Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

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 Wyoming Afton World's Largest Elkhorn Arch

World's Largest Elkhorn Arch

This town is home to the world’s largest arch constructed entirely of elk antlers.

Afton, Wyoming

Added By
Sydney Rose
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Elkhorn Arch   Cfrolander / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Elkhorn Arch   https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/f6572d65-8db9-448c-8e30-8b377dcb9940
Elkhorn Arch   "Elk horn arch, Afton, Wyoming" by david__jones is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Elkhorn Arch   Paul Hermans / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Elkhorn Arch   Acroterion / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Been here did this!  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The small town of Afton, Wyoming, tucked away in the Star Valley near the Wyoming-Idaho border, boasts an enormous arch made entirely of elk antlers.

The arch spans all four lanes of U.S. Route 89 as the highway passes through downtown Afton. The arch is 18-feet tall and 75-feet wide. Smaller elk antler arches flank each side of the arch’s base. Although Jackson Hole's elk antler arches are more widely known, the antler arch in Afton is believed to be the largest in the world. 

First conceived by the Afton Chamber of Commerce in 1956, the Elkhorn Arch was completed in July 1958. It's composed of 3,011 intertwined elk antlers and weighs over 15 tons. The arch was constructed at an estimated cost of $2,500. Today, the antlers, popular as an aphrodisiac in Asian medicine, are valued at an estimated $300,000.

No elk were harmed in the arch’s construction. Elk shed their antlers each spring, and the naturally discarded antlers were collected with a permit from the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Most of the antlers were gathered from the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming. Annual antler collections continue for the arch’s maintenance and upkeep. It also receives a yearly coating of a special weatherproof finish.

If the Elkhorn Arch was not already impressive enough, it received a centerpiece during the early 2000s. It was topped by a sculpture of two life-size bull elk with their antlers locked in combat. These mating battles occur every autumn when elk are in rut. The realistic wooden elk were carved by Afton's native son, Jonathan “The Bear Man” LaBenne, as a gift to his hometown. LaBenne is best known for his chainsaw sculptures of wild North American animals. The elk stand on a sawn grass platform emblazoned with the words, “AFTON, WYOMING.”

Beneath the elk sculpture is a sign proclaiming, “World’s Largest ELKHORN ARCH.” As a bonus, visitors can drink from a nearby fountain that brings water from a geyser, the Intermittent Spring, located five miles east of Afton.

Related Tags

Architecture Design History & Culture Animals

Community Contributors

Added By

Sydney Rose

Edited By

Shiv, jorgeocampo, ttfns

  • Shiv
  • jorgeocampo
  • ttfns

Published

September 7, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
World's Largest Elkhorn Arch
458 Washington St
Afton, Wyoming, 83110
United States
42.724316, -110.933557
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Intermittent Spring

Afton, Wyoming

miles away

Geyser Park

Soda Springs, Idaho

miles away

Niter Ice Cave

Grace, Idaho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Afton

Afton

Wyoming

Places 2

Nearby Places

Intermittent Spring

Afton, Wyoming

miles away

Geyser Park

Soda Springs, Idaho

miles away

Niter Ice Cave

Grace, Idaho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Afton

Afton

Wyoming

Places 2

Related Places

  • Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    Budapest, Hungary

    Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    A stunning Art Nouveau cinema in the heart of Budapest.

  • Hôtel Solvay

    Brussels, Belgium

    Hôtel Solvay

    This historic Art Nouveau townhouse was the former home of the son of a famous chemical inventor and industrialist.

  • Mudéjar Thematic Park

    Olmedo, Spain

    Mudéjar Thematic Park

    The best collection of Mudéjar building replicas gathered in a theme park in Olmedo.

  • St Martin’s Rotunda, Prague

    Prague, Czechia

    Rotonde Saint-Martin (St Martin’s Rotunda)

    The largest and best-preserved rotunda in Prague.

  • Granary in Jankowo up close

    Jankowo, Poland

    Walter Gropius's 1906 Spichlerz

    A Bauhaus co-founder designed this quirky, abandoned granary.

  • Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

    La Seu d'Urgell, Spain

    Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

    This parody of ecclesiastical cloisters features famous figures from the 20th century.

  • The Little House

    Shepherdstown, West Virginia

    The Little House

    True to its name, this little house presents like a dollhouse, and surprising details are revealed with a quick peek through the window.

  • The Sun on The Floor of La Puerta del Sol

    Madrid, Spain

    The Sun on The Floor of La Puerta del Sol

    This little sun pays homage to a massive gate that once stood at this location.

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.