You could truly spend weeks exploring all of Northern California’s quirky roadside attractions. Ranging from quick pit stops to must-see landmarks, there’s no end to the type of roadside oddities you’ll come across in our region of the Golden State. However, there’s one that might just be the strangest roadside attraction of them all and you’ll want to make it a goal to see it for yourself. The Great Statues of Auburn is a bizarre sight, to say the least, but there’s a strangely fun story behind its creation. Read on to learn all about it!
If you visit the gold rush town of Auburn today, you're bound to be struck by the sight of several larger-than-life statues that tower over the community. They seem incredibly random, and that's because they are. But they are a now treasured part of Auburn that are definitely worth seeing for yourself.
Known simply as The Great Statues of Auburn or The Statues of Ken Fox, these huge concrete behemoths are unlike any other roadside attraction in the state. They are definitely quirky, ranging from massive Amazon women to a beloved local gold prospector.
Their creation dates back to the 1960s when a dentist and artist named Ken Fox began constructing them in front of his dental practice. One of his first creations was a gigantic nude male, which was in fact so shocking that the town began to divert school buses away from the area to keep children from seeing it.
The statues weren't exactly welcomed by the community at first, but they are now considered a treasured part of Auburn. In fact, the town commissioned Fox to create a 45-ton statue of the famous gold miner Claud Chana, who is often noted for being the first to discover gold in the area.
Another notable statue of Fox's is of a 22-foot-tall Chinese prospector pushing a wheelbarrow. Created in 1972, the statue pays tribute to the historical significance of the Chinese workers who contributed to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Although considered a quirky roadside attraction by many, Fox is adamant to point out that his statues are built to last. Whereas other "tourist traps" will degrade over the years, you can expect to see these statues standing for a long, long time.
Seeing Ken Fox's Great Statues is a must when you're in Auburn. You can view many of them at his office. To get there, take Highway 49 toward Grass Valley and turn right after Palm Avenue. Continue past Auburn Ravine and these magnificent statues will soon come into view!
