There’s A Hidden Sculpture Park In Iowa, And It’s One Of The Quirkiest Places You’ll Ever Go

If you talk about a sculpture park in Des Moines, Iowa, most people would say "Sure, we know about Pappajohn Sculpture Park!" It's one of the most famous spots in Iowa - and it's well worth the hype. However, few people know about the other sculpture park in Iowa's largest city. To find it, you'd have to go to South Des Moines, where you'll find it in a quiet area of town. Surrounded by houses and small businesses, you'll find a quirky landscape filled with large statues of people, places, things - and other sculptures that may not make any sense at all! It's a quick trip, but this public park has been completely transformed into a strange and wonderful display of just how creative - and weird - public art can truly be.

As you drive through South Des Moines, you'll find a stretch of grass that has been transformed into a unique mini-sculpture garden: Southside Sculpture Park.

This is the brainchild of two men, Chuck Mettler and Phil Barber. They took a strip of land that was once a trolley stop and had fallen into disrepair, and completely transformed it.

Funded and organized entirely by the two men, it is now a public sculpture park featuring dozens of statues and a yearly art festival.

Some of the statues are beautiful and surreal depictions of humanity.

Others are inscrutable but beautiful, and well-worth taking some time to try to puzzle out.

Others are stunningly realistic! Every one is a little different, and the artwork in the park is updated regularly.

Some are just plain bizarre - and fans of this quirky local park love it exactly as it is.

Have you visited this hidden sculpture park in Des Moines, Iowa? Let us know about your trip and your favorite sculptures in the comments section! The park holds an annual arts festival, so keep an eye on the the park's website for this year's event. For another one-of-a-kind quirky Iowa experience, why not visit Iowa's only paranormal festival?