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The Shoetree of Reno

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There is a tree full of shoes near Reno, Nevada

On route 395 about 28 miles north of Reno Nevada there is a tree full of shoes. As I used to drive past there regularly over the years I was curious about the history of the shoes being hung in this tree but the locals that I asked about it knew nothing about it. there must be several hundred pairs of shoes, boots, tennies and even a pair of winter boots. This first image is from 2003 and the others from July 2007. Please leave your comment about this Shoetree below. Reno shoetree

Shoes hanging in tree north of Reno Nevada

This tree is actually in California on route 395 about 28 miles north of Reno where the highway narrows from 4 to 2 lanes on the CA side.

Red shoes, green shoes, hiking shoes all kinds of shoes hang out in this tree.

Shoe tree on State route 395 near California Nevada line

Cowboy boots in tree

This image shows a pair of cowboy boots at the center of the image you can see them. There's also a pair of high top work boots, several pair of high top hiking shoes and many gym shoes.

Shoes in tree near Hallelujah CA

Are these your shoes?

Map of Shoetree location

The Shoetree is approximately 26 miles Northwest from Reno on Route 395 just north of Hallelujah Junction. Found this page on another Shoe Tree in Nevada: Middlegate Nevada Shoe Tree

Have you ever seen this shoetree?

Do you know anything about the history of why so many shoes have been given to this tree?

  • becky May 5, 2012 @ 9:21 pm | delete
    We drove by last week and were very intreged! There are two more trees on the road to a near by lake called Frenchman lake.
    Guess it is becoming a trend.
  • Ali Jan 5, 2011 @ 12:42 pm | delete
    I got married in Tahoe and threw my sneakers that I wore under my wedding dress on this tree. We lived in Reno and I would always pass this tree on the way to visit family in Oregon.
  • in4ster Jan 5, 2011 @ 10:59 am | delete
    The shoe tree north of Reno is primarily a product of high school athletes hanging up their sports shoes after their senior season. The more famous shoe tree is (was) located southeast of Fallon, Nevada along Highway 50 and the old Pony Express route.
  • robert Jun 30, 2010 @ 8:09 pm | delete
    we go by this tree about every two years. we have a dance drill team that performs in vaginia city parade on the fourth of july. we are from oregon.we stop on the way there and add shoes or check to see if old ones are still there.
  • nevadaangel Aug 19, 2009 @ 2:05 pm | delete
    I heard a story about the history of the shoe tree. A couple stopped by the tree to rest from their travels, and took off their shoes, they got into a fight, and she grabbed his shoes tossed them in the tree and they stuck, and she left them there, since then people have just been tossing there shoes into the tree, there are other shoe trees around, so i guess its just turned into a fun thing to do. and now there attractions
  • rameykid Aug 13, 2009 @ 10:58 am | delete
    this has been going on for years, passerbys just hang up a pair of old shoes. they have been doing this since i was a kid. the years and shoes have taken their toll on this tree. was just past there again in june 2009 and stopped again to see it. the poor thing looks worse than i have ever seen it. years ago, this was a full healthy tree with shoes hanging.
  • archetekt Jun 9, 2009 @ 10:25 am | in reply to bgamall | delete
    Probably true Gary. I like admiring nice trees, maybe that's why I noticed it.
  • bgamall Feb 13, 2009 @ 8:40 pm | delete
    I never noticed! Maybe it is like website traffic. Starts small and gains momentum.
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archetekt

What is going on with hundreds of shoes in this tree? I think it may be a ritual that some locals made up to represent something that may or may not be... more »

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