The Enchanted Trails RV Park and Trading Post in west Albuquerque recently erected a 17-foot-tall hubcap tree after the proprietor there spent nearly five years collecting parts for it.
According to KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, the tree consists of about 300 hubcaps compiled by Vicki Ashcraft, president of the business.
She began collecting hubcaps in 2016, gaining inspiration from a similar statue in Maine. “My folks have a place in Maine, and I was always driving by this hot rod shop, and they have this great hubcap tree out front,” said Ashcroft.
She says local contractor and family friend Bill Delaney helped build the tree, welding the frame, and layering rows and rows of hubcaps on top of each other. They even had to use a forklift to install the tree because Ashcroft says it’s very large and bulky. Ashcroft hopes it becomes another roadside attraction along Route 66, not only four tourists but locals too.
The tree is decorated with solar lights. Every night when the sun goes down, the tree lights up in vibrant colors.
The hubcap tree Ashcraft is talking about is at Champion Auto Sales at Arundel, Maine. You can see it here.
There also is a hubcap tree at Cars Land in Disneyland Resort in southern California. The amusement park is inspired by the original “Cars” animated film from 2006, which in turn was inspired by the real-life characters and landmarks of Route 66.
Here the full video report from the station:
Enchanted Trails posted a couple of Facebook posts about the hubcap tree.
On top of that, the Enchanted Hills also has a vintage trailer exhibit of models from 1954 to 1974.
The RV park originally was a trading post built in the 1940s, hence that part of its name.
(Image of the Enchanted Hills RV Park hubcap tree at night via Facebook)