There are lots of beautiful outdoor spaces in central Iowa, but one of my favorites is Reiman Gardens. At this Ames attraction you’ll find beautiful blooms, well-maintained pathways and even an indoor butterfly house. But the sprawling gardens are also home to an unusual attraction: Elwood the World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome.
At 15 feet tall and 3,500 pounds, Elwood is no dwarf. Andy and Connie Kautza, artists at the National Rock & Sculpture in Wausau, Wisconsin, created Elwood from iron cage covered in one cubic yard of concrete. The statue was unveiled to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2010.
This unique attraction is absolutely worth seeking out the next time you visit the gardens, and is a fun photo op for visitors of all ages.
If You Visit the World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome
Elwood the Gnome is located at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. The gardens are managed by Iowa State University, which has had a horticulture garden on its campus since 1914.
The gardens do charge for admission, but they also offer a number of discounts for students and members of other botanical gardens.
REIMAN GARDENS, 1407 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD IN AMES, IOWA
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I would love to hear from you! Have you visited Reiman Gardens? What did you think of the World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome?
[…] Gardens in Ames, I knew I would be in for a treat. Plus, the gardens are also home to the the World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome—what’s not to […]