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Washington Explore|Small Towns

There Is A Unique Man-Made Wonder Hiding In This Small Town In Washington

By Andrea Verschuyl | Published November 30, 2023

Pacific Northwesters have a soft spot for everything bizarre. And nowhere is that more evident than our state’s odd attractions. But you’ll find the weirdest wonder in Washington just outside Seattle on sleepy Vashon Island. The oddity in question? A bike that’s been eaten by a tree!

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With a population of just over 10,000, Vashon Island is like Seattle's small-town cousin. As the region exploded, Vashon kept its quaint charm partly by remaining disconnected from the mainland. That means your excursion to see this weird Washington wonder will begin whimsically with a ferry ride.

But this adventure is deserving of an auspicious send-off. Vashon Island— occasionally called Vashon–Maury Island— is a fantastic destination for a local getaway. Combine your pilgrimage to the famous bike tree with a weekend holiday and return refreshed, restored by the miracle of island time.

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You'll find the bike tree right in town. Though some visitors have vandalized this oddity over the years, most who see it experience a sense of reverence for the obscure Northwest treasure.

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There's an undeniable uncanniness to this Vashon wonder. Although the internet has propelled the bike tree to unexpected internet fame, it remains unclear how it came to be.

Stories abound about the origins of the bicycle, though the most popular explanation was publicized by The Seattle Times. Though it's difficult to confirm, they report that the bike was owned by a former local named Don Puz. The year was 1954, and the Puz family had recently lost their home to a fire. The bike was a gift to make up for the tragedy, but Puz disliked it.

After a long day of playing, he abandoned the unwanted bike, returning home without it. It was only when pictures of the bicycle began circulating in local newspapers that Puz remembered it and reached out to the media.

Could the intervening years have been long enough for the bicycle to be consumed by the tree, causing it to float seven feet off the ground? Some aren't so sure. Other theories include the story of a boy sent to fight in World War I who stashed his beloved bike in the then-young tree, unwittingly creating the modern phenomenon.

No matter the explanation, the bike tree has captured the public's imagination for years, even inspiring a popular children's book, "Red Ranger Came Calling."

If you’re looking for the weirdest wonder in Washington, Vashon’s bike tree might be it! Plan your trip to marvel at this obscure PNW oddity.

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20200 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070, USA