LEADERS SEARCH FOR SHARE’S REPLACEMENT. REIMAN GARDENS IN AMES IS CELEBRATING A BIG ANNIVERSARY. IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE THE IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OWNED BOTANICAL CENTER OPENED ITS DOORS. PART OF THE CELEBRATION LAST NIGHT PAID TRIBUTE TO A PART OF THE GARDEN CELEBRATING ITS OWN BIRTHDAY TOMORROW. ELWOOD IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST CONCRETE GNOME. IT STANDS 15FT TALL FROM THE SOLES OF HIS BOOTS TO THE POINT OF HIS HAT. ELWOOD HAS CHARMED VISITORS SINCE HE WAS FIRST INSTALLED BACK IN 2010. IN CELEBRATION OF HIS 15TH BIRTHDAY TOMORROW, THERE WILL BE A GNOME COSTUME CONTEST, A CHANCE TO SIGN HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELWOOD AND A PETTING ZOO. THEY’LL EVEN BE SOME BIRTHDAY TREATS! YOU CAN FIND LINKS F
15 Years of Elwood: Reiman Gardens celebrating world’s largest concrete gnome
Reiman Gardens in Ames is marking 15 years since installation of world’s largest concrete gnome.
Updated: 10:25 PM CDT Sep 14, 2025
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As Reiman Gardens celebrates 30 years since opening its doors, it’s also celebrating 15 years of one of its most beloved attractions.Elwood, the “World’s Largest Concrete Gnome” was installed in 2010. The concrete gnome is 15 feet tall, measured from the soles of his boots to the point of his hat. It was meant to be the world’s largest gnome ever built. During the construction process, leaders at Reiman Gardens learned that there was a taller gnome in Poland. Elwood remains the world’s largest concrete gnome.There is a big birthday bash planned for Elwood. On Monday, Sept. 15, visitors are encouraged to celebrate him. Festivities include:Gnome costume contest: 1-2:30 p.m.Singing “Happy Birthday” to Elwood: 2:45 p.m. Hovick Family Farm Petting Zoo: 3-5 p.m.You can find more events and buy tickets by following this link. Reiman Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. From the archives: World’s tallest concrete gnome watches over Reiman Gardens in Ames
AMES, Iowa —
As Reiman Gardens celebrates 30 years since opening its doors, it’s also celebrating 15 years of one of its most beloved attractions.
Elwood, the “World’s Largest Concrete Gnome” was installed in 2010. The concrete gnome is 15 feet tall, measured from the soles of his boots to the point of his hat. It was meant to be the world’s largest gnome ever built. During the construction process, leaders at Reiman Gardens learned that there was a taller gnome in Poland. Elwood remains the world’s largest concrete gnome.
There is a big birthday bash planned for Elwood. On Monday, Sept. 15, visitors are encouraged to celebrate him. Festivities include:
Gnome costume contest: 1-2:30 p.m.Singing “Happy Birthday” to Elwood: 2:45 p.m. Hovick Family Farm Petting Zoo: 3-5 p.m.
You can find more events and buy tickets by following =AT0NXA1T0mVcBaHyTPeEpUt5D5U3VMUOHj7uo3C0QVJEf8ekp1B0p1lNmbkN-MTEO_2T9buosgKWFsSh7d4HVGcAS2J6kIfbMI4wtiRC9rBPdVNaHOl3ImPNgT4ZHFkvcfHc3RXvI-xEl4YUJt1Nr9KuMYWdW0hteAy_HnQ8TyHdaHsVrhKDDaIdwuDf8Aaexizm9w_TaRMUZNEy8gQMMx21-g” target=”_blank”>this link. Reiman Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 15.
From the archives: World’s tallest concrete gnome watches over Reiman Gardens in Ames
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