Entry No. 4 — the Des Moines file — filed under: outdoor
South Des Moines Sculpture Park
“a 30-foot egg-shaped UFO with a smoke machine hidden in an old outhouse”
A self-built roadside art environment that locals call 'a poor man's Pappajohn's' — about 18 homemade sculptures including a 30-foot egg-shaped UFO with a smoke machine hidden in an old outhouse, a steel pyramid, and a 300-pound 'world's largest functioning paperclip.' Phil Barber and Chuck Mettler reclaimed a swampy illegal-dumping lot across from Barber's house and turned it into this oddball public park.
The move: Wander the narrow strip at dusk hunting for the weirdest piece (the UFO and giant paperclip are crowd favorites), then come back for the free September art festival when smoke machines fire up the UFO to a 'War of the Worlds' soundtrack.
📍 Before you go Look for it at the southeast corner of SW 8th St and McKinley Ave on the south side, a skinny roadside strip rather than a gated park, sitting directly across from creator Phil Barber's own house. There's no real lot, so street parking is limited and you'll mostly explore on foot along the narrow edge; keep it brief and respectful since this is a residential block and a labor-of-love passion project. Daylight makes the homemade sculptures easiest to read, while dusk is the most atmospheric. The big payoff is the free September art festival, when the UFO's smoke machine fires up, so aim for early fall if you want the full spectacle.
- 📍 McKinley Park (south side)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 768-798 McKinley Ave (SW 8th St & McKinley Ave), Des Moines, IA
Hours: Free, outdoor, open public space; the smoke-machine/UFO spectacle runs during the annual September art festival.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · dmcityview.com
last checked: 2026-06-06