Cline’s beasts booted

Waynesboro’s most gargantuan visitors — a herd of five fiberglass elephants — come down today from their perch atop the city’s capped landfill, far too soon for some fans, but two months later then their initially scheduled departure.

Artist Mark Cline assembled the elephant display, titled, “Hannibal Crossing the Blue Ridge,” on April Fools’ Day, with an OK from city leaders, then pushed for them to stay.

A flurry of pro-pachyderm messages came to City Manager Mike Hamp, who mulled their permanent stay before deciding to boot the beasts, citing concerns from at least one resident living near the display.

Hamp was not available by phone this week, but said in a statement that, “due to safety and security concerns on the landfill site, traffic and trespass issues at the landfill and in the neighborhoods adjacent to the landfill, and a recent episode of vandalism, it is not prudent to maintain the display at the landfill ridge.”

Waynesboro police reported a smattering of calls for people visiting the display, but made no arrests for trespassing or vandalism.

“Part of the allure was their being just out of reach,” Cline said Thursday. “It was causing issues in some neighborhoods with people parking and walking through yards.

“They did what they were supposed to do,” he said, describing his goal of bringing smiles and wonderment to passers-by.

Elephant enthusiasts said the display attracted tourists and set the city apart in terms of public art.

Hamp previously said he had heard from at least one person living near the elephant hill who worried about increased traffic.

Three neighbors living near the landfill said Thursday they had not heard of any complaints to the city. Two said they regularly walk dogs on the landfill.

Laurel Derbonne, a three-year resident of Horace Avenue, said three or four families would visit the area each weekend.

“The kids seem excited and come back all worn out,” she said.

Neighbor Sonia Roadcap said traffic increased on her dirt road.

“Nobody is causing any trouble,” she said.

Cline said he will remove the elephants early today. He spent Thursday afternoon in an airplane, photographing the site from the sky.

The artist, who grew up in Waynesboro, gained statewide attention 22 years ago when he proposed construction of a 60-foot-tall bust of the city’s namesake, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, on the hill. He has operated Enchanted Castle Studios in Natural Bridge since 1982.

An effort continues to get permission to refresh a mural by Cline that he painted 20 years ago on a train bridge east of the city on Route 250.