Just why did a man make a full-size replica of Stonehenge out of old cars? Find out why and why Carhenge in Alliance, NE is the state's most bizarre roadside attraction.
There are a few places in America that are “must-sees” for road trippers: Cadillac Ranch, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, and Wall Drug- to name a few. There’s also one more we’d like to add to the list… It’s in Nebraska, and it’s a huge reproduction of Stonehenge made completely of old cars. Welcome to Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska- the state’s funkiest roadside attraction.
Built in 1987 by Jim Reinders and about 35 of his friends and family, Carhenge is a complete copy of England’s Stonehenge, built with 39 cars instead of stones.
The whole idea came to Reinders as he studied the real Stonehenge in England. When Reinders’ father passed away in the early 1980s, the wheels were set in motion to bring Carhenge to life as a memorial to his late father.
In 1987, Carhenge was officially dedicated.
As you can imagine, building it wasn’t easy. As Reinders says, “It took a lot of work, sweat, and beers.” The end result is one of the strangest car-art installations in America, rivaled by just Cadillac Ranch in its fame and number of visitors.
We finally had the opportunity to visit Carhenge on the 2016 MINI Takes the States rally as we barreled across the country with thousands of MINI owners.
The massive installation did not disappoint. The grey cars stand tall amongst the miles and miles of Nebraska plains, and the additional art installations make for a nice excuse to take a walk around the property after a long day on the road.
The other art installations, known as the Car Art Reserve, range from half-buried cars to spawning salmon.
Photo Gallery:
Carhenge, now owned by the Citizens of Alliance, is a 10-acre playground of the bizarre and a must-see for anyone traveling through Nebraska. Admission to the site is free, but be sure to stop by their little gift shop and buy something or make a donation to show your respect for one of America’s quirkiest places.
2151 Co Rd 59
Alliance, NE 69301
(308) 762-3569
Note:
Our South Dakota adventures were part of a crazy, awesome road trip called MINI Takes the States. For 2 weeks, MINI owners rallied across the country hitting up cities like Green Bay, race tracks, and everything in between. We had the pleasure of driving both a MINI S convertible and a MINI John Cooper Works, both with 6-speed manual transmissions. It’s pretty much the most fun you’ll ever have.
The best part? The whole trip raised over 1,000,000 meals in partnership with Feeding America. Learn more here.
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