Forty-two giant concrete presidents are slowly crumbling in a muddy field. Abraham Lincoln has a cracked head, and George Washington stands about 25 feet tall.
The busts once smiled at tourists in a tidy sculpture park. When that park closed, a local contractor was hired to smash them.
He couldn’t do it, so he hauled every single one to his own land instead.
Now they sit in rows on a working recycling site in Virginia, weathered and peeling. Old trucks and heavy machines rest nearby.
I like how the whole scene feels part history lesson and part movie set.
You can’t just drive up and peek, though. The gates open only a few weekends each year, and tickets go fast.
So how do you get in, and what should you wear?
Forty-Two Concrete Presidents Are Waiting In A Very Muddy Field
Concrete faces stare out from every direction at The Presidents Heads, a private collection near Williamsburg. There are 42 busts in all, running from George Washington to George W. Bush.
Most of them stand between 15 and 20 feet tall. Washington and Lincoln reportedly reach about 25 feet, which makes them the tallest guys in the room.
Each bust weighs somewhere around 11,000 to 22,000 pounds. That is a lot of president to move, and the story of how they got here is half the fun.
The heads are lined up in rows, almost like a class photo. Some look calm and dignified.
Others have cracks running across their cheeks or chunks missing from their hair.
That rough look is now a big part of the appeal. These aren’t shiny museum pieces behind velvet ropes.
They feel raw, a little spooky, and completely unforgettable.
Getting close lets you see the scale in a way photos can’t capture. Standing beside a 20-foot Jefferson changes your sense of size fast.
This is easily one of the strangest history stops in Virginia. And that’s exactly why people work so hard to snag a ticket.
An Artist Saw Mount Rushmore And Thought Bigger
Houston artist David Adickes started this whole adventure after a trip to Mount Rushmore. Four presidents on a mountain clearly wasn’t enough for him.
He sculpted the busts between 2000 and 2004. His goal was to give every president his own giant moment.
Local entrepreneur Everette H. “Haley” Newman III partnered with Adickes on a big plan. Together they built Presidents Park, a 10-acre outdoor sculpture park in Williamsburg.
The park opened in March 2004. It also had an indoor museum, so visitors could learn while they wandered.
The busts were bright and polished back then. Neat paths and tidy lawns surrounded each one.
It was a very different scene from the cracked giants you see today.
Knowing this backstory makes a visit feel richer. You’re not just looking at weird statues.
You’re looking at one artist’s huge dream and the many years that followed it.
Some tours even show off leftovers from the old park. Original placards, park signs, and vintage photos may be on display.
It’s a neat way to compare the then and now side by side.
The Rescue That Kept These Giants From Being Smashed
Presidents Park closed on September 30, 2010. Money troubles and lower visitor numbers than expected brought the curtain down.
After the land was sold around 2012, someone had to deal with 42 enormous heads. Howard Hankins, a local contractor who had helped build the original park, got the job of tearing them down.
He just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he spent about $50,000 to move every bust to his 400-acre property in Croaker.
That move was no small chore. Picture cranes, trucks, and tons of concrete rolling down country roads.
Many busts were damaged along the way, which explains some of the cracks and holes.
Honestly, I believe this is the heart of the whole place. One person decided these sculptures deserved a second chance.
That choice turned a closed attraction into a bucket-list stop.
Today the heads draw more attention than they ever did in the old park. It’s a rare comeback story told in concrete.
So when you stand among them, remember they almost didn’t make it. Every crumbling face is here because someone said no to the wrecking ball.
Plan Ahead Because The Gate Is Usually Locked
No ticket, no presidents. The busts sit on private land, and they can’t be seen from the road.
Visits happen only during pre-ticketed tours or photography workshops. These are offered periodically, usually about eight weekends a year.
Showing up on a random Tuesday won’t work. Trying to get in outside scheduled events counts as trespassing, so please don’t test it.
The site sits at 8212 Croaker Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188. It’s in the Croaker area, roughly 10 to 11 miles from where the original park stood.
Photographer John Plashal partners with Howard Hankins to organize and host these events. Ticket options like a Basic Access Pass and a VIP Pass may be available, depending on the date.
Since spots are limited, buy early. The official site lists upcoming dates, and checking it often is smart.
Consider building a bigger trip around your tour. Williamsburg is close by and packed with history of its own.
Spending a couple of days in the area turns one quirky stop into a full Virginia getaway.
