5 Incredible Roadside Art Finds in Ohio
From a giant Bigfoot sculpture in Mercer County to a backyard folk-art masterpiece in Springfield, these roadside art finds embody creativity in unusual and interesting ways.
Hartman Rock Garden, Springfield: As the Great Depression took hold, Ben Hartman began assembling a rock-garden masterpiece behind his Springfield home. Built between 1932 and 1939, the art installation reflects American history, Hartman’s interests and plenty of whimsy. The work of art ultimately fell into disrepair until the Kohler Foundation stepped up in 2009 to help fund its revival. That work continues today, with Hartman Rock Garden’s most recent additions including the restoration of original sidewalks and plantings that reflect Hartman’s design vision. hartmanrocks.org
Ariel-Foundation Park, Mount Vernon: The smokestack of Mount Vernon’s Pittsburgh Plate Glass factory still stands, but today visitors can climb an enclosed stairway that wraps around it to take in unrivaled views of the 250-acre park below. Ariel-Foundation Park opened in 2015, not only cleaning up the former factory site but also paying tribute to it. Factory “ruins” and the soaring Rastin Tower reflect the town’s proud industrial past, while the multilevel Terraces pay tribute to Native American mound builders. arielfoundationpark.org
Dave Grohl Alley, Warren: Running parallel to East Market Street in downtown Warren, Dave Grohl Alley celebrates the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee who was born here. (He attended the alley’s dedication in 2009, and his band Foo Fighters played a record-store show in nearby Niles in 2015.) The alley is a gritty labor of love with murals and sculptures celebrating Grohl (who was the drummer for the rock band Nirvana before founding Foo Fighters) including a pair of the World’s Largest Drumsticks. trulytrumbull.com
“Nelson” Bigfoot Sculpture, Celina: First there was Otis, an enormous Bigfoot sculpture that sits along Indiana’s Patoka Lake. Built by Indiana-based Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, Otis now has a cousin that the nine-person chainsaw-wood-carving team created at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. His name is Nelson, and his creation coincided with the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse that passed over parts of Ohio. Locals and travelers who gathered at the fairgrounds to check out the eclipse also got to see the genesis of the county’s newest photo-op spot. mercercountyohiofair.com
Flight of the Hawk Park, Lancaster: The enormous hawk landing on a giant nest perched above U.S. 33 gets all the attention, but those who stop and take a walk around Lancaster’s more than 6-acre Flight of the Hawk Park can check out artistic tributes to other native Ohio wildlife: metal sculptures of wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and vultures. Artist Ric Leichliter made all the animals, including the gigantic hawk that was installed in 2006 and boasts a wingspan of 14 feet. Weighing in at 2,500 pounds, the hawk is the biggest sculpture Leichliter has ever made. fairfieldcountyparks.org
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