A big happy face may be seen peering out from behind a forest-covered slope along Oregon Route 18 throughout the fall and early December, providing drivers with an unusual and cheering sight.

The now-famous smiling face of Oregon appears every autumn when the trees that make up its body begin to change color, at around mile 25 on Oregon Route 18 between Willamina and Grand Ronde. Its diameter is around 300 feet, and it is made up of two kinds of conifers: one that loses its needles in the winter and one that retains its needles all year. In rural Polk County, Oregon, it has become a landmark, and it’s expected to keep visitors smiling for another 30–50 years, until the trees are ready to be harvested.

In 2011, during a reforestation project, the Hampton Lumber firm made headlines by cutting down trees to form a popular design: an Oregon happy face. The design team utilized Douglas fir for the face’s eyes and lips and larch for the rest of the structure. In the fall, larch trees, unlike most other conifers, shed their needles and become a beautiful golden.

David Hampton and our previous forestry manager, Dennis Creel, are credited with coming up with the concept of the happy face. David and Dennis spotted a chance for some lightheartedness when they harvested the site, according to a statement sent by a representative from Hampton to Western Journal. The eyes and mouth were triangulated from the center of the circle, which was measured with a rope.

Let’s just say that tree-planting plans with happy faces aren’t the most effective approach. The representative also said that it took roughly a week to complete the project, including planning and planting.

The specialists at Hampton Lumber predict that the Oregon happy face will retain its crystal clear appearance for at least the next decade, although its edges may begin to soften with time. After 30-50 years, timber mills in Willamina and Tillamook will cut down the trees for their lumber supply. However, for the time being, the happy face serves to lift people’s spirits when they most need it.

“It’s a very depressed area here,” a local lady told KATU-TV. No one has work anymore. All that counts is that you see a happy face as you drive by. Seeing a happy face has really brightened my day. It’s good for morale all around.

One of the most adorable and creative tree-based artworks I’ve seen is this happy face. We recently highlighted the world’s biggest signature made of trees, as well as the “Lenin” trees planted in Siberia during the Soviet period.