Jim Dickerman is a local artist who has dotted the landscape with his creations made from just about anything including old farm equipment, car parts, scrap metal, animal bones and feathers, driftwood, limestone, and antlers. You have to keep your eyes open and alert as creatures in his “Open Range Zoo” pop up in unexpected places along the highways such as the tops of fence posts and billboards, tucked between tree groves, and perched on top of rock outcroppings. Jim’s work has been featured on various websites and museums around the state.
See the locations of the Open Range Zoo creatures on a Google Map. (clicking the map image will also take you to the Google map)
Locations are also noted in the list below.
Driving instructions start on Highway 18 in Lucas, Kansas and moving towards the east, then on Highway 14 starting in Lincoln and moving towards the south to I-70.
Lucas, Kansas (Russell County)
- Grassroots Art Center – 213 S. Main Street – Jim’s work is displayed inside, along with other grassroots artists.
- Grassness Monster – In the alley near the Grassroots Arts Center (west).
- Scoop Dig It – Bowl Plaza, Main Street in Lucas – it’s situated between Jim’s “Wheel of Heritage” (west) and “Prehistoric Spacecraft” (west).
- Wow Flower – North Wolf Street in the yard of the last house on right before Highway 18 (east)
- Grass Bird – at the intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 232, just east of Lucas (north)
- Old Motorcycle creature (near the intersection of Main St and Highway 18)
- Dragon (near the intersection of Main St and Highway 18)
Highway 18 between Lucas and Lincoln, Kansas
- Lino Bird & Snake Muffler – Hwy 18 & Russell County Line (south)
- Super Bug – between mile markers 83 and 84 (south)
- Woody – Vesper/Denmark intersection (north)
- Bird – Just east of Vesper/Denmark intersection (north)
- Fisher Bird – mile marker 91, perched on top of a silo (north)
- Cultivator Flower – E Kale Dr. (#7 Indiana Directory) (north)
Entering Lincoln from west & Junction of Highways 18 & 14
- Tin Man – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Garden Flower – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Peace Vines – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Land Shark – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Gargantuan Ant – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Gator Beetle – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Praymantis for Lora – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Gableclub Peacock – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Thresh-O-Saurus – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- World Peace – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
- Googley-Eyed Man (I’m Watching You) – Tromble’s Retreat (north)
Near Junction of Highways 18 & 14 (and east through Lincoln on Hwy 18)
- Worm Dragon– North of intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 14 about 1 mile on Highway 14 (east)
- Dream Dragon – The Break Out – NE corner of intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 14 at Lincoln
- Flying Monkey – east of intersection on Hwy 18 half mile (north)
- Wicked Witch of the West – Near 5th St (north)
- Bird is a Bird –Near the Water Tower (north)
- Internal Peace #2 – just past Bird is a Bird (north)
- Internal Peace – where Lincoln Avenue meets Highway 18 by the cemetery and the park
- Twister Bird – Near South St. and Street Plumbing business (east)
- Harvester the Dream Dragon
- E.T. (in pasture just east of Lincoln near curve in Highway 18)
Downtown Lincoln, Kansas
- Flower – Girl Scout Museum
- Praying Mantis – Drug Store Museum (alley)
- Wind Blown Flower – Lincoln County Health Department
- Young Love & Peace Sign- City Park (south)
- Big Guy – East Court St, across the street from the Carnegie Lincoln Library
- Peace Flowers – one is south of the Library on S. 3rd St., one is by the Police Station on N. 2nd
- Peace Collector – between 1st and 2nd on Lincoln Avenue
- Cool One Bird – North of Sheriff’s Office on 2nd st. (west)
- Horseshoe Range – Lincoln City Park
