By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
The infamous car-art, Carhenge, recently got a fresh new coat of paint as the spring/summer travel season gets underway.
"Carhenge got a fresh coat of paint," according to a post from the Carhenge Facebook page. "And boy-oh-boy does it look fresh."
The new Carhenge paint facelift was done by Gary Caparoon of Reliable Painting.
"I remember repainting them with the Boys Ranch back in high school," a Facebook commenter said on the social media post.
"So enjoyed my visit a number of years ago," another Facebook commenter said. "Look forward to when I can come back again."
A Facebook comment by Ben Thompson posted a photo of a die-cast toy car painted with a blue and yellow Carhenge theme.
According to carhenge.com, "Just north of Alliance, Nebraska, along Highway 87, stands a replication of Stonehenge, England’s ancient mystical alignment of stones that chart the sun and moon phases. Stonehenge stands alone on a plain in England. Carhenge towers over the plains of Nebraska."
The Carhenge monument itself is a free attraction that is open from Dusk to Dawn.
The City of Alliance Proclaimed June 22, 2022 as Jim Reinders Day.
Reinders was an Alliance native and Carhenge designer and builder. Reinders passed away October 16, 2021 at his home in Houston. He was 94. Carhenge, located just North of Alliance off Highway 87 was concieved and built during a Reinders family reunion in June of 1987 on land owned by the family.
Reinders donated the 10-acre site to the Friends of Carhenge. and In 2013 the Friends of Carhenge donated the site to the Citizens of Alliance...the City of then took over the upkeep and maintenance of the site.
Throughout it's history Carhenge has appeared in film, popular music, television programs and commercials and is listed in many books and other publications as one of the main tourist attractions in the United States.
Carhenge gained more nationwide fame in 2017 during the Solor Eclispe. An estimated 4,000 people, including Jim Reinders and then Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, viewed the eclipse from the site. More than 100,000 visitors, from all over the World visit Carhenge each year.
Carhenge Highlights over the last year:
Carhenge was recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner.
"That '70s Show" stars Ashton Kutcher (Kelso) and his wife Mila Kunis (Jackie) traveled through Alliance to visit Carhenge on July 6, 2022.
Kutcher paused to take a photo with his arm around Mila. The post said, "Found the original vista cruiser."
