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.
Fast Facts: World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome
Plan Your Visit to 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
Frequently Asked Questions About the World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome
Where is the world’s tallest concrete garden gnome?
You can find Elwood the World’s Largest Concrete Garden Gnome in Ames, Iowa at Reiman Gardens.
What is the largest garden gnome in the world?
Elwood beat out the former record holder, Gnome Chomsky, from upstate New York. But just as the finishing touches were being added to Reiman Gardens’ new gnome, it was discovered that another big gnome existed on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. Unfortunately, it was too late to make Elwood any taller. While the other gnome, named Howard, was made from different materials he technically holds the title of the World’s Largest Garden Gnome.
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