No small town is complete without a fascinating roadside attraction. And anyone who happens to drive through the Iowa town of Brayton will get just that.

You might even think you’re seeing things upon realizing there’s a massive, 100-foot tall tree growing right through the center of this back road. And yet this was all part of the plan when the tree was planted over 150 years ago. Here’s more on how the Tree In The Road came to be.

Google Maps
The teeny tiny town of Brayton is located within Audubon County along the East Nishnabotna River. It’s accessible by means of Highway 71, 3 miles north of I-80.
Kandy F./Yelp
Brayton was established as a railroad town in 1878 and has a population of just 128 today. With charming diners, friendly folks, and plenty of charm, the area constitutes a traditional small town in almost every sense of the word. That is, until you factor in the unusual attraction smack dab in the middle of one of the roads...

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Paul W. Konopacki/YouTube
This is no optical illusion. That tree is growing RIGHT through the center of the 350th and 710th street intersection.
dmfett/YouTube
What has now been deemed "Tree in the Road" began, according to legend, as a property divider. Nearly 165 years ago, a surveyor needed to mark the land between Audubon and Cass Counties. With only a cottonwood sprout on hand, he decided a tree was as good an indication as any.
Paul W. Konopacki/YouTube
This stunning cottonwood tree stands at almost exactly 100 feet. What's perhaps most extraordinary is that the tree doesn't even interrupt traffic flow. Drivers simply yield to it in the same way as they would a roundabout.

A photo posted by Kelsey Kremer (@kelsey_kremer) on

Directions to the site: Take U.S. Highway 7 from Brayton traveling east on Country Road T towards F-65. Simply follow the signs marked “Tree In The Road” along the gravel roads. Also note that this is a B-service road, meaning there is minimum service and could potentially have ruts and potholes.

Have you ever visited this tiny town in Iowa or happened upon this bizarre site? We’d love to hear about your experience!

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