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Forkland, Alabama: Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man

Since 1993 rancher Jim Bird has been populating a field along the Demopolis Hwy with creatures and vehicles made of hay bales and farm junk -- including a 32-foot-tall Tin Man.

Address:
16040 US-43, Forkland, AL
Directions:
The field of art stretches along about a half-mile on the west side of US-43/Demopolis Hwy, either 2.5 miles south of the intersection of Hwy 41/69 at Forkland, or nine miles north of the intersection of US Hwy 80 in Demopolis.
Admission:
Free
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man

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Hay bale art.

Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man

Jim Bird has created a collection of hay bales and odd sculptures in a field off of the Demopolis Highway. All are welcome to stop in and check them out.

[Brad Sundgren, 03/02/2024]

Rancher Jim Bird has worked at this peculiar, and often impermanent, art form for over 30 years.

Hay Bale racing car.

Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man

Jim's golf cart appears dead and abandoned in the corner of the field. There were about two dozen different hay bale art pieces scattered in a rough line across the field. This is bigger than you'd think! There were even some large pieces, like a monster truck and a sailboat on the sea.

Watch out for fire ant hills. They're everywhere!

[Michael Bodary, 01/04/2022]

Hay bale art.

Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man

100% worth a stop! Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art is a wonderfully creative labor of love!

[Laura Ostapiej, 07/04/2018]

Jim Bird's Hickory Bark Gator.

Jim Bird's Hickory Bark Gator

Mr. Bird has a new attraction: an alligator made from twisted together hickory bark (He had a high school boy help him). Jim is 89 years old; his brother Mafus is 92. I sat and spoke with both of them.

Mr Bird's plantation property has the Tombigbee River running along the western side. It's adjacent to Rattlesnake Bend, where the "government cut" was made by the Army Corps of Engineers as a shorter route for tug traffic. Since Jim's house burned down -- a huge pecan tree fell on it in a storm -- he lives in a 1950 overseer's house. He has great stories, such as crash landing his Piper Cub, twice! He's got a 12-cylinder moonshine car. I will be seeing him again after Thankgiving.

[T Hruska, 11/15/2016]
Jim Bird's Hay Bale Art and Tin Man

Neat things to see along the road. Sad note today though -- Mr. Bird's house burned down last night. He is okay but lost the entire house.

[Nina, 06/18/2016]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Rusty the Big Red DogRusty the Big Red Dog, Northport, AL - 44 mi.
Tuska the ElephantTuska the Elephant, Tuscaloosa, AL - 44 mi.
President Reagan Ate Here McDonald'sPresident Reagan Ate Here McDonald's, Northport, AL - 45 mi.
In the region:
Running Minerva, Tuscaloosa, AL - 44 mi.

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