I know I can't be the only one who has wondered what the giant metal sculpture garden right next to the Costco on Harmony is. For years I thought it was abandoned. Turns out, it's an active zoo!

Well, an active zoo, not an alive one. All the "animals" are made from recycled car parts, recycled metal, you name it!

According to a feature on the zoo with Roadside America, the Swetsville Zoo was created by a man named Bill Swets. And get this, all of the animals were built by him!

The Roadside America feature says Swets started building the metal animals in 1985 as a hobby. The hobby grew and started to develop interest around town, and slowly but surely his little personal project grew into a garden of over 160 metal creations.

Most of the building reportedly took place between 1985 and 1995, according to the article with Roadside America.

Everything from dinosaurs to space ships and something that looks like a cross between a car and a spider, the garden is a funky little spot that just makes you wonder what else there is to find on the property.

Admission to the garden is based off of donations. What you can spare is what you can pay. It's open as long as the sun is out and the little yellow and white house you'll see belongs to Swets.

If you're looking for a fun local place to wander around on a Saturday afternoon and admire the workmanship of Bill Swets and his unique sculpture garden, add it to your calendar now.

 

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