Shoe Tree, Roadside attraction in Churchill County, Nevada, US
Shoe Tree is a cottonwood grove along US Route 50 in Nevada's desert landscape, with hundreds of shoes hanging from the branches to create an unusual sight. The thousands of pairs form an ever-growing collection that travelers continuously add to as they pass by.
The tradition started when a quarreling couple threw shoes into the branches and later reconciled, inspiring many other travelers to follow the same custom. Over time, this practice became a known landmark along this remote highway.
Visitors from many places follow a custom of tossing footwear into the branches, with each pair carrying personal stories and meanings from travelers.
The site sits east of Middlegate Station on Route 50 and has a dedicated parking area for stopped vehicles. Visitors should bring shoes they are willing to throw and approach the tree safely from the roadside.
After the original tree was destroyed by vandals in 2010, nearby trees inherited the tradition and continue collecting shoes from passing travelers. This continuation shows how the practice became rooted in the landscape itself rather than a single tree.
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