Your Sneakers Will Regret Coming Along
Mud is the unofficial 43rd president here. The busts stand in a field, and the ground between the rows can get soft and soggy fast.
Tall rain boots are often recommended for visitors. That advice is worth taking seriously, especially after a rainy week.
The main path can be easier to handle. The back rows, though, are where shoes tend to sink.
If you want close-up photos of every face, plan on getting a little messy.
A few smart moves help a lot. Pack an extra pair of shoes and leave them in the car.
A towel and a plastic bag for dirty boots are good ideas too.
Wear clothes you don’t mind splashing. Light-colored pants are a bold choice in this field.
Check the weather before you leave home. A dry day makes wandering easier, but a gray sky can make the heads look extra moody in pictures.
Treat the mud as part of the adventure. It’s hard to stay grumpy when Lincoln is towering over your soggy feet.
You’ll have a funny story to tell, and maybe some impressive boot stains.
Old Machines Set A Strange And Moody Stage
Few monuments share a neighborhood with a recycling yard. These do.
The busts sit on land that also works as an industrial recycling facility, Hampton Roads Materials. So expect old machinery, construction materials, and piles of rubble around the edges.
That setting gives the whole visit a wild, almost end-of-the-world feel. It looks like a movie crew left giant props behind and forgot to come back.
Kids may love the rusty trucks and big equipment as much as the presidents. Just remember this is a working site.
Stay where the hosts say you can go, and keep little hands off the machinery.
The contrast makes for amazing photos. Gray concrete faces pop against muddy ground and weathered metal.
Cloudy days can add even more drama.
The vibe is eerie but not scary. Think quiet, surprising, and very memorable.
Don’t expect polished walkways or manicured gardens. The experience leans into the ruins theme on purpose.
If you like places with grit and character, this backdrop will feel like a bonus instead of a drawback.
Bring A Camera And Hunt For The Best Angle
Photographers might feel like kids in a candy store here. Some events are actually set up as photography workshops.
Tours are self-guided within a two to three-hour window. That gives you time to walk the rows, test angles, and come back to a favorite face.
Try shooting low and looking up. It makes the 20-foot busts look even more enormous.
Placing a friend beside a head also shows off the scale nicely.
The cracks and stains make great close-up details. A peeling nose or chipped eyebrow can tell a whole story in one frame.
Rows in the back sit fairly close together. Getting clean single shots there takes patience, so wider group shots may work better.
Be ready for changing light and wet ground. Protect your gear, and keep a cloth handy for raindrops on the lens.
Your photos may look a bit like others online. That’s okay.
Nothing beats the feeling of standing among these giants yourself, and your pictures will still remind you of that oddly peaceful moment.
Trivia Time Turns The Visit Into A Fun History Class
How much do you really know about Chester Arthur? Many tours offer a short talk that might stump you.
Optional speaking sessions run about 25 to 35 minutes. They cover presidential trivia and the history of the sculptures.
You’ll hear about the artist, the original park, and the big move to Croaker. The future of the heads also comes up, which adds a hopeful note.
These talks are optional, so you can skip them and wander. Still, I think the stories make the busts feel more alive.
Knowing why a crack exists makes you look at it differently.
Families can turn it into a friendly contest. See who answers the most trivia questions, then quiz each other while walking the rows.
Kids who think history is boring may change their minds. It’s hard to snooze through a lesson when a giant Teddy Roosevelt is right behind you.
Bring a small folding chair if standing for a while is tough. Then settle in, listen, and let the facts roll.
Their Next Chapter Is Still Being Written
Big dreams still hover over these concrete heads. There have been proposals to rezone the land for a new attraction called President’s Walk.
The idea would turn the busts into part of an interactive history experience. Plans floated a museum, a hotel, an amphitheater, and an equestrian center, among other features.
For now, that project is on hold. Nobody can say exactly when or if it will move forward.
That uncertainty makes a visit feel extra special today. Weather keeps working on the concrete, year after year.
Seeing the heads in their current state is a moment that won’t last forever.
The Presidents Heads have already beaten the odds once. They went from a closed park to a near wrecking ball to a beloved oddity.
That’s a pretty impressive résumé for a bunch of statues.
Keep an eye on upcoming tour dates and any news about the site. Things could change.
Until then, these giants wait quietly in their Virginia field. Grab a ticket, lace up those boots, and go say hello while you still can.
