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Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree in Leggett, California
Once I get over the Golden Gate Bridge, traffic begins to thin out. One hundred eighty-two miles later, I arrive at my first tree! California can lay claim to not just one but three drive-thru trees and this has got to be the most famous. Next time you watch Chevy Chase in "Vacation", pay attention to the opening and you'll spot the Chandelier Drive-Thru tree featured on a postcard.
That said, I'm quite excited. Still amazed at the size of these trees - this one is 315 feet high. I pay for the privilege of driving my car through and... that was it. It was kinda like going through an automated car wash. You look around while inside and then it's over and you move on. Oh, once you come through the tree you're facing the restrooms. The last thing I wanna see is some guy adjusting himself while driving through this tree. Couldn't they have put them somewhere else?
The gift shop had the typical stuff - plates, toothpick holders, postcards, t-shirts - all emblazoned with their logo. The most interesting thing I saw was this photo from the 1930s showing founders Charlie & Hazel Underwood and the loggers who chopped the 9'x6' opening. I wonder what it was like back then, to be able to just chop through a giant Redwood on a whim? Glad I'll never know cos it's a shame to see something this magnificent chopped up.
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Current Location:
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Tree Facts:
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Height:
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315 ft.
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Diameter:
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21 ft.
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Age:
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2400 years
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Stuff Nearby:
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The Chimney Tree:
1111 Ave of the Giants
Phillipsville, CA
This is a 78-foot redwood which was gutted by fire in 1914, but is still
growing. Walk through the doorway and you'll be standing inside the tree
in a room which is more than 12 feet in diameter.
The Eternal Tree:
26510 Ave of the Giants
Redcrest, CA 95569
Even larger than the Chimney Tree, the 2,500 year-old Eternal Tree has a 20-foot room inside. Outside, the
tree is 70-feet in circumference.
Skunk Train:
www.skunktrain.com
The Skunk line was built as a logging railroad for moving massive redwood logs to sawmills. The little trains
were nicknamed for their original gas engines, which prompted folks to say, "You can smell 'em before
you can see 'em."
They offer open-car train rides through the redwoods.
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