Castle Rock Artist Carves 200-Year-Old Colorado Stump Into Cowboy Sculpture

A local artist in Castle Rock, Colorado, is turning a dead, 200-year-old tree stump into a large cowboy sculpture. The carving stands along Hangman's Gulch Trail, a path that connects the east and west sides of town. Artist Billy LaFleur has been working on the piece since April, using a chainsaw and smaller power tools. The goal is to honor the Western heritage of Castle Rock and give the old tree a brand-new purpose.

The tree had a long and interesting history before it was cut down. According to local legend, an outlaw was hanged in the Castle Rock gulch long before Colorado even became a state. The outlaw was said to have murdered a local homesteader, and some people even claim his ghost still haunts the area. It is believed this very tree may have been standing when that event took place, which is how Hangman's Gulch got its name. Sadly, the tree died recently and had to be removed because it was no longer safe for people on the trail.

LaFleur saw the fallen tree as a chance to create something meaningful. 'It was one of the oldest trees in Castle Rock, for sure,' he said. 'So, it was a shame that it died, but you know, this is kind of a great opportunity to give it new life.' He wanted the sculpture to reflect the tree's age and the history of the area. For him, carving a cowboy inside the old wood was the perfect way to honor both.

The sculpture shows a cowboy leaning against a tree, holding a lasso, with a tired and serious look on his face. LaFleur said he wanted to capture the hard life that people lived in the Old West more than 150 years ago. Fitting the whole figure inside the stump is one of the biggest challenges he faces. 'You don't want to run out of room to put a hand or a hat, or, you know, his feet,' he explained. Every part of the cowboy must fit within the shape of the original tree trunk.

The project was paid for by a Castle Rock Arts and Culture Grant. Marne Hansen, the executive director of the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation, said the stump was first noticed by the parks department. 'This is right along a trail, so it was a really neat opportunity to make a piece of art happen that would connect people,' she said. She also noted that Castle Rock was founded in 1874, right when cattle drives were a big part of life in the area. This year, Colorado and the United States are celebrating major anniversaries, making the cowboy sculpture feel even more special.

LaFleur is close to finishing the piece, with several detailed steps still to come. His next tasks include carving the cowboy's hands, feet, lasso, and clothing in greater detail. After that, he will use a small torch to burnish the wood, which hardens and darkens its surface. Then he will add a protective top coat to help the sculpture last outdoors for many years. When complete, this will be the largest sculpture LaFleur has ever created — he also carved a beaver sculpture in Castle Rock's Festival Park.

Hansen said people who see the finished cowboy will be struck by how big it is. 'It's wonderful, because it's huge, and it's kind of larger than life, which is kind of what we wanted,' she said. She hopes the sculpture will encourage more people to get outside and walk the trail. LaFleur hopes visitors will pause and think about history when they see it. 'I hope they think about maybe how difficult life was, you know, those decades and decades ago, the work that people put in to make a home and a life here,' he said. The cowboy sculpture is expected to be finished within the next few weeks.