Czech Village
Mushroom Statue
A unique, giant morel mushroom sculpture carved from a tree stump to commemorate the annual "Houby Days" festival.
Location
60 16th Ave SW (Behind Kosek Bandstand)
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Creation Story
Carved by chainsaw artist Nate Greiner from a tree damaged during the 2020 Derecho, giving the art a "silver lining" history.
Key Features
"Houby" Heritage
"Houby" is Czech for mushrooms. The statue celebrates the region's strong Czech culture and mushroom hunting traditions.
Derecho Survivor
Created from a tree stump damaged in the severe August 2020 windstorm, symbolizing resilience.
Houby Days
Commemorates the annual May festival when the village bustles with music and fresh morel mushroom vendors.