Two-headed dinosaurs with spark plug teeth sit on a front lawn in Pennsylvania. Just down the road, a giant bumblebee wears the face of an old car, and a rocket points straight at the clouds.
This free yard of sculptures is the work of a local welder who started in 1988. He builds creatures with junked cars and scrap metal, and the collection keeps growing.
Pulling onto the gravel shoulder, laughter comes before the engine even turns off. Every piece is made by hand, and the artist never charges admission.
Roadside surprises like this turn a quiet drive into a story worth telling. The lawn is open to anyone curious enough to stop, and the grin lasts all the way home.
There are no signs telling you what to think, just a wild collection that speaks for itself. Visitors stop, take photos, and leave with a smile.
The artist keeps adding new pieces, so the yard never looks the same twice.
The Two-Headed Dinosaur That Stole My Attention
My first close look at the dinosaur made me grin like a kid at a museum. Two heads point in different directions, as if the beast cannot decide which visitor to stare down first.
Each head is shaped from an oil pan, and rows of spark plugs line the jaws like sharp little teeth.
Get close and you will notice even more clever pieces. A piston rod spine runs along its back, giving the creature a bumpy, prehistoric ridge.
The rusty orange color makes it look ancient, almost like it crawled out of a dig site instead of a garage.
Kids usually love this one the most, and honestly, so did I. It is fun to point out each part and guess what it used to do inside a car.
That game turns a quick stop into a hands-on lesson about engines without anyone noticing.
For photos, try kneeling low so the heads tower over you against the sky. Morning light makes the rust glow warm, while late afternoon adds long, spooky shadows.
Just remember the sculpture is real art on private land, so admire it with your eyes and camera rather than climbing on it.
A Bumblebee Buzzing With Car Grill Charm
Honestly, I never expected a bee to make me think about cement trucks. Yet here it is, a chunky striped body made from a mixer drum and a face borrowed from the front end of a SAAB.
The car grill works perfectly as a smiling mouth, which gives this insect a friendly, goofy look.
Bold black and yellow stripes wrap around the round body. Against the green grass, the colors pop so brightly that you can spot it from the road.
I found myself walking circles around it, trying to figure out where one machine ended and the next began.
Here is a sweet detail. A mailbox nearby, called the Buzz Box, holds comment cards where visitors can leave notes about their visit.
Writing a quick thank you feels like the right way to show appreciation for an artist who shares his yard for free.
Bring a pen just in case, since kids enjoy drawing little pictures on the cards too. The bee is also a great backdrop for a family photo because it is big enough to fit everyone.
Stand near the grill side so that cheerful car face shows up clearly in your shot.
Meeting Automan in His Latest Outfit
Some sculptures just stand there, but Automan seems to have a personality. His body is built from an engine, a transmission, and a drive shaft, all stacked into the shape of a sturdy metal man.
Look down and you will spot brake shoes serving as his feet.
The best part is his changing wardrobe. Depending on when you show up, he might be dressed as a pirate, a Halloween scarecrow, or a golfer ready to tee off.
Visitors have also seen him decked out in patriotic colors, which fits the red, white, and blue touches around the yard.
I love that you never quite know which version of him you will meet. It gives people a reason to come back more than once, especially during holidays.
Locals sometimes swing by in different seasons just to check on his latest look.
Automan stands at a friendly height, so he makes a great photo buddy. Stand beside him and copy his pose for a silly picture.
Pay attention to the bolts and gears that form his joints, because those little choices show how carefully Dick Schaefer thinks about every piece he welds together.
A Volkswagen Beetle Turned Spider
Spiders usually make people jump back, but this one makes them laugh. An entire Volkswagen Beetle forms the round body, and long, colorful metal legs stretch out from its sides.
The rounded shape of the Bug suits a spider so well that it almost seems like the car was designed for this job.
I stood back for a minute to take in the full size. Those legs bend at sharp angles, giving the sculpture a creepy crawly pose that feels ready to scuttle across the lawn.
Up close, the bright paint on the legs adds a playful twist that keeps it from being too scary.
Fans of classic cars will enjoy spotting familiar Beetle features like the curved hood and old windows. It is a fun reminder that these little cars were once everywhere on American roads.
Now this one has a whole new life as an eight-legged yard guardian.
If you have younger kids who are nervous about bugs, this is a gentle way to make spiders feel silly instead of spooky. Count the legs together and talk about how the artist bent the metal.
It turns a quick look into a small art lesson.
The 40-Foot Rocket With a Seat on the Outside
My neck got a real workout staring up at this one. The rocket rises about 40 feet into the air, easily the tallest piece in the yard.
Truck leaf springs help shape its body, giving it a tough, industrial look.
Car lovers will smile at the engines. Schaefer used Oldsmobile Rocket V-8 engines, which is a clever joke since those motors already carried the rocket name.
It is the kind of wordplay you might miss at first, so keep your eyes open for these little winks.
Then there is the seat. A passenger seat salvaged from a Subaru Brat truck is attached to the outside of the rocket, almost as if someone could ride along for the launch.
The Brat was famous for having rear seats in its open bed, so this placement feels like a fun nod to that quirky truck.
Take your time studying the details from different sides. Walking around the base reveals bolts, springs, and engine parts you will not see from the road.
A wide-angle photo from a few steps back is the best way to fit the whole thing in one frame.
A Yellow Helicopter, a Cannon, and Plenty of Surprises
Just when I thought I had seen everything, a bright yellow helicopter caught my eye. It is built from industrial parts and painted a sunny shade that stands out from the rusty pieces nearby.
The blades and body look ready for takeoff, even though it will never leave the lawn.
Not far away sits an old-fashioned cannon made from colorful scrap metal. Its painted pieces give it a cheerful, almost toy-like look.
Together, these two pieces show that the garden is about more than just cars, since Schaefer pulls inspiration from all kinds of machines.
Many of the materials came from Denny’s Auto Wrecking, the junkyard run by his brother. That family connection gave him a steady supply of old parts to transform.
Knowing this made the whole yard feel more personal to me, like a family story told in steel.
The collection keeps evolving, so you might spot new works or notice something has changed since your last visit. That makes every trip a little different.
I suggest taking a slow lap around the whole lawn, since the smaller pieces often hide the funniest details of all.
Tips for Visiting This Front Yard Gallery
Planning ahead makes this stop smooth and stress free. Schaefer’s Auto Art sits on the front lawn of a private home in Pennsylvania, and the artist kindly lets the public wander through for free.
A little respect goes a long way here.
Parking is the main thing to know. There is a small pull-off area along Hershey Road, so use that spot and please do not block or enter the driveway.
Cars pass often on this road, so keep kids close while you get in and out.
Most people spend about 15 to 30 minutes looking around. That makes it a great leg stretch during a road trip or a fun add-on to a day exploring Erie.
Since it sits on a back road, use a map app, because it is easy to drive right past.
Come during daylight hours for the best views and photos. Wear comfortable shoes, since the grass can be damp in the morning.
Before leaving, drop a note in the Buzz Box to thank the artist for sharing his creativity with everyone who passes by.
Address: 3705 Hershey Road, Erie, Pennsylvania
