Do you Remember the Hula Hoop Tree in Amber Iowa?

The Hula Hoop takes some getting used to especially if your coordination is not the best.  Your coordination is probably fine and you are able to operate a hula hoop like it's supposed to be.  My hula hoop experience is a bit different.  It starts out the same, hula hoop at the ready, around the waist, sometimes maybe the neck if you’re really adventurous, or even a bit easier on the wrist. It usually ended up at my feet with a few hip swings. The Hula Hoop is fun when used correctly and has been around since 500 BC.  Back in the day, hula hoops were crafted from materials like willow, rattan (a super-flexible vine), grapevines, and sturdy grasses. Today, though, most commercial hoops are made from plastic tubing.  Hmm, I’m wondering if a rattan hula hoop might have made a difference.  Get back to the hula hoop roots, yes, that should make it all work better.   

The hula hoop's history is extensive and worth a few minutes.  This is a condensed version of what Wikipedia has to say about the hula hoop. 

The history of the hula hoop in short form

The Native American Hoop Dance is an amazing storytelling performance where dancers use hoops to create shapes of animals and symbols, making the dance both static and dynamic. 

Before the colorful plastic hoops of the '50s became a global craze, traditional hoops were made from materials like willow, rattan, and grapevines. While many think hoops were invented in the 1950s, they've actually been around for thousands of years! Charles