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Did you know you can visit the Easter Island Heads without ever leaving Texas?
Well, sort of. Tucked away in the Hill Country is one of the most picturesque hidden gems — welcome to Stonehenge II in Ingram, Texas.
🪨 About the installation
We know that Rome wasn’t built in one day and neither was this Lone Star State gem.
- Stonehenge II is an art project that was erected by the late Al Shepperd + and his neighbor, Doug Hill in Hunt, TX over 20 years ago.
- The project took a total of nine months to build at a slightly smaller scale than its original predecessor.
- The entire structure was eventually relocated stone-by-stone on the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation (HCAF) where it currently resides.
⚒️ Art isn’t a monolith
With that said, here’s a quick breakdown of the build up.
- The “stones” are made of plaster + graphite-covered metal mesh and steel frameworks.
- Each one is about eight ft tall (and has been said to ring when you tap them).
- The two 13-ft Easter Island head replicas were added by Shepperd after the initial megalithic circle.
🖼️ About HCAF
This year marks the 63rd anniversary of the Hill Country Arts Foundation.
- In the middle of the 20th century, a small group of people were united by their love of the arts and the beauty of the Hill Country to create the HCAF entity.
- One of its first projects was the Smith-Ritch Point Theatre — a 520-seat outdoor amphitheater.
- Check out the theater’s 2022 season + tickets.
- On property is also a 1,700-sqft gallery, four art studios, a ceramic lab + press studio that all comprise the Duncan-McAshan Gallery.
🗓️ Mark you calendars
The HCAF has grown tremendously since its inception to now include year-round activities + festivals.
- 50th Anniversary Texas Arts and Crafts Fair | Sat., Sept. 24 + Sun., Sept. 25 | Celebrate local artists + artisans from across the state.
- The Celtic Festival | April 29, 2023 | Bring on the bagpipes + bust out in an Irish jig while enjoying the Stonehedge Highland Games.
- Total Solar Eclipse | April 8, 2024 | A once-in-a-lifetime event — a total solar eclipse will be passing right over Stonehenge II. Planned for the date is a Texas-size celebration with featured astronomy experts from the Griffith Observatory.