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Trees of Mystery[edit]
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 Route 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.
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 US-101. It is said that a scene from the opening of the show Gravity Falls was inspired by this statue. 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. 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.
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".[1]
History[edit]
Paul Bunyan is a lumberjack in American folklore. The tall tale of Paul Bunyan implies he is superhuman and grew larger than humanly possible. He is accompanied by the blue ox named Babe. Paul Bunyan was first created by the oral tradition of North American loggers. “However, he was later popularized by freelance writer William B. Laughed in a 1916 promotional pamphlet for the Red River Lumber Company.” After that, Paul Bunyan’s popularity grew exponentially. He is now known as a symbol of the American lumberjack.
These largest of living things are from an ancient line, and near-relatives of redwoods were present on earth at the same time as the dinosaur. Once found almost world-wide, their natural range is now restricted to the foggy coastal belt of Northern California (the sequoia sempervirens), a strip in the Sierra Nevada mountains of sequoiadendron gigantia and a small group of meta sequoia (Dawn Redwood) in a remote valley in China. These are the only living forests left of a tree line that at one time spanned most of the the earth.
Attractions[edit]
Located on the ocean front Klamath, California is a tourist destination. The site seeing includes places like the Trees of Mystery along with the Tour Through Tree that is also located in the Redwood Forest and many lookout points. 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. The Skytrail takes you on a 1/3 mile ride through the forest and allows you to see parts of the park from a different point of view.[2] It takes visitors to an observation deck where they can enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding forest.[3] The Trees of Mystery marks the place where the Redwood Trees meets the ocean. Klamath also features a Mountain range called the Klamath Mountains.This makes this city a destination for many campers, hikers and travelers.
Related Sites[edit]
There are similar sites through the nation about the tale of Paul Bunyan with statues like the ones at the Trees of Mystery. Minnesota is home to multiple attractions and parks because the state of Minnesota claims that Paul Bunyan was not born in Maine.[1] The towns of Bemiji and Akeley both are both examples of these other places.
Akeley, MN has a Paul Bunyan Historical Museum with their own version of the tale.[4] Roadside America also states that Akeley claims it is home of the largest statue, yet the Trees of Mystery and the statue in California is by far larger in comparison. For much of Minnesotans, they celebrate the folklore year round by sporting plaid, though the official National Paul Bunyan Day falls on the 28th of June.[5]
Other sites, such as Paul Bunyan Land and the Mall of America, have attractions to teach and share in the fun of the children's like Trees of Mystery do.
Where to Travel Next[edit]
The following travel destinations are located around Los Angeles, California for anyone that is in the area of the Trees of Mystery. Solvang Restaurant in Solvang, California is a great place to experience Danish history and indulge in classic Danish desserts.[6]
Another stop to take while touring northwest of Los Angeles, California could be The Cold Spring Tavern if travelers are interested in classic romantic sites. The tavern is over a century old that was originally a spot where people would stop to rest their horses and replenish supplies.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Schlosser, S.E. "Paul Bunyan". American Folklore. Globe Pequot Press. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
- ^ Advertising, Passey. "Ride the SkyTrail at Trees of Mystery, redwood attraction California North Coast near Redwood National Park". www.treesofmystery.net. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ Hall, Christopher (2002-07-07). "TRAVEL ADVISORY; Aerial Gondola Offers High Redwood Views". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ "Akeley MN Area Paul Bunyan Historical Society & Museum". www.akeleymn.com. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ "In honoring Paul Bunyan Day, no one stands taller than Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ^ "The California Bucket List: Your daily guide to the best adventures and experiences in the Golden State". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
- ^ Times, Los Angeles. "The Cold Spring Tavern, San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara County". latimes.com. Retrieved 2017-03-10.