling in the area and who likes to also unearth things that may be a little oddball.
Next post: Exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park later that day.
Posted on September 5th, 2020, from Grayton Beach State Park on Florida's Panhandle, a place we've been coming to for about a dozen years to recharge and relax. Steven and I hope that each of you stay strong, stay healthy, and stay connected during these challenging times.
Very charming. I always like playful art . . . reminds me a bit of the ice sculptures that are part of the winter festival in Ottawa. Different "teams" compete.
ReplyDeleteThey look innocent and carefree here - thinking of the tin man sitting down with one knee raised.
Have you ever been to Solomon's Castle in central Florida (Ona, Florida, Bradenton the biggest large town/city). My draft dodger friend Dennis Mader bought an adjacent property called Rasayana and plays guitar at the castle for the excellent suppers, maybe still does. Solomon built a lot of playful sculptures there too - in addition to the Castle.
But there's way smaller than the ones here :)
Andrew,
DeleteThought you and others might enjoy this unusual roadside attraction - not one of our 'normal'culture vulture trips to a high falutin museum! A lovely change seeing something so playful and innocent as you correctly described it.
Will be very close to Solomon's Castle in a few days so looked up only to learn that it's closed for two months every year, namely August and September, which is a bummer for us as I'd have liked to see it. Perhaps another year ...
Very whimsical.
ReplyDeleteWhimsical indeed - just what we all need a dose of from time to time!
DeleteTEE HEE
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, too!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun ! xo
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
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