Epic return

When Mark Cline and his elephant caravan rolled into Waynesboro on Tuesday, the master of public spectacles upheld more than his April Fools’ Day tradition: he staked a claim — finally — atop the city’s mightiest hill.

Almost 22 years ago, Cline gained statewide attention when he proposed construction of a 60-foot-tall bust of the city’s namesake, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, on the capped landfill. This morning, across the same ridge, a pack of life-sized (but fiberglass) elephants traipse along with a likeness of Cline riding along.

“I’m coming back in a weird way, kind of conquering the hill,” Cline said.

Titled, “Hannibal Crosses the Blue Ridge,” the 30-day display of Cline’s craft is just the latest in more than 25 years of making amusement-park monsters, midtown murals and double-take-inducing sculptures. Last year, he put Batman and Spiderman atop a courthouse in Lexington.

Born and raised in Waynesboro, where he spent his youth drawing creatures and making adventure movies, Cline has not unveiled a project in the city since he painted a Route 250 train overpass mural in 1989. He has operated Enchanted Castle Studios in Natural Bridge since 1982.

“Let’s take the herd up!” Cline called to friends at about 2:15 Tuesday afternoon.

Within minutes, a mottled crew of assistants and groupies were tugging trunks and tusks to arrange an elephant parade. Finding himself beneath a faux beast’s booming backside, Garland Mullins called out in protest.

“Why do I always get stuck in back?” he asked, laughing. “When Mark asks you for help, you always need to ask what he needs help with.”

Mullins met Cline by chance. Others make a point to meet the man behind “Foamhenge,” a foam replica of England’s prehistoric Stonehenge that has garnered national television exposure.

“I said, ‘We need to meet this guy,’ ” said artist and friend Ellie Slavinski, who knocked on Cline’s door one day and has since lent her paintbrush to his projects. “It makes life interesting to see these things.”

Slavinski hauled two elephants to Waynesboro with her husband, who said smiles and camera phones followed them along the interstates.

“This may not have happened,” Cline said of initial talks with city officials.

He persisted, remembering how he defied odds and gathered momentum for the “Mad” Anthony bust so many years ago. Cline’s audacious idea gained support from the Chamber of Commerce and board of Realtors before the City Council unanimously voted down the $60,000 project.

“Before you say, ‘No,’ ” Cline said this year to City Manager Mike Hamp, “Don’t you think in this day and age people need to laugh? What better time than now?”

With Hamp’s blessing, and help from Vice Mayor Frank Lucente (a former mural client), Cline got the go-ahead.

The elephant parade might not call to mind America’s great tourist traps, but Cline will call it a success if his second chance makes the city do a double-take.