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All the United States Ohio Cleveland Tim Willis' Junkyard Playground
AO Edited

Tim Willis' Junkyard Playground

Old car parts and assorted materials get turned into one man's mechanical treasures on the side streets of Cleveland.

Cleveland, Ohio

Added By
Brandon Parsons
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  MrPExplores / Atlas Obscura User
  MrPExplores / Atlas Obscura User
  MrPExplores / Atlas Obscura User
  MrPExplores / Atlas Obscura User
  MrPExplores / Atlas Obscura User
Tim Willis’ Junkyard Playground August 15, 2022   misszon / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Sometimes the most amazing things lay off the beaten path and away from the more touristy sights of a city. Such is the case in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, where one man's lifetime fascination with tinkering, muscle cars, and monster trucks has translated into a delightful menagerie of roadside art pieces.

Inspired by the giant mechanical spider in 1999's Wild Wild West, Timothy Willis has built over 28 brightly painted robots and fantastical machines on a grassy lot on the street where he grew up. They come straight out of his turbo-powered imagination and mad-scientist-like "can do" attitude. A self-taught engineer and artist, Willis dropped out of high school at 15 and found his place in the world challenging himself to create art through engineering.

Willis uses his observations of everyday industrial machines to dive into each project with gusto. He never sketches his plans out, but rather creates through constant trial-and-error, using spare pieces and parts to develop the over-the-top creations that form in his mind. He is always willing to talk to the curious and to fellow would-be tinkerers who stop by to marvel at his creations, and always encourages those younger people who see his works to follow their creativity through to its conclusion. Willis has become a staple at local festivals and events, gleefully showing off the tricks of his art to the delight of those who gather around to watch. 

Today, you can see Willis' work on East 83rd Street in all of its mechanized glory; a 10-foot-tall mechanical dog and his almost 17-foot-tall owner, surrounded by souped-up muscle cars all painted in a brilliant and trademarked red and yellow motif. Willis is still tinkering and building, so be assured that other creations will join the assembled crew soon.

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Cars Sculptures Sculpture Gardens Outsider Art

Know Before You Go

When you go, park on the street and be respectful of the neighborhood if you stop by. There is a fence surrounding the property, but you can walk right up to it and take all of the photos you care to take.

Community Contributors

Added By

MrPExplores

Edited By

misszon, ianlefk

  • misszon
  • ianlefk

Published

March 7, 2022

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  • https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/articles/forget-transformers-tim-willis'-robots-are-real
Tim Willis' Junkyard Playground
2260 E 83rd St
Cleveland, Ohio, 44103
United States
41.497102, -81.62991
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Nearby Places

The Dunham Tavern

Cleveland, Ohio

miles away

Westinghouse Electric Corp

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miles away

House of Wills

Cleveland, Ohio

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cleveland

Cleveland

Ohio

Places 30
Stories 3

Nearby Places

The Dunham Tavern

Cleveland, Ohio

miles away

Westinghouse Electric Corp

Cleveland, Ohio

miles away

House of Wills

Cleveland, Ohio

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cleveland

Cleveland

Ohio

Places 30
Stories 3

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