Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park
4.8(160)google
4.8(6)yelp
Folk ArtSculptureArt InstallationFamilyOutdoorPhoto SpotFreeQuirky
Overview
Located in Phillips, this extraordinary outdoor museum is a unique masterpiece of visionary folk art created by retired lumberjack Fred Smith between 1948 and 1964. The park features over 230 larger-than-life concrete sculptures decorated with colorful broken glass, mirrors, and beer bottles. These whimsical statues represent local folklore, historical figures, and native wildlife, creating a surreal and unforgettable forest walking experience.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeThe bright summer and early autumn months from May to September are optimal for appreciating this folk-art wonder. Walking through the park between 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM is highly recommended; as the low late-afternoon sun pierces the pine trees, it strikes the 200+ massive concrete statues embedded with thousands of shards of broken colored glass and vintage beer bottles, creating a magical, kaleidoscopic glitter.
Getting TherePositioned on the southern edge of Phillips in northern Wisconsin. The park is situated directly adjacent to the eastern edge of Highway 13. Driving is the only viable transport method; travel north along WI-13 N, and right before entering the main town limits, the folk-art park will appear on your right. Pull directly into the gravel parking clearing in front of the outdoor gallery center for free parking.
Travel Tips
- This is an entirely outdoor county-managed sculpture park open 24/7 with zero gate fences or general admission pricing. While vehicles can pull into the trailheads at any hour, the indoor Friends of Fred Smith Cultural Center—which dispenses detailed trail maps and regional folklore art—operates strictly on narrow weekday business hours and stays locked on weekends.
- The 200+ massive concrete monuments are embedded with historical 1940s vintage beer glass shards, mirrors, and native deer antlers. Due to decades of sub-zero weathering, these structures are structurally brittle and sharp. A zero-climbing mandate is heavily enforced; dogs and kids must be tightly anchored to prevent lacerations from exposed glass points.
- The park gateway fronts directly onto high-speed State Highway 13. The historic wooden signage is frequently masked by dense pine canopies; if missed, you cannot pull a U-turn on the single lanes and must navigate miles north into town to loop back. Located in the north woods, summer deer flies and ticks are intense—apply DEET and never enter deep brush bare-legged.
Reviews
Positive
- A perfect blend of nature and surreal folk art; 200+ giant sculptures crafted from concrete, glass shards, and vintage bottles pack intense visual shock.
- A completely free county historical park (donations welcome) with zero admission or parking fees, offering unbeatable value for niche art lovers.
- The raw natural aura is intensely tranquil; dense northern pine woods surround quirky figures and animal sculptures with comfortable crowd density.
- The walking trail is smoothly paved with clear signs, equipped with simple restrooms, benches, a picnic pavilion, and printed info brochures.
Heads up
- Primitive safety management; because sculptures are embedded with sharp glass shards, porcelain, and wires, climbing and touching must be banned for kids.
- Highly inaccessible location off the highway in northern Phillips, WI; it is a multi-hour drive from any major metro, making it tough to reach.
- Highly weather-sensitive; northern WI winters are long and brutal, with heavy snow completely burying sculptures and forcing restroom closures.
- A typical '30-minute snapshot' park; beyond the sculpture loop, there are no gift shops, dining venues, or rides, making a dedicated drive feel dry.