WORLD FAMOUS CHANDELIER TREE: Cruise Through a Redwood in your Honda Accord

67402 Drive Thru Tree Rd, Leggett, CA 95585

The Redwoods of Humboldt County are a sight to be seen: majestic, beautiful, rock solid, and (most importantly) massive. These trees are as advertised, and certainly don't fuck around in the size department.

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You could fit a lot of anything in the ginormousness of one of these, which got one genius thinking: "Hmm, what about a car?" Well, that's exactly what happened here, thus creating the very popular roadside attraction know as the World Famous Chandelier Tree.

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Now one of the most recognizable landmarks in California, the chandelier tree isn't actually a tree with chandeliers hanging above (it actually got the name because of the shape of its branches), but serves as a fun tunnel where you can drive your car through the base of a Redwood.

That's right folks, if you've ever dreamt of driving your car straight into a tree— albeit, with far less damage than running into any regular tree this is the place you've been clamoring for.

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The actual journey to the famed tree is a fun one. A long and loopy off the beaten path road takes you through a twisted wonderland of shady redwoods, which is almost worth the price of admission itself. This tire-killing trail ultimately leading you to nice fellow collecting $10 a car; a shrewd business move on the part of the owners, but they certainly are getting my money in this situation. Then, you see it from a distance: the Tree! Glorious!

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As you slowly creep your way toward it, your heart begins to pound and the adrenaline starts to flow. Panic sets in and that feeling of "What if I crash into the tree?" or "Can my car fit? or "Why the fuck am I doing this?" kicks in. However, just stay focused, keep your cool and ride on into the sunset.

Once it's your turn to conquer the tree, flip those mirrors to the side and let the good times roll. Creep through slowly It's actually a bit nerve wracking to see how close you are to the walls and enjoy the bark buffet displayed in front of your eyes.

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That's some good looking tree guts!

The whole experience shouldn't take more than 5 seconds, but damn it feels good when you see that light again. You've officially survived Humboldt County's most harrowing Redwood experience!

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Now reward yourself with a trip to the gift shop, where chandelier tree key chains, T-shirts, postcards and mugs await your purchase.

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HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?

According to a story in The Redwood journal— on May 6, 1931, a tree was gutted in nearby Coolidge Park to enable cars to drive through it. A novel concept at the time, automobiles came in droves and the tree (measuring 58 feet in circumference) enjoyed a very lucrative run for a few years.

However, as automobiles changed/became larger and unable to fit through the Coolidge attraction, panic set in (well, probably not, but it adds drama to the story) and the torch was passed to a new tree waiting in the wings. Standing taller (315 feet) with a larger circumference (65 feet) the newly minted "chandelier tree" was open for business in 1937, and continues to this day. The tree itself is estimated to be over 2000 years old.

CHECK IT OUT

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The World Famous Chandelier Tree