Entry No. 7 — the Durango file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Giant Arrows at the Hogan Trading Post
Somewhere, a giant missed. In 1981, trading post owner Bill Countess and a crew of local Native American artists tipped about a dozen telephone poles with arrowheads and fletching, then drove them into the dirt at 45 degrees beside US 160 — a volley caught mid-strike between painted teepees. The bait works: Harrison Ford, Delta Burke, and Ralph Lauren have all pulled over, and the arrows landed a cameo in Nurse Betty. Mesa Verde traffic never stood a chance.
The story
In 1981, trading post owner Bill Countess looked out at the steady stream of station wagons and RVs barreling down US 160 toward Mesa Verde and decided standard highway billboards were far too tame. He gathered a crew of local Native American artists, rounded up about a dozen standard-issue telephone poles, and got to work. They carved massive arrowheads, added huge wooden fletching, and slammed the timber shafts into the high-desert dirt at a sharp 45-degree angle. The result looks like a volley fired from an invisible giant, frozen mid-flight just before hitting the ground.
The roadside trap worked ridiculously well. Standing beside a cluster of brightly painted teepees, a giant horse statue, and the round timber Mud Creek Hogan store, the plunged arrows became an irresistible pull-off for millions of passing travelers. Over the decades, the display pulled in curiosity-seekers ranging from Harrison Ford and Delta Burke to Ralph Lauren, and even landed a featured cameo in the 2000 film *Nurse Betty*.
The genius of the place is that the stunt wasn't just empty clickbait for the pre-internet era. Inside the hogan, Countess backed up the spectacle with genuine local craft—stocking authentic Navajo silver, handmade pottery, and regional Native American artwork rather than standard plastic souvenirs.
What it's like
You'll spot the plunging timber shafts sticking out of the dirt off US 160, about four miles east of the Mesa Verde National Park turnoff. Pull straight into the wide gravel lot in front of the shop. The arrows, painted teepees, and horse sculpture sit right out in the open, meaning you can pull over, stretch your legs, and shoot photos at any hour of the day or night without paying a cent. Ground is flat dirt and gravel—a five-minute stop with zero hike required. The trading post itself keeps loose daytime hours, but if the open sign is lit, step inside to check out the pottery and silversmithing.
The move: Pull off at golden hour, stage a dueling-archers photo under the plunging shafts, then step inside and pick out a piece of Navajo silver together.
📍 Before you go The arrows stand in the open on the trading post grounds right off US 160 just west of Mancos, with a wide gravel pull-in at the shop door — you can walk among them and shoot photos any time, even when the store is closed. Ground is flat dirt and gravel, a five-minute stop with no real walking. The trading post keeps loose daytime hours, so treat the shop as a bonus. Pair it with Mesa Verde a few miles west or coffee in downtown Mancos.
- 📍 Mancos
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 38651 US Hwy 160, Mancos, CO 81328 (about 4 miles east of the Mesa Verde entrance)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dave Sipe's Folk Art — Pair one highway wooden art spectacle with another—Dave Sipe's yard full of chainsaw-carved local timber sits just a mile away.
- Mancos Common Press — Swap roadside photo-ops for historic ink and lead at this frozen-in-time 1890 print shop in downtown Mancos.
- Columbine Bar & Grill — Cap off your roadside pull-off with a cold drink at this historic Mancos watering hole less than three miles down the road.
Good to know
How much does it cost to visit the giant arrows?
Nothing. The arrows and outdoor sculptures sit on open ground off the highway lot, completely free to view and photograph.
Can I see the arrows if the trading post is closed?
Yes. The arrows stand in the open gravel yard outside, so you can walk right up to them even when the store is locked.
Who built the giant arrows?
Trading post owner Bill Countess designed and built them in 1981 in collaboration with a crew of local Native American artists, using modified telephone poles.
What else is at the site besides the arrows?
Outdoors you'll find painted teepees and a giant horse statue. Inside the Hogan Trading Post shop, you'll find authentic local Native American art, pottery, and silver jewelry.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · fotospot.com · Official site · cartogramme.com
last checked: 2026-06-11