FAST Fiberglass Mold Graveyard in Sparta, WI: A Free Family-Friendly Roadside Attraction
Sometimes the best road-trip memories aren’t the big destinations — they’re the quirky little detours you stumble upon along the way. 🚗💨
On our recent trip to Eau Claire, we made a stop at the FAST Fiberglass Mold Graveyard near Sparta, Wisconsin. 🤩
🦕 A Little Background
FAST Fiberglass (short for Fiberglass Animals, Shapes & Trademarks) is a working factory that’s been creating giant fiberglass statues, water slides, and themed attractions across the country for decades. 🎢🎠
Just behind their workshop sits what locals call the “Fiberglass Mold Graveyard.” 🪦
It’s an open yard filled with hundreds of massive molds once used to make everything from cows 🐄 and dinosaurs 🦖 to ice-cream cones 🍦 and roadside giants 🗿.
It’s a little eerie, totally fascinating, and oddly beautiful — like walking through a sculpture garden of forgotten giants. 🌤️
👨👩👧👦 Our Visit
We stopped here on our drive to Eau Claire, and it turned out to be the perfect spot for the kids (and dogs!) to stretch their legs and explore. 🐕💨
As soon as we parked, the kids were off and running through rows of molds — peeking into giant shapes, laughing at half-finished creatures, guessing what each one might have been and sliding down the “safer” looking ones.
The first thing my 12-year-old noticed made me laugh:
“Mom, look! The water-park tube from Noah’s Ark!” 💦
Sure enough, inside the office you can see miniature scale models of some of the full-size fiberglass pieces they’ve created, including familiar ones from parks around Wisconsin. 🏖️
It’s so cool to see the tiny version beside the giant molds resting outside!
🎨 Coloring Book Treasure Hunt
Inside the office, you can purchase a coloring book 🖍️ that doubles as a field guide.
As you wander the graveyard, you can match up molds to the photos and drawings in the book. 📖
The kids loved pointing out molds they recognized from places we’ve been — it turned the walk into a scavenger hunt! 🔍
Meanwhile, my husband and I chatted with the friendly staff about where some of the finished fiberglass pieces ended up. They are literally all over the world. 🗺️
💰 Family-Friendly & Free
This stop checks all the boxes for a quick, family-friendly detour:
✅ Free admission — explore at your own pace.
✅ Educational — learn how giant fiberglass pieces are made. 🏗️
✅ Plenty of space — perfect for letting kids run free. 🏃♀️🏃♂️
We spent about 30 minutes exploring, taking photos 📸, and enjoying the weird, wonderful art scattered across the field.
🧢 A Few Tips If You Visit
📍 Location: 14177 County Highway Q, Sparta, WI
⏰ Hours: Visit during daylight; stop in the office for the coloring book.
🥾 Wear: Sturdy shoes — the ground’s uneven.
🌾 Why It’s Worth the Stop
It’s one of those places that perfectly fits our family’s travel motto — “Find fun in the unexpected.” 💛
The kids ran, laughed, learned, and pointed out molds from parks they recognized. My husband and I loved slowing down, chatting with staff, and hearing the stories behind these larger-than-life creations.
And best of all, it reminded us that you don’t have to spend a dime to make great road-trip memories. 💵🚙💨
Sometimes, all it takes is an open road, curious kids, and a field full of fiberglass giants. 🌈
Watch us find fun in the unexpected here