Photos courtesy of jhmcreationz.com unless otherwise noted.
The delighted screams of children echo through the forest, as dappled sunlight shines down on their excited faces. Running through trails, kids shout in exhilaration as they spot their favorite storybook or television character. The amused adults accompanying them stand similarly in wonder, looking about as they reconnect with cartoon heroes from their childhoods, mystical spirits, local landmarks, and gorgeous wildlife all hand carved into dozens of tableaus in the trees around them.
It is a magical scene, and while it may sound like a fairytale, this reality plays out on almost any sunny day — and it is not in some grand theme park, but rather it is in a small woodland, hidden on a side road in the quaint town of Warsaw, Virginia and known to all as “The Enchanted Forest.”
Photo courtesy of Dianne Saison.
As he walks among the trees, the site’s creator and carver, Tom Rhodes, is happy to talk to visitors who stroll through the woodlands. Be it their first time, or their hundredth, he greets each guest as if they are family. A humble man, he patiently answers questions, points out special carvings that have personal significance, and always has a smile and open ear to any suggestions for a new carving.
During a recent interview, the octogenarian explained that he feels “blessed” to be able to share his passion for carving with the people who walk the trails of the forest. “This place gives people pleasure, and you can’t get too much nature,” he said, pointing to one of his earliest figures of a woodland spirit, the visage of a wise-looking elder who seems to guard the entrance with a smile. “I don’t know of anywhere in the world that has this.”
The Enchanted Forest is truly unique, and it was not created for any monetary gain. The entrance is free, but the experience is priceless. Nowhere else can you find Iron Man, Snoopy, Woody Woodpecker, Harry Potter, The Lorax, Batman, Shrek, Big Bird, Winnie The Pooh, Tinker Bell, and so many other fantastical characters all in one place.
“This is my therapy. This is a place to come and just feel free, and I feel like it has given my life so much more meaning,” Rhodes said as he laid out his tools to work on his newest creation, Thor holding his mighty hammer.
Photo courtesy of Dianne Saison.
Photo courtesy of Dianne Saison.
Rhodes’ journey to creating the entrancing forest is captivating. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he moved to Virginia when he was a child. He attended both Bridgewater College and the University of Virginia and retired as a VDOT engineer. He spent 22 years as the Highway Resident Engineer for the Northern Neck. He has been married to his wife, Kay, for 58 years, and they have three adult children, Deb, Rod, and Pam, who live across the state of Virginia.
As a child, Rhodes was introduced to carving through the Cub Scouts. During camping trips, he began whittling toothpicks, and his skill grew from there. Carving became a lifetime passion, a way for Rhodes to express his creative side, although he claims to have no artistic talent.
Interestingly, his first characters were not born on 100-foot-tall canvases, but rather on a medium of a much smaller scale. From cottonwood bark houses and walking sticks to animals, ships in bottles and more, Rhodes has carved thousands of unique items, few of which he sells. Instead, he gifts most of them to friends and family, as well as to a mother in a shopping line who offers to let him go ahead of her, the janitor whose tireless work often goes unheralded, or the random anonymous stranger who just wants to be seen.
“It is so important to give people a lift these days, so I hand out my carvings for random acts of kindness,” Rhodes explains. “It’s a little thing, but it lets them know that I show respect. That is important, and they are important.”
Never one to let those in need go without, Rhodes is also a tireless mission worker. He has aided regional churches, charities and any other organization in need of help. He has journeyed to Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Chile, Belize, Kenya, Tanzania, Grand Bahamas, and a multitude of other communities, including American towns devastated by hurricanes where he has lent his hand in rebuilding efforts doing carpentry and other jobs.
Golf Ball Carving Unlimited, a book which is a “comprehensive guide for creating art from golf balls.”
“I can’t play golf, but I can surely destroy the balls,” Rhodes has said in previous interviews.
In 1986, he bought the 11-acre parcel of land where the Enchanted Forest can now be found. Originally it was planned to be where he and his very patient wife, Kay, were to retire. Over the years, however, the land became a refuge for Rhodes. A place where he could walk, take in the beauty of nature, and replenish his soul.
In 2004, he got the idea to start using his carving skills on a much grander scale than he had ever before imagined. After consulting with a state arborist, who assured him the health of the trees would not be harmed, Rhodes began peppering the forest with carvings done in astonishing detail.
“My first carving was a tree spirit. Many ancient cultures believed trees have spirits. There is a personality associated with these trees,” Rhodes explained, adding that he tries to complete six new carvings a year and loses on average one to weather or other natural causes.
Once he realized his woodland art was becoming a local interest, Rhodes began clearing a beautiful walking path. Using only a wheelbarrow and some elbow grease, he began to clear just under a mile of twisting trails that go through the thicket, designed to surprise visitors by featuring his carvings as they walk through the track.
Photo courtesy of Dianne Saison.
“My favorite has to be my Tree Deer,” Rhodes said, as he bent down and gently laid his hand on the lovingly carved fawn at the base of a tree, just off the small creek that cuts across the forest. He told the story of a baby deer that he spied recently standing just a few feet away from his carving. It was a profound moment for Rhodes, who feels a deep connection with nature.
Today, there are 77 carvings, with more on the way. Finding each specific work of art is a wonderful experience. Rhodes has hand drawn a map of the trails. He leaves the guide in a plastic bag under a rock at the entrance, and he encourages everyone to try and find each of the etchings, which are simply marked with an “X” on the trail map.
In addition to the carvings, Rhodes built a picnic area and a table. Originally constructed for a visiting group of mentally challenged adults from Camp Baker, whom Rhodes entertained with demonstrations on carving, the rest area is a perfect spot for lunch or quiet reflection. People have been flocking to the Enchanted Forest in recent months, with visitors coming from as far away as Pennsylvania, Indiana, Richmond, and Fredericksburg. Many of these visitors found the hidden gem from social media posts and were captivated by the posted pictures, making them feel the urge to visit the forest themselves. On any given day, there can be dozens of children heard laughing as they roam the forest, and many of them believe it is magical, and the characters are truly alive.
“I saw her move,” and “He winked at me,” are common shouts. One little eight-year-old girl, Susannah, visiting from Richmond, was convinced that not only did she witness The Cat in The Hat move, but that all the carvings come to life at night and “play together.”
Although Rhodes recently sold The Enchanted Forest, the new owner has no plans to stop Rhodes from fashioning his unique artisanal creations. In fact, any carvings from trees that have recently fallen naturally are being lovingly preserved by the new proprietor, who hopes that the site can continue to be a joy and a draw for visitors to the charming Town of Warsaw. For his part, Rhodes said that he does not plan to stop carving any time soon. “Everyone is welcome. Enjoy the beauty of nature. It gives me joy to know that people find such pleasure here,” Rhodes said. “This place, it’s special. You can feel it.”
The Enchanted Forest can be found on 211 Wallace Street, and there are a few signs in the town pointing the way. The entrance is a simple, unassuming paved spot on the left side of the road but is easily recognizable by the carved tree spirits welcoming all into a magical, mystical adventure.
The House & Home Magazine extends sincerest appreciation to Mr. Tom Rhodes, who generously lent his time and knowledge in a guided tour of the forest, as well as Mr. Gregory Packett, current property owner and fellow nature enthusiast.