Jim Bird’s Hay Bale Art: A Harvest Host Adventure

We came for the giant Tin Man and stayed for the hay art at Jim Bird’s Hay Bale Art.

Jim Bird’s Hay Bale Art in Forkland, Alabama is home to a towering 32-foot Tin Man and dozens of hay bale sculptures — but we’ll be honest, we came for the metal guy.

We stayed at Jim Bird’s through Harvest Hosts. It’s exactly what it sounds like – a property full of hay bale sculptures, metal art, and a 32-foot Tin Man with bathtubs for feet.

Yeah, you read that right. Bathtubs.

Quick backstory: Jim Bird (1927–2023) started all this in the early ’90s, when he turned a few crooked hay bales into a surprise sculpture for his wife. That one surprise turned into more than 80 creations over the years. He built them out of hay, old farm equipment and whatever was already lying around, and he rarely spent more than five dollars on one. The Tin Man was the exception, only because he ran out of paint. He stands 32 feet tall, with bathtubs for feet. Jim’s youngest son, Archie, owns the farm now, and the family still takes care of the sculptures.

Zach explored the property like a kid in a weird art store. He was INTO it.

I tried to take normal photos. I failed. Multiple times. There’s a whole sequence of me attempting to “fly” next to the Snoopy and the Red Baron sculpture, and not one shot has a normal face. I kept blaming Zach for not letting me get set up… turns out it’s me. Victory eventually – one decent smile.

The Hay Bale Art

There are about 20 hay bale sculptures scattered around the property – smiley faces, Betty Boop, hear-no-evil monkeys, all kinds of stuff. They pop up in corners and open spaces, so you’re constantly spotting another one just when you think you’ve seen them all.

The Metal (and Other Random) Creations

Tucked between the hay bales are metal creations – a bull made of tree limbs, a mysterious golf cart contraption I still don’t understand, and other unexpected sculptures. Nothing matches, nothing is what you expect, and that’s what makes it fun to explore.

Zach & Nancy vs. Roadside Art

While the sculptures grabbed our attention, we got wrapped up in our own shenanigans. Zach wandered like he’d discovered a bizarre outdoor museum, and I attempted photos that ranged from “almost normal” to full-on nonsense.

At one point, we found a metal woman holding a beat-up mailbox. She gets it.

Wildlife Appearance

An armadillo crossed right in front of us, heading toward one of the hay bale homes. He knew exactly where he was going. Unlike us, who were just wandering around taking weird photos.

Staying at Jim Bird’s Hay Bale Art Through Harvest Hosts

Jim Bird’s is part of the Harvest Hosts overnight stay network we use when traveling. We parked there for the night, explored the sculptures, and met Jim Bird’s son, who shared stories about the property.

Overnight stays are included with membership (we’re affiliates – you can check it out here: Harvest Hosts Homepage).

Tips:
– Bring your camera
– Give yourself time to walk around – there’s more art than you’d expect
– The Tin Man is the star, but don’t skip the hay sculptures

Is Jim Bird’s Hay Bale Art in Forkland, Alabama Worth It?

Yes. Just yes. Where else are you going to see a 32-foot Tin Man with bathtubs for feet?

It’s quirky, memorable, and the kind of place that makes you say “well that was unexpected” in the best way.

More Stops Like This

If you enjoy unique overnight stays like Jim Bird’s Hay Bale Art, check out our visit to Gee Farms. Every stop is different, and that’s half the fun of traveling this way – you never quite know what you’re going to find.

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