South on Highway 14 to I-70
- Tree Flea – Across from Mrs. B’s Greenhouse (west)
- Thirsty – Viv’s Liquor (east)
- The Green Thing – Bridge/Walker Elevator (east)
- World Peace (by day) & Stewie (by night) – Railroad tracks overpass (east)
- Tiny Bird – Kiowa Dr. near St. Patrick’s Cemetery (east)
- Luther Bird – Iron Dr. near St. John Lutheran Church (east)
- Spade Bird – Ash Dr. almost to I-70 (east)
- Dino Hawk – Westfall Exit on I-70 (north)
Highway 18 between Lincoln and Beverly, KS
- Kansas Canary – mile marker 100 on Hwy 18 (north)
- Rufus – mile marker 101 on Hwy 18 (south)
- Free Bird – mile marker 102 on Hwy 18 (south)
- Pasture Parrot – mile marker 104 (south)
- Windy Two-Face (south)
- Space creatures “UFO Landing”
- Bird (north)
- Blanco (north)
- Long Green Dragon (north) (this is the one that goes in and out of the bushes) (this has been moved due to land ownership change)
- Fest Dragon (north)
- Bigga Bug (north)
- Doe Doe Bird (north)
- Beast (north near billboard sign)
- Sky Pony (north near billboard sign)
- Happy Face and Peace Sign (south near intersection with 3rd street)
- Busy Bee (close to Peace Sign, south)
- DebbieDactyl (south)
- Big Bug #2 (south)
- Mr. Watch Him Watch Me (south)
- Pasture Thing (south near intersection with Highway 252)
- Beverly Pull Tractor Antique (south)
- Muffy
- Black Pheasant – 295th North 2 miles (Setter Dogs) (east)
- Drago (east of Beverly on north)
- Space Mates (east of Beverly on north)
In Beverly, Kansas
- Forever Flower – Highway 252 in Beverly, it’s a heart wheel (west)
- Gasasaurus
- Air Head
- Birds (3) – Beverly Bar and Grill
- Beverly Bar & Grill has more small creatures inside
- Bug Man
- Oz on the Beverly Water Tower
- Bird
- Flowers (3) – Beverly Main St.
- Dragon
- Two Birds Looking (Beverly city office)
- Bird
- Two Birds Playing
- Flash & Easy Rider– on South Christie Street, by neighborhood watch sign (east)
- Row of various creatures near Jim’s residence
- Wagon Face (west edge of Beverly on 3rd st)
- Flower Power – N. Otis ave (west)
Highway 18 East of Tescott, Kansas
- Super Hopper – near intersection of N. West Ave and 2nd St in Tescott
- Power Hawk – mile marker 113 north side of Highway (3 miles east of Tescott on Hwy 18)
Additional locations:
Holyrood, Kansas
- Dino
Shady Bend (between Lincoln and Beverly on Highway 18)
- Sunburst Forever Flower – Hwy 18 & 250th (south)
- Peace Soars – Hwy 18 & 250th (south)
Lincoln, Kansas
- Forever Flower Garden – 115 School
- Flowers & Hearts (multiple pieces) – N 7th & Brome
Hwy 18 at west edge of Lincoln (Tromble’s Retreat)
- ROAR Flower – Tromble’s Retreat (placed 2nd @ ROAR Art Show in Russell, KS)
- Balancing Flowers
- Dandelion
Lucas, Kansas
- Puff Dragon – First and Main (SW corner)
- Create Grow Inspire Love Flower (Switchgrass, 205 Main St)
- Phoenix, 101 Main St, by garage
- Forever Flower, Wolf St.
- Singer Trellis and Psychedelic Trellis, Corner of Walton River of Life
Trent’s Forever Flower Garden’s can also be found in these surrounding cemeteries:
- Tescott Cemetery
- Beverly Cemetery
- Hammer Cemetery (Approx 1 mile north of St. Paul Lutheran Church or near 220th Rd and Grain Dr. )
- South Vesper Cemetery
About Jim Dickerman
He currently resides in Beverly, KS. You can contact him via snail mail to order pieces custom made. (Box 66, Beverly, KS 67423).
Jim’s son, Trent Dickerman, is following in his father’s footsteps. TR Designs Unlimited recycles junk metal (just like good ole Dad), welds & paints some beautiful works of art. He creates a beautiful variety: hearts, flowers, crosses, peace signs, trellis’, porch swings, mailboxes, dragons & other creatures. He currently lives in Lincoln and has many pieces available for purchase at the Grassroots Art Center or at Switchgrass in Lucas, KS. He can be contacted for custom orders at trdesigns78@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Credits
Lacie Austin, at Switchgrass in Lucas, created a flyer with all the Open Range Zoo listings, and both the flyer and this webpage would not have been possible without the assistance of Debra Stovall, and Trent and Jim Dickerman.
