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The Chandelier Tree and Drive-Thru Tree Park

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The Chandelier Tree and Drive-Thru Tree Park are notable attractions which were located on early US Route 101 (Redwood Highway) in Leggett.  The Chandelier Tree is a 276 foot high Coastal Redwood which had a tunnel carved into the trunk circa 1936-1937 by the Underwood family.  Despite Leggett being bypassed by modern US Route 101 in early the 1970s and replaced with California State Route 271 Drive-Thru Tree Park remains a popular stopping point for travelers in northern Mendocino County.  




Part 1; the history of the Chandelier Tree

The Chandelier Tree is a Coastal Redwood located in the community of Leggett along the southern segment of California State Route 271 (formerly US Route 101 and the Redwood Highway).  The Coastal Redwood grove the tree is located in was purchased by Charles and Hazel Underwood in 1922.  Underwoods carved a tunnel through the Chandelier Tree either in 1936 or 1937 as the central feature of Drive-Thru Tree Park.  Chandelier Tree became a popular destination on the early Redwood Highway and remains so despite Leggett having been bypassed by US Route 101 during the 1970s.  

The Chandelier Tree name is derived from the almost upright branches jutting from the trunk from approximately 100 feet.  These branches give the tree a chandelier-like appearance.  The tree was originally thought to be 315 feet high but has been since laser measured to 276 feet high.  



Part 2; a drive through the Chandelier Tree

The southern segment of California State Route 271 passes through Leggett and intersects the entrance to the Drive-Thru Tree Park at Postmile MEN 16.20.  





Drive-Thru Tree Road passes through a park entrance station and crosses under the Chandelier Tree.







The placard above the Chandelier Tree still indicates the original claimed height of 315 feet.


The Chandelier Tree tunnel is approximately seven-feet-wide by seven-feet-high.  Larger vehicles often have to fold their mirrors inward and some are too large to fit through the tunnel.  This Chevrolet Colorado Z72 was barely able to fit through the tunnel.  


Drive-Thru Tree Park has numerous other features such as wooden carving and a fallen Coastal Redwood log.  



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