If you're driving across Interstate 94 in North Dakota, it's hard to miss Salem Sue watching over the prairie from atop School Hill. Built in 1974 to honor the region's dairy industry, this giant Holstein has become one of the state's best-known roadside attractions. Standing 38 feet tall and stretching 50 feet long, Sue is so large that she's visible for miles before you ever reach New Salem.
The idea for Salem Sue came from the New Salem Lions Club, who raised the funds to build the fiberglass sculpture as a way to celebrate the area's rich dairy farming heritage and encourage travelers to stop in town. More than just another oversized roadside attraction, she's become a beloved North Dakota landmark and one of those classic photo stops that has welcomed generations of road trippers crossing the Great Plains. The community continues to maintain and repaint Salem Sue every few years, ensuring she remains just as eye-catching today as when she first appeared overlooking Interstate 94. 07-24
UPDATE: Salem Sue celebrated her 50th anniversary in 2024, a fitting milestone for one of North Dakota's most recognizable roadside icons. More than five decades after she first took her place on the hill, she continues to greet travelers from miles away and proudly represents the state's agricultural heritage. 06-26
The Enchanted Highway
Gladstone, ND Photo courtesy Tony Craig
If you're traveling across Interstate 94 in western North Dakota, do yourself a favor and take the detour down the EnchantedHighway. This 32-mile drive between Gladstone and Regent is unlike anything else you'll find on the Great Plains. Every few miles another enormous scrap metal sculpture rises out of the prairie, and photos simply don't prepare you for just how massive these creations really are. You can spot many of them from miles away, and they only seem to get bigger the closer you get.
The project began in 1989 when retired schoolteacher Gary Greff set out to bring travelers back to the tiny town of Regent. His vision grew into one of America's most unique roadside attractions, beginning with the record-setting Geese in Flight, the world's largest scrap metal sculpture. Along the drive you'll also encounter giant pheasants, grasshoppers, deer, teddy bears, a fisherman, and several other towering works of art that make the journey just as memorable as the destination. It's definitely off the beaten path, but it's one of those places you'll probably never forget once you've experienced it. 06-06
UPDATE: The Enchanted Highway continues to expand with new sculptures, including a giant knight and a fire-breathing dragon near Regent. More than three decades after the first sculpture was erected, Gary Greff's remarkable vision continues to surprise travelers and has become one of North Dakota's greatest roadside attractions. 06-26
Salem Sue
