Ottawa, Illinois -
Shoe Tree

Shoe Tree

Many of the older shoes have fallen to the ground and have been mowed over, but have been replaced over the years. The ice skates are no longer hanging up:( a disappointment. I accidentally overshot when I threw my shoes and helped to add to another shoe tree nearby:). Erica and Madison. [Erica Kelley, 09/19/2011]

Shoe Tree

A large tree in Illinois, with hundreds of shoes on it! At the intersection of Illinois 23 and U.S. 52 on the southeast corner. [Bob Frizol, 01/06/2011]

Shoe Tree

My son wanted to know if the grass wasn't mowed because the owner didn't want to hurt the shoes that didn't make it :) [Jen, 06/16/2010]

Shoe Tree

There is a "shoe tree" at the southern intersection of US-52 & Illinois Route 23 near Ottawa, IL. It is in a cluster of a few trees across 23 from a farm house and barn. It's not as big as many of the other shoe trees featured on RoadsideAmerica.com (yet), but it is an odd sight in the middle of the farm land. It has about 30 or so pairs of shoes and boots on it so far, and even a pair of ice skates. It's the first shoe tree we've ever seen, and we were happy to do our part in adding two more pairs of boots to it. [Ariana & Peter, 04/23/2009]

Shoe Tree

There is a Shoe Tree at the southern intersection of Rt. 52 and state Rt 23. It is easy to see if from the road it is a rather low hanging tree with more than 100 pairs of shoes in it and some have fallen around it. There is an area where you can park at a wayside, where there is plenty of room to get out and walk around. [Hugh, 05/02/2008]

[RA: April 2009: Photo added.]