Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
18 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
19 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
21 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Idaho Melba Cleo's Ferry Museum and Nature Trail

Cleo's Ferry Museum and Nature Trail

Birdhouses, peacocks, animal sculptures, and a graveyard are all found along this eclectic nature trail.

Melba, Idaho

Added By
linguistjake
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A religious totem pole flanked by hand-crafted camel art and surrounded by 150-year-old buildings: Cleo’s Ferry in a nutshell.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
A religious totem pole flanked by hand-crafted camel art and surrounded by 150-year-old buildings: Cleo’s Ferry in a nutshell.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
Several of the birdhouses that line the trail, and examples of the religious and life philosophy sayings that pepper everything.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
An example of one of the art installations.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
Cleo’s Ferry Museum and Nature Trail   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
Cleo’s Ferry Museum and Nature Trail   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
An example of one of the bronze statue installations.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
The restored and preserved buildings dating back to the 1860’s.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
Chickens and peacocks reside at the site and can be fed by children.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
The “Playground” area of bronze statues, with a hand-painted replica of Muiredach’s High Cross in the background.   linguistjake / Atlas Obscura User
Birdhouse   Ron Lash
Lighthouse Birdhouse   Ron Lash
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Cleo’s Ferry Museum and Nature Trail is a winding outdoor trail lined with preserved 1860s ferry service buildings and a remarkably eclectic collection of outsider art.

Spread throughout the property are hundreds of birdhouses, ceramic lawn decorations, signs espousing random religious philosophies, bronze statues, a graveyard, and even a flock of live peacocks. Combined, the effect of all these totally unrelated elements is dizzying and absolutely unique.

After Dr. Samuel “Pappy” Swayne and his wife Cleo Swayne purchased the old ferry area in Melba, Idaho, the couple began building a number of structures to house themselves, their medical practice, and some simply just for storage. After Pappy’s death in 1976, Cleo decided to open use the land as an art-filled nature trail.

In the ensuing years, Cleo installed hundreds of ornate birdhouses along the path, many of which were accompanied by placards with little philosophical tidbits regarding life and faith. In addition to the copious birdhouses are dozens of individually crafted art scenes, most featuring ceramic lawn art mixed in with the local flora. In the parking lot, there are several large statues of animals made entirely of old, welded-together horseshoes. One section of the trail even features massive fiberglass statues of African safari animals.

Cleo also added bronze sculptures to the trail, creating a strange dichotomy of massive bronze scenes interspersed with the much smaller and cheekier lawn art that adorns the older parts of the trail. Additionally, peacocks and chickens reside in a set of pens and can be fed by children or the young at heart. Most movingly, there is also graveyard near the middle point of the path, where Dr. Swayne is laid to rest among his and Cleo’s marvelous life’s work.

Related Tags

Outsider Art Religious Parks Nature

Know Before You Go

Located just off Highway 45. If heading south, take a left after Dan's Ferry Service (a convenience store) onto a gravel road that runs downhill to the Cleo’s Ferry Museum and Trail parking lot. No dogs are allowed on the trail. The site is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

linguistjake

Edited By

Cymun, raisabusygod

  • Cymun
  • raisabusygod

Published

June 25, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://idahotravelvacation.blogspot.com/2011/04/idaho-vacation-cleos-ferry-museum-and.html
  • http://cleos-nature-trail.blogspot.com/
  • http://rarevisionsroadtrip.blogspot.com/2007/05/lady-named-cleo-and-lotta-time-in-van.html
Cleo's Ferry Museum and Nature Trail
1984 Highway 45
Melba, Idaho, 83641
United States
43.343423, -116.599038
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Map Rock

Nampa, Idaho

miles away

Idaho Initial Point

Kuna, Idaho

miles away

Albertsons Stadium

Boise, Idaho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Idaho

Idaho

United States

Places 67
Stories 12

Nearby Places

Map Rock

Nampa, Idaho

miles away

Idaho Initial Point

Kuna, Idaho

miles away

Albertsons Stadium

Boise, Idaho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Idaho

Idaho

United States

Places 67
Stories 12

Related Places

  • The Phoenix Tree

    Myrtleford, Australia

    The Phoenix Tree

    The trunk and roots of a river red gum tree were used to create this art piece.

  • Rock Art Trail

    Grapevine, Texas

    Parr Park Rock Trail

    In Parr Park, thousands of painted rocks line this walking trail.

  • Suspended Orange Tree

    Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Suspended Orange Tree

    This full-sized orange tree lives suspended in mid-air above the streets of Jaffa.

  • The completed painting.

    Villahermosa, Mexico

    'La Ceiba' Water Tank

    The majestic, sacred tree is represented on this piece of public infrastructure.

  • Les Roches Peintes

    Aoussift, Morocco

    Les Roches Peintes

    In this desolate valley resides a gorgeous set of rocks sporting a technicolor design.

  • On Doll’s Head Trail

    Atlanta, Georgia

    Doll's Head Trail

    Just a few miles from downtown Atlanta is a trail covered in a crazy collection of outsider art.

  • Fire pit, small seat, valley view

    Elka Park, New York

    Dibbles Quarry

    An abandoned 19th century quarry in the middle of the woods, remade by unnamed wanderers into a massive series of rock thrones.

  • Fanciful outhouse in the Groulx Mountains.

    Rivière-aux-Outardes, Québec

    Uapishka Art Cabins

    Artistic cabins actually grow deep in the Canadian wilderness.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.