The Story Behind Route 43’s Truck In A Tree Outside Beloit

If you've ever found yourself traveling on Route 43 about eight miles outside of Beloit near mile marker 6 and the Clinton exit, you've seen the Truck In The Tree.

Many years ago, my son and I were driving past on our way up to Kenosha, Wisconsin when he saw the rather unusual sight of a pickup truck suspended between twin trees. My son wanted to know all about it. Why's it up there? Who put it there? How long has it been there? Oy, these kids and their questions.

Who Put That Truck Up There And Why

According to the website TruckInTheTree.com, "Madman" Mark Madson is the guy responsible for making thousands and thousands of Route 43 travelers take their eyes off the road for extended periods of time when Mark and his son Luke thought it would be cool to hoist the truck up for all to see.

The pickup truck, a 1959 Chevy Fleetside, was originally purchased for $300 by Mark as a project for Mark and Luke to restore for Luke's 16th birthday. However, like many plans we make, they decided to go in a different direction with the truck.

Instead Of Restoring The Truck, Mark And Luke Decided A Tree House Would Be Cooler

After buying the truck for restoration in 1992 and then changing the plan from driving the truck to driving past and looking up at the truck, it would be a couple of years until Mark asked a "buddy with a crane" to help him raise the truck into the position that you see today. (click here and here to learn more about Mark Madson, his truck, and the many other interesting things he's been involved with over the years)

"Captain's Quarters." A Ten Acre Treehouse in Nauvoo, Illinois