If you’re visiting northern California, you can drive through the Chandelier Tree (pronounced “candy”). This is one of three remaining coast redwoods that cars can drive through. It’s located in Leggett, CA, and named for its dangling branches that resemble the dangling arms of a chandelier. This giant, living redwood was carved to be a drive-thru in 1937. Today, the Chandelier Tree is surrounded by a 200-acre park with scenic trails, fun wooden sculptures carved with chainsaw, a duck pond and an old school gift shop. The Chandelier Tree was featured in the opening credits of National Lampoon’s Vacation and it’s still a popular stop for movie crews looking for an authentic and beautiful California redwood.
The Chandelier Tree is a 276-foot tall coast redwood with a 6-foot-9-inch wide hole cut through its base that allows cars to pass through. It is estimated to be 2,400 years old and it gets its name from the enormous, higher branches that extend out on either side of the trunks resembling the dangling arms of a Chandelier.
The Chandelier tree is the best-known of all drive-through trees. About 500 vehicles per day drive through it during the summer. It is the only tree of its kind in California and one of only three in the world. (The other two are the Tunnel Log in Myers Flat and the Klamath Tour-Thru Tree.) On a good day, the park charges about $10 per vehicle. This seems like a fair price for an experience that will likely never be duplicated.
It’s not clear how the huge hole in the Chandelier Tree came to be. However, Pam Linder, a fourth-generation member of the Stephenson family that owns and runs the park, says that it was a result of beer and moonshine. She says that her grandfather used to sell jugs of moonshine inside the tree to guests.
In the early 20th century, cutting holes in giant redwoods was very popular. Many were created to lure tourists and make money for the owners of parks or private properties. These drive-through trees were often advertised in magazines and on postcards. While many of them eventually toppled, some such as Yosemite’s Wawona Tree and Calaveras Big Trees Pioneer Cabin Tree survived for decades.
Aside from being a unique attraction, the Chandelier Tree is also a great place to take pictures. It is a very picturesque spot and it can be especially pretty at sunset. You can also enjoy the view from the nearby visitor’s center where there are tables, chairs and restrooms. If you’re planning to visit, we recommend getting there early. The park opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm. It is also open on the weekends from December to March. It’s a very popular tourist attraction so you will want to plan ahead for your visit. You can also purchase tickets in advance online.
