Rancho Deluxe

PBS features Mason City’s Original Bicycle Garden in Greetings From Iowa

Max Weaver can’t resist a dumpster dive. Ever since he was five years old, he’s been picking up the interesting, weird, and unique discarded pieces of Mason City’s past. Max started Rancho Deluxe in 2003 as a shade garden for his wife and it just kept going. Every piece in the garden is something that has been thrown away. Local artists have contributed work too. Rancho Deluxe has become a Mason City landmark. Some locals love it, some don’t like it, and others don’t even know it’s there.

Recycled, re-purposed and rogue, this garden is a half acre of land filled with art that is a constant work in progress. Elements from throughout North Iowa’s history including bicycle racks, hub caps, license plates, school gates, signs and even a 3,000 lb. piece of granite from the former County Courthouse have been utilized in creating this strangely unique, and ever-evolving hub for folk/art outsider art at its best.

The Rancho Deluxe calls for a slow walk-through in order to take in every detail. If you have an appreciation for odd, quirky and outside the box art then stop by for an unique experience like none other.

PBS recently featured Rancho Deluxe in their Greetings from Iowa segment: