As autumn descends upon Oregon, a heartwarming surprise awaits travelers along Route 18. Amidst the forest-covered hillside, a colossal smiley face emerges, its vibrant colors reflecting the changing seasons and bringing joy to all who lay eyes upon it.
Located approximately at mile 25 on Oregon Route 18, between Willamina and Grand Ronde, the iconic Oregon smiley face makes its annual appearance as the trees that compose it begin their transformation. This natural wonder spans an impressive 300 feet in diameter, crafted from two distinct types of coniferous trees. One variety changes its foliage to brilliant autumnal shades, while the other remains evergreen. The smiley face has become a beloved landmark in Oregon’s rural Polk County, promising to radiate happiness for the next three to five decades, until it’s time for the trees to be harvested.
The story of Oregon’s cheerful emblem dates back to 2011 when the Hampton Lumber company embarked on an unconventional reforestation project. They ingeniously employed Douglas fir trees for the eyes and mouth of the smiley face and selected larch trees to form its body. Unlike typical conifers, larch sheds its needles and turns a striking yellow in the fall.
The idea for this delightful creation sprouted from the minds of David Hampton and Dennis Creel, the former timberland manager. Recognizing the high visibility of the site from Highway 18, they saw an opportunity to inject a little fun into the reforestation process. Using a simple rope to measure the circle and triangulating the eyes and mouth from that point, they began their arboreal artwork.
Creating this magnificent smiley face was undoubtedly an unconventional reforestation method. It took about a week of meticulous planning and planting to bring this living masterpiece to life.
The Oregon smiley face may gradually lose some of its crisp edges over time, but experts at Hampton Lumber assure that it will remain clearly visible for at least another decade. Then, after 30 to 50 years, the time will come for these trees to be harvested and transformed into lumber at sawmills in Willamina and Tillamook. Until that day arrives, the smiley face continues to light up the faces of locals in an area where a little cheer can go a long way.
“It’s a very depressed area here,” remarked a local resident. “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.”
This endearing smiley face is just one of the many creative designs fashioned from living trees over the years. It joins the ranks of other arboreal wonders, including the world’s largest signature made of trees and the Soviet-era “Lenin” trees in Siberia, as a testament to the power of nature and human ingenuity.
