Trees of Mystery

Trees of Mystery is a park and tourist attraction along U.S. Route 101 (US 101) near the coastal town of Klamath, California. It features interpretive trails through Giant Redwoods and a number of unusual tree formations, many of which can be seen from its Trail of Mysterious Trees. Its Trail of Tall Tales displays some 50 chainsaw sculptures and carvings illustrating stories of legendary logger Paul Bunyan and his crew.[1]

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.
LocationKlamath, California, USA
Coordinates41°35′4.1″N 124°5′8.83″W
Opened1946
WebsiteOfficial website
StatusOperating

Trees of Mystery is best known for its 49-foot (15 m) statue of Paul Bunyan and 35-foot (11 m) statue of Bunyan's companion Babe the Blue Ox, which are visible from US 101. Constructed largely of wooden beams, chicken wire and stucco, the current Babe was built in 1950 and the current Bunyan in 1961. The original Bunyan was built in 1946, but was destroyed by rain that winter.[2] In late 2007, the half-ton, nine-foot-wide head of Babe fell to the ground as the result of rain damage; it has since been replaced.[3]

An early 1950 brochure referred to the attraction as "Unbelievable but True, World's Largest Group of Natures Living Wonders".[1]

Attractions
Trail through the redwood forest

The trees

Trees of Mystery highlights a selection of novel tree formations, including:

  • The Cathedral Tree, consisting of nine trees growing in a semicircle out of one root structure, often used as a site for weddings[4]
  • The Brotherhood Tree, so named for its massive size of 19 feet in diameter and 297 feet in height. Since 2014, the official height is 246 feet. It seems like the top of the tree has been struck by the lightning, so the height decreased.[5]
  • The Candelabra Tree, formed by a fallen tree with younger trees sprouting from it
  • The Elephant Tree, resembling an elephant's trunk, with multiple limbs branching from its base

Given the trees' ages and sizes, it is generally assumed that Trees of Mystery's creators discovered the formations in-place and decided to build an attraction around them. However, the attraction's history and kitschy style have given it archetypal status among West Coast tourist destinations.

Skytrail

In 2001, an aerial tramway was installed called the Skytrail. It takes guests on a 1/3-mile ride through the forest, allowing them to see parts of the attraction from a different point of view.[6] It culminates at an observation deck where the Pacific Ocean is visible above the surrounding forest.[7]

The End of the Trail Museum

The End of the Trail Museum holds a large private collection of Native American art, crafts and tools. There is also a gift shop with souvenirs, many of them handmade, reminiscent of Pacific Northwest's colorful logging history.

Cultural references

A scene from the opening of the animated television series Gravity Falls was inspired by the statues.

See also

References
  1. Bisbort, Alan; Puterbaugh, Parke (2009). Moon California Beaches: The Best Places to Swim, Play, Eat, and Stay. Avalon Travel. p. 525. ISBN 9781566916141.
  2. "1962 Trees Of Mystery Paul Bunyan & Blue Entance Photograph Slide - TPNC". www.timepassagesnostalgia.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  3. http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7547326?IADID Klamath tourist attraction loses its head The Times-Standard 11-24-2007
  4. Bisbort, Alan; Puterbaugh, Parke (2009-08-04). Moon California Beaches: The Best Places to Swim, Play, Eat, and Stay. Avalon Publishing. ISBN 9781566916141.
  5. "Measuring the Brotherhood Tree - Aerial Views - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  6. Advertising, Passey. "Ride the SkyTrail at Trees of Mystery, redwood attraction California North Coast near Redwood National Park". www.treesofmystery.net. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  7. Hall, Christopher (2002-07-07). "TRAVEL ADVISORY; Aerial Gondola Offers High Redwood Views". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
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