one day vacations: A slice of the American dream lives on in the country

Sally Zeiger Hanson / guest columnist

Destination: Ex-Nihilo Sculpture Park – Recycled Spirits of Iron in Elbe

Have you ever met someone who was clearly living their life in perfect alignment with their divine purpose? I think I have only come face to face with this phenomenon a few times in my life. My most recent One Day Vacation brought me into the orbit of one such person: Dan Klennert. We know Dan locally because he consistently has a great piece of art showcased in Puyallup’s Outdoor Art Gallery. He created the moose that lived happily on Pioneer Avenue for several years. He also made the oversized fish that is up on its tail in front of the downtown police station. I have enjoyed these pieces over the years but only recently learned that he has four acres of outdoor art gallery that is open to the public and free to visit.

On our most recent sunny Sunday, we piled in the car and headed toward Elbe. While Dan Klennert’s place is on the road to Paradise and a great stop to make on your way to the mountain, we decided that the sculpture park is a trip unto itself. Plus, I added detours to the Truly Scrumptious Bakery & Cafe in Eatonville on the way there, the Elbe train station and a burger stop on the way back. I’m not sure we could have fit in a national forest and kept up with my rigorous eating schedule.

After a beautiful hour long drive on country roads, we arrived at Dan’s place. The huge sculptures, the iron gates and the whimsical atmosphere are amazing. The lawns are surrounded by old growth forest and in the middle of the property sits an old firehouse that Dan uses for his workshop/studio. He rolls up the huge garage doors, turns up the music and sets to work each day surrounded by his art and those who come to admire it. His art is a heavy, sweaty proposition. The workshop is filled with scrap metal, welding tools and a crane to move the larger pieces into place.

He took us to a box of scrap metal pieces and proceeded to hold them up one by one asking: Doesn’t this look like a dog nose? Can you see the beginnings of a cowboy here? Doesn’t this look like a rhino? Dan is known for saying that he doesn’t form the metal into shapes, rather he collects shapes to create his forms. He is currently working on a 40 foot seahorse but part of his creative process involves putting together several small, practice versions first. He said that he hardly ever sleeps and that he has so many ideas that he hopes he can get them all out before he returns to the dirt.

We spent an hour strolling around the grounds, admiring both the art and the extended scrap heaps out back. We milled around the bare essentials gift store that is part of the old firehouse and my dad bought a DVD of the Disney documentary about Dan and other Americans who are living their dream.

From there we drove the three miles back to Elbe. We learned from the volunteer on duty at the train station that the old elementary school in the small town of Mineral has been converted into a music venue and apparently, they are getting great acts and large crowds.

Now that the train is running from Mineral, rather than Elbe, there are more reasons than ever to check out that town while you are in the neighborhood. We found good burgers at the Tall Timber restaurant in Eatonville and then we took our inspired selves back home again. We loved Dan’s creative, recycled iron sculptures but even more that we loved the life of inspiration that he has sculpted for himself.

More information

> Ex-Nihilo Sculpture Park – Ex-Nihilo means something created out of nothing. This four acre park is filled with sculptures of animals, machines, musicians and more all constructed out of recycled pieces of metal. The park is on State Route 706 on the right side, three miles beyond Elbe. The park is always open, admission is free and donations are accepted.

www.danielklennert.com/

> America’s Heart & Soul DVD – Disney 2004

Dan Klennert is one of several interesting Americans featured in this documentary that showcases people in a way that reveals their unique stories and celebrates a nation that is built on dreams.

> Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad – Steam and vintage train excursions

Since storms wreaked havoc on the tracks near Elbe, this historic train now runs between the towns of Mineral and Morton.

www.mrsr.com/home.html

> Little White Church of Elbe, Washington

www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/9017/

> Mineral Lake Event Center

This renovated building served as the Mineral Lake Elementary school from 1946 – 2002. Now it is home to live music events, film festivals and available for event rental. Upcoming events: August 16 2nd Annual Country Music Show, 5 bands, starts at noon. September 13, 2nd Annual Blues, Brews and Jazz Festival, 9 bands, wineries, micro breweries, food vendors. www.minerallakeeventcenter.com/

Where to eat

> Scale Shack Burgers

54109 Mountain Hwy E.

Elbe, WA 98330

360-569-2247

> Tall Timber Restaurant

121 Marshall Avenue N

Eatonville, WA 98328

360-832-3535

> Truly Scrumptious Bakery & Café

38004 117th Ave. E.

Eatonville, WA 98328

360-832-2233

As a lifelong Puyallup resident, Sally Zeiger Hanson has been taking One Day Vacations here in the Puget Sound for years. To join the conversation about the fun that can be had close to home, contact he at sallyzeigerhanson@gmail.com or on her blog at one