Nature’s Emoji: Massive Smiley Face Grows on Oregon Hillside

People Driving along Oregon Route 18 in the autumn months or early December are treated to a unique view that is sure to brighten their day – a giant smiley face looking back at them from forest-covered hillside.

Located at roughly mile 25 on Oregon Route 18, between Willamina and Grand Ronde, the now famous smiley face of Oregon makes its appearance every fall, as the color of the trees that make up its body start to change color. It is about 300 feet in diameter, and consists of two different types of conifers, one that changes color in autumn, and one that remains all year round. It has become a popular landmark in Oregon’s rural Polk County, and should continue to put smiles on people’s faces for the next 30-50 years, until the trees are ready to be harvested.

image

The story of the Oregon smiley face dates back to 2011, when the Hampton Lumber company decided to create the popular design out of trees, during a reforestation operation. They used Douglas fir for the eyes and mouth of the smiley face, and larch for the body of the design. Unlike most conifers, larch loses its needles and turns yellow in autumn.

“The idea for the smiley face started with David Hampton and our former timberland manager, Dennis Creel. When we harvested the site, we knew the area was highly visible to people travelling down Highway 18 so David and Dennis saw an opportunity to have a little fun,” Hampton spokesperson Kristin told Western Journal. “They used a rope to measure the circle out and the eyes and mouth were triangulated from that point.”

image

“Let’s just say smiley face designs are not the most efficient reforestation methods out there. With planning and planting it took about a week to finish,” the spokesperson added.

image

The Oregon smiley face may start to lose its edges over time, but experts at Hampton Lumber say it will remain very clear for at least another decade. Then, in 30 to 50 years, the trees will be harvested and turned to lumber at sawmills in Willamina and Tillamook. For now, though, the smiley face helps cheer up locals when they really need a reason to smile.

image

“It’s a very depressed area here,” one local woman told KATU-TV. “The jobs are gone. You drive along and see a smiley face, that’s all that matters. Yeah, my day is going to get better now because I saw a smiley face. It kind of brightens up the community.”

image

This cute smiley face is just one of the coolest designs created out of living trees over the years. Not too long ago we featured the world’s largest signature made of trees, and the Soviet-era “Lenin” trees in Siberia.

Related Posts

Why the ‘Eye of the Earth’ Water Lake Will Take Your Breath Away

The deep emerald water lake emerges amidst a beautifully surreal, untouched landscape. Known as The Eye of the Earth, or the Cetina Lake, it is a magnificent natural wonder gifted to Croatia by Mother Nature. This unique body of water is actually the …

Read more

Step into a Pink Sky: The Magic of Japan’s 144-Year-Old Wisteria

These stunning pictures, which look like a glorious late evening sky with dashes of pink and purple, are actually photos of Japan’s largest wisteria (or wistaria, depending on whom you ask) plant. This beautiful plant, located in Ashikaga Flower …

Read more

SS Ayrfield: How a 112-Year-Old Abandoned Ship Became a Stunning Floating Forest

While the SS Ayrfield was once a proud steam cargo ship, even used in World War II, its decaying shipwreck now stands as the famous Floating Forest of Homebush Bay. The Floating Forest is one of Homebush Bay’s signature landmarks. Image credit: Marc …

Read more

Chilling Discovery: The Story Behind Thousands of Rare ‘Ice Eggs’ in Finland

Ice comes in many shapes and sizes, from mountainous icebergs to tiny flurries of snow. But few of us will ever come across a field of football-sized ‘ice eggs’. Nature just loves to keep us guessing. When amateur photographer Risto Mattila went …

Read more

This Artist’s 8-Year Project: The Most Unique Tree Chair You’ll Ever See

Peter Cook and Becky Northey met in 1995, became partners and began shaping trees into living art they call “Pooktre”. Credit: Pooktre.com Instead of cutting trees down to make structures, Peter and Becky believe living trees can be shaped and incorporated …

Read more

Living Time Capsule: 2,000-Year-Old Redwood Boasts Colossal Car-Sized Opening

Dotted around the northern regions of California are a handful of the oldest redwoods and giant sequoias in the world, reaching up to the skies like something out of Tolkien’s universe. These colossal trees can grow to be over 300ft high and 3,000 …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *