Scene on the Side of the Road
The lawn of Willard Ramey, which can be seen from Interstate 90. Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
BOX ELDER, SD--We were on the interstate, driving far above a trailer park, when Michael and I both looked down, saw a yard covered in what appeared to be dots and thought, “No Way!”
During our road trip, we had seen plenty of quirky lawn displays: a green-skinned alien getting out of his aircraft in Oklahoma, a giant winged man guiding golden unicorns in Texas and a “rest area” composed of two toilets and a lounge chair in Nebraska.
But here, in the yard of Willard Ramey there was not just one interesting lawn ornament. There was every lawn ornament. At least that’s how it seemed. There was a golden lion, a nearly life-sized Mary Quite Contrary and a bear carrying a welcome sign. There were carousel horses and cowboy silhouettes.
And the arrangements.
A bear stood guard in front of Barbie’s house. A mountain lion crouched ready to pounce on Snow White and the dwarves. A giant ant crawled on the hood of a small jeep. A dinosaur fought a dragon.
“I don’t have any problems with my imagination,” Ramey, 64, said, smiling.
After he found a man walking through his yard looking for price tags on his lawn ornaments, Willard Ramey said he plans to put a sign that says, "We collect, we don't sell." Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
Passersby stop to take photos all the time, he said, adding that some occasionally also swipe a souvenir. Three years ago someone stole a 200 pound metal hippo from his yard (one he still misses) and another time, police pulled over a couple of teenage girls who had his mushrooms in the back of their SUV. Ramey said he’s been collecting the ornaments for about eight years for no other reason than he likes them.
“It’s like Lay’s Potato Chips -- you get one and you got to get another one and another one,” he said. “I’m looking for a kangaroo now…I’d love to get a kangaroo.”
Because a road trip is as much about what you see as whom you talk to, this is for all you in the backseat. Here’s a chance to roll down the window and get a glimpse of America’s strange (and wonderful) lawn commentary:
Aliens greet passersby from a yard in Stroud, Oklahoma. Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
What appears to be a fantastical interpretation of Ben Hur as seen on a highway between San Antonio and Houston. Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
The original "rest area" on highway 87, just west of Berea, Nebraska was hit by lightning and destroyed. This is its replacement. Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
The metal sculptures of folk artist M.T. Liggett line a fence along highway 54 in Mullinville, Kansas. Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
Public officials and politicians are among the interesting characters created by folk artist M.T. Liggett in Mullinville, Kansas. Photo by Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
By
Theresa Vargas
|
September 1, 2009; 10:02 AM ET
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Posted by: Wildthing1 | September 1, 2009 12:22 PM | Report abuse
Way to stay on topic. Grab some Ritalin or Adderall before posting the next story. Thanks.
Posted by: dcbear | September 1, 2009 12:49 PM | Report abuse
This reminds me of Griffis Sculpture Park in Ashford Hollow, NY (south of Buffalo).
This guy lived out in the hills and made iron sculptures that he left all over his yard. His yard included at least 2 hills, so these sculptures are everywhere - in the woods, on the hills, on the lawn. The scale is impressive, the largest at least 30 feet tall. Here's some pictures
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=griffis+sculpture+park&FORM=IGRE#
This has since been taken over (I assume he has passed away, he was an old man the last time I met him) by the county or state and preserved as an arts park.
Posted by: bflorhodes | September 1, 2009 12:50 PM | Report abuse
Great Photos, a nice look into the fun side of real America, outside the urban slums.
Posted by: UnitedStatesofAmerica | September 1, 2009 2:26 PM | Report abuse
Very cool.
Posted by: forgetthis | September 1, 2009 3:42 PM | Report abuse
maybe unique tourist attractions can revamp small community tourism?!?!?! Like Wall Drug, SD...have you ever seen that place? Imagine the amount of money the town of Wall makes off of that one attraction alone...
Posted by: GetDOE | September 1, 2009 4:12 PM | Report abuse
dcbear, take your lack of imagination and lack of curiousty somewhere else - you've been dissing this story for weeks. Sorry you're not interested, but these are the kinds of stories that used to make newspapers fun, spark people's curiousity and make people want to learn and/or help.
Posted by: JohnDinHouston | September 1, 2009 4:12 PM | Report abuse
JohnDinHouston- actually that was my first post, so I think you may have me confused with someone else?
The stated goal of this blog is to showcase Americans and how they're coping with the recession. Even presuming that lawn ornaments are neat and creative, they have nothing to do with the recession, the economy, or people struggling to get by. This blog shouldn't be a free-for-all, and just because something looks interesting doesn't mean it should be covered here.
Posted by: dcbear | September 1, 2009 5:19 PM | Report abuse
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That man deserves a kangaroo if anyone does!!!