It is a land that has been widely described by others as: awesome, inspiring, fantastic and fascinating.
Even though we've visited Lakenenland in the past, it continues to grow at an amazing rate and UP Mag is right there to witness its growth. Just the fact that the metal sculpture artwork is so unique is part of what keeps us going back time and again.
We tried to drive by Lakenenland this fall - we really did - but the sight of a giant lime green dinosaur holding a fishing pole caught our eye. We couldn't help it - we pulled right into the sculpture park again.
Our mouths dropped open in awe as we got out and approached the giant lizard. We felt a bit of magnetism drawing us closer to the impossibly huge metal structure posed at the edge of a pond. Our eyes were drawn upward towards the sky as we ogled what seemed like the world's largest fishing pole - complete with bobber! It was held by an iron monster of gargantuan proportions that came straight out of Tom Lakenen's strange and fertile imagination. And that's all without mentioning the monstrous skeletal steel fish at the end of the fishing line!

Lakenen's type of fun away from work involves collecting all sort of different types of scrap metal - from barrels and boilers to beams, steel plates, coils and metal rods - and welding and cutting them into various sizes and shapes. His sculptures are not, however, for the weak-hearted as they are bold, impactful and VERY large.
Most of Tom's sculptures require heavy equipment such as bulldozers and cranes to be moved and put into place. Their scale is monumental and he uses the most amazing pieces of "junk" to create his own self-described "junkyard art."
Every year as we drive by Lakenenland we feel the familiar pull of the park and we always seem to spot new sculptures before we even drive in.
Many of Tom's pieces have a political "bite" and others give you the feeling that there is 'more to the story' than meets the eye. One sculpture that we wondered about was a huge piece of vertical metal that looked like it was ripped and was titled "Scottie's Vision." What could that have been about?
Lakenen keeps his sublety intact however and allows the viewer to come to his or her own imaginative decision as to what the pieces may or may not represent.
Some of his sculpture can be straightforward also, like his "Halloween Scene" and his "man on a bicycle." Lakenen is not just limited to the fanciful images though, he can also build utilitarian pieces, like the gorgeous red and black bridge that lies between two bodies of water at the park.
Lakenen's artistic side is evident in all his work, but some of his sheet metal pieces are outstanding. He bends and curves them to his will and uses a plasma cutter to burn detailing holes in the artwork. One that I didn't remember seeing before was his "owl and rabbit," where the large predatory bird is portrayed chasing a rabbit through the woods with talons outstretched. One can feel the terror of the rabbit and the anticipation of the owl due to the skill of the metal artist.
Lakenenland continues to grow and produce new wonders every year and Tom Lakenen's imagination and creativity knows no bounds. I have sent many people to see the wonders that abound along Hwy. 28 about 15 miles east of Marquette, Michigan and not a single person has been disappointed.
Lakenenland's FREE entry is easy to drive around or explore on foot and has restrooms available. It is also accessible by snowmachine by the snowmobile trail that runs behind the park and a huge painted bear welcomes visitors with a sign: "Oh boy a sculpture park."