Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch — Oddities & Curiosities in Los Angeles

Entry No. 30 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: roadside-oddity

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch

On a stretch of old Route 66 in the high desert, Elmer Long welded hundreds of metal 'trees' and hung them with thousands of colored glass bottles, creating a clinking forest two acres deep. Atop the poles he perched salvaged oddities: typewriters, gumball machines, railroad signs, even a spent missile. Elmer died in 2019, but his son Elliott keeps the ranch open and free, and the desert wind still makes the bottles ring.

The move: Wander the bottle-tree forest at sunset together as the low light turns the glass amber and the breeze sets it chiming.

📍 Before you go About 85 miles northeast of LA near Victorville; free, open roughly sunrise to sunset, donations appreciated. It is remote desert roadside, so bring water.

Where: 24266 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

#roadside-oddity #bottle-trees #folk-art-environment #route-66 #high-desert

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23