This Wisconsin Park Has an Army of Figures Made From Concrete and Broken Bottles
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Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips is an outdoor folk-art destination for travelers drawn to large figures and Northwoods stories. Vernacular folk art means self-taught art made outside formal academic traditions, often drawing on everyday materials and local life. You can wander among unusual art shaped by one man’s imagination and the place he called home. The experience suits curious visitors, families, and anyone who likes roadside stops with a strong sense of place.
Wisconsin Concrete Park Phillips offers a striking change from a usual walk through the woods. You will find people, animals, glass, and bottles woven into a setting that feels both personal and larger than life. The unusual figures make the site an easy choice when you want to see art outdoors, without needing a gallery visit. Visitors who enjoy art shaped by its setting will find a memorable stop in this corner of Wisconsin.
Key Takeaways
- Outdoor folk-art destination in Phillips
- Vernacular art made for the Northwoods
- Figures built with concrete and found objects
- A walk among art, nature, and local stories
- A memorable stop for curious travelers
What can visitors see at Wisconsin Concrete Park Phillips?
The 237 figures range from Paul Bunyan and Abraham Lincoln to wildlife and scenes of Northwoods life. They fill about 3.5 acres inside a 16.2-acre park, giving you room to explore at your own pace. Fred Smith created all 237 sculptures between 1948 and 1964.
Stories told through figures
Local legends, national heroes, wildlife, and ordinary scenes share space across the grounds. You may spot Sacajawea, the Statue of Liberty, and Ben Hur alongside deer, horses, and working animals. The 237 sculptures by Fred Smith form a wide-ranging view of history and local life. A National Register listing describes the park as an outdoor museum with a connected panorama of regional and national stories.
Photos of Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips help you notice small details in the figures, but their size and placement matter in person. A roundup of unusual roadside stops includes Wisconsin’s House on the Rock, another distinct local attraction.
| Subject cluster | Examples | What the figures show |
|---|---|---|
| Legendary and national figures | Paul Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln, Sacajawea | Legends and public history |
| Northwoods wildlife and working animals | Deer, horses, other wildlife | Animals tied to woods and work |
| Local everyday life | Farmers, loggers, local people | Daily work and community life |
Concrete, glass and found objects
Smith began sculpting at age 65, using concrete, broken glass, and found objects. He built wooden armatures, wrapped them in mink wire, then covered them with layers of hand-mixed cement. The statues are built around armatures, rather than made of solid concrete throughout. Rhinelander beer bottles and other objects add color and texture.
Look beyond the surface: the figures have an inner framework, with glass and found objects set into their outer layers.
Smith’s materials give each sculpture its own mix of color and texture. Look for how glass and other found objects catch the light across the sculptures.
How Fred Smith Built His Concrete World
Fred Smith’s path from Price County logger and farmer to self-taught sculptor began long before the figures filled his property. His family background and years of work in the Northwoods shaped the stories around him. The park’s history blends local life, legends, and Smith’s imagination, rather than following a strict timeline.
A Northwoods life before sculpture
Smith was born on September 20, 1886, to German immigrants who had settled in Price County, Wisconsin. He spent years logging and farming before his sculpture work began. In 1936, he built and ran the Rock Garden Tavern beside his home.
Smith started making sculptures in 1948, at age 62, according to the dates of his work. That creative period ended in 1964, when a stroke stopped him from sculpting. He died on February 21, 1976. His work grew from the life around him, not from a formal art school or a fixed plan.
Storm damage and the park’s restoration
A storm damaged more than 70 percent of the figures. Rotted wooden armatures needed replacement, so restoration workers used steel supports. The SPACES archive profile records the park’s artwork and its preservation history.
Restoration was completed in fall 1978, when Kohler Foundation gave the park to Price County. The work helped preserve Smith’s outdoor collection for public use. Friends of Fred Smith formed in 1995 and later helped support the site. The park joined the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 2005.
The Rock Garden Tavern was renovated in 2018, linking the historic building to the park’s ongoing use. Other landmarks have faced storm damage, including Kinzua Bridge, where a tornado toppled support columns, and the Enchanted Forest, which endured repeated floods. The completed restoration returned the outdoor collection to public use as a county park.
Plan a Visit to Phillips
Admission is free, and the park’s Phillips address is N8236 State Highway 13, Phillips, WI 54555. A free visit to the park includes access to a half-mile hiking and nature trail. Flush toilets are open from spring through fall. The park welcomes pets and has parking for tour buses and RVs.
The Countryside Artist’s Gallery & Gifts in the Smith Family house opens seasonally. Call 715-339-7282 for gallery dates and hours, or for Friends of Fred Smith Studio workshop details and registration. The studio holds workshops throughout the year. A stained-glass workshop was scheduled for November 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.; the park was listed as open all day in 2026.
The Rock Garden Tavern hosts park events and workshops, and you can rent it for private parties. Friends of Fred Smith also runs the tavern’s upstairs apartment as an Airbnb, with funds supporting park maintenance. Ask about beer service if that matters for a private event.
Check the event details before you travel, especially when a workshop or seasonal gallery visit is the main reason for your stop.
- Confirm gallery dates and hours.
- Call about workshop registration.
- Check event details and times.
- Ask about tavern rental availability.
Call 715-339-7282 with questions about the gallery or studio. Confirm seasonal gallery hours and workshop registration by phone before making a special trip.
Conclusion
Fred Smith’s work is best appreciated as a whole landscape, where stories, materials and setting meet. You can explore at your own pace and see how his imagination grew from Northwoods life. The figures feel handmade and direct, with details that reward a closer look.
Plan a little time to walk the grounds rather than treating the park as a quick roadside photo stop. Call 715-339-7282 before your visit if the seasonal gallery or a workshop is part of your plan.
