By Nick Thomas

    Burying some two dozen vintage American automobiles from the 50s, 60s, and 70s on a remote patch of Nebraskan farmland might be an act that could provoke a visit from the ‘men in white coats’ squad. But for Jim Reinders (1927-2021), his creation of Carhenge in 1987 would eventually draw thousands of visitors – and their tourist dollars – to the nearby town of Alliance in Box Butte County every year. Initially, however, the odd roadside attraction failed to impress local residents.
    “Most people hated it,” said Becci Thomas, Director of the town’s Knight Museum and Sandhills Center. “I remember about 20 years ago, one woman built a new home across the road from the cars but had the house constructed at an angle so she wouldn't have to see Carhenge because it offended her so much.”
    However, the popularity of the quirky structure increased over the years with many coming to appreciate its artistic and economic value. Inspired by England’s prehistoric Stonehenge, Reinders substituted the immense ancient silicified sandstone rocks with the bodies of junked cars – about two dozen in upright position partially buried for support with several more welded on top and others spread around the property. The cars were spray-painted grey to match the earthy tone of the original stones.  
    Reinders graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1950 with a degree in engineering and became fascinated with the mystical monoliths after many visits to Stonehenge while working in England for seven years during the 1970s. For Carhenge, he attempted to duplicate the ancient circular structure it was modeled after, and the attraction now draws curious visitors from across the world.
    Thomas remembers meeting a couple from France visiting the site some years ago. “The husband was writing a book on automobile history and specifically wanted to photograph Carhenge for a section on American cars,” she recalled. “He literally spent the night under a tree photographing the site every hour, taking the same picture from the same angle for 24 hours. It does look different at various times of the day as the lighting changes.”
    She also recalls the passage of 2017’s total solar eclipse over Nebraska and the thousands who gathered at the 10-acre Carhenge site to witness the rare celestial event. “It was one of the best eclipse viewing areas,” said Thomas. “Among the crowd was a guy with a tinfoil hat waiting to be picked up by aliens – I kid you not. When nobody stopped to get him, he was just crushed. Strange things kind of gather strange people, I guess.”
    While the original idea to create Carhenge occurred to Reinders during his stay in England, a specific plan began to formulate when his family gathered at the Alliance property for his father’s funeral in 1982. The group agreed to meet five years later to make it a reality. The first 25 vehicles were installed over a 6-day period during that summer family reunion on the land Reinders inherited from his father. The old vehicles, ranging from a 1950 Desoto up to a 1975 AMC Gremlin, were hauled in by family members and others purchased from a local man who collected junked cars.
    Initially, Reinders had no intention to make Carhenge a permanent fixture. However, as its popularity and reputation grew, so did the number of cars and other whimsical art pieces including a life-sized metal dinosaur skeleton and a spawning salmon that were entries in a regional art competition. Reinders decided to leave the site intact after eventually securing government permits and approval. After relocating out of state, he handed over the property to the Friends of Carhenge, a group consisting of locals dedicated to preserving and maintaining the property. Thomas, a member of the group’s board, took on the role of Carhenge information director during this period.
    “When the group dwindled down to about five women who all worked full-time it became difficult to keep up, so we decided to offer it for sale hoping some local people might buy it for the community,” she explained. “Within two hours of listing, a company from Grand Island bid something like $385,000. But they planned to tear it down and rebuild it in Grand Island. We about had a stroke! So, we approached the city and convinced them to take it over in 2013. They now own and maintain it.”  
    Carhenge has been featured in commercials (e.g. for Nissan and Hyundai), television shows, documentaries, and books, and even appeared on record album covers such as 1993’s “The Best of Steely Dan: Then and Now.”  While it has garnered national and international attention for the city, it isn’t Alliance’s only attraction. Visitors can also explore the museums and parks, including Central Park on Yellowstone Avenue. Established in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project, it’s noted for its Pillars of the Park sunken garden, massive Chinese Elm trees, and spectacular fountain built in 1935.
    “The fountain has been renovated several times over the years, most memorably in 1988 when our mayor – Eva Knight, who was our first woman mayor – devised a unique way to fund the repairs,” Thomas said. “She created ‘Coins for the Fountain.’ Masking tape was laid down the whole ten blocks of Box Butte Ave and people were asked to put quarters on it – they raised $20,000 which was amazing.”
    Listed on the National Historic Register, a colored light display was added to the fountain several years ago although the water has to be drained before the ground freezes. Last year, another fundraiser enabled the addition of Christmas lights attached to a custom-built wire frame giving the appearance of  water spraying up so it can be enjoyed during the chilly winter months.
    “We have about 135 acres of park which is pretty large for a town this size – around 8,500 people,” says Thomas who was born and raised in Alliance. “Carhenge is certainly the biggest tourist attraction for the town, but there’s a lot to see and enjoy year-round.”
    Carhenge is located on US Highway 385, about three miles north of downtown Alliance and is open 24 hours daily throughout the year. Admission is free and a gift shop is open during the summer months. For more information visit www.carhenge.com.