The vast American plains have always been a landscape of grand, strange ideas, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the growing rivalry between two of the nation’s most unusual roadside attractions: the original, celebrated Carhenge in Nebraska and its fiery new competitor rising from the prairie of South Dakota.
For decades, **Carhenge** has been the undisputed champion of the ‘henge’ world. A full-scale replica of England’s prehistoric Stonehenge, this monument just north of Alliance, Nebraska, trades ancient bluestones for vintage American automobiles. Created by the late engineer and artist Jim Reinders, the installation was dedicated on the summer solstice in 1987 as a unique memorial to his father. Composed of 39 American cars, most from the 1950s and 60s and painted battleship gray, the structure is an impressive, if quirky, tribute to both the Druids and Detroit.
The monument now draws up to 100,000 visitors annually, cementing its status as a piece of authentic Americana. However, this oddball fame is now being challenged just 200 miles to the north, close to the dramatic landscape of the Badlands.
A Fiery New Challenger Enters the Ring
Rising from a dusty ridge near Kadoka, South Dakota, along Interstate 90, a new, fiery interpretation of the stone circle has emerged: **Firehenge**. This isn’t a solemn memorial; it’s a monumental piece of viral marketing designed to catch the eye of every road-weary traveler heading to or from the Black Hills.
The creator is Bob Fuchs, a former Nebraskan and the co-owner of Rapid City’s Firehouse Brewing Company. Fuchs has assembled a ring of imposing 10-ton firetrucks, all standing vertically in a circle, in a bid to steal some of the curious tourist traffic that is a lifeblood for the tiny prairie towns. Not stopping there, the attraction also includes a complement of buried fire hydrants known whimsically as “Doghenge.”
Fuchs, an Omaha Burke High School graduate, sees his creation as less about rivalry and more about promotion for his business. Still, the contrast is perfect fodder for a classic Midwest tourist battle. Where Carhenge honors the past with rusty, gray automobiles, Firehenge uses giant, colorful emergency vehicles to beckon travelers toward a modern-day pub.
The Roadside War of Whimsy
The friendly competition underscores a unique tradition of American folk art and ingenuity that transforms junk into spectacle. Both attractions take the idea of a prehistoric, mystical site and repurpose it using the industrial relics of their respective eras.
Nebraska’s original roadside marvel, which is now owned by the City of Alliance, doesn’t seem to be too concerned. Shana Brown, the director of cultural and leisure services for Alliance, embraced the new spectacle, noting, “I think all of these things are fun.” The city has certainly done well, maintaining its own whimsical art scene that includes a car-part dinosaur and a spawning salmon, alongside the main ‘henge.
For travelers on the Great Plains, this quirky rivalry is a win-win. Whether you prefer the nostalgic metal of a vintage Cadillac heelstone or the bright, booming presence of ten-ton fire engines, a detour off the main highway promises a memorable, head-scratching moment of American road trip culture.