Chandelier Tree, Drive-through redwood tree in Leggett, California.
The Chandelier Tree is a coastal redwood in Leggett, California, standing 276 feet (84 meters) tall with a tunnel carved at its base wide enough for cars. The trunk measures several meters across, and the carved opening allows vehicles to pass directly through the living wood.
The tunnel was cut into the trunk in the late 1930s when entrepreneurs along the roads through the redwood region were creating attractions for travelers. The modification to the tree followed a trend that also led to drive-throughs in other living trees elsewhere.
The name refers to branches that spread like chandelier arms from the trunk, starting far above the ground. Visitors often arrive by car and photograph themselves driving through, an image that has been among the most popular travel memories from the California coast for decades.
The park opens daily except on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and entry is possible by car or on foot. Larger vehicles such as motorhomes may not fit through the opening, so it helps to check dimensions beforehand.
The massive branches begin about 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground, and some reach diameters between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 to 2 meters). These branches gave the tree its name, as they resemble the spreading arms of a chandelier.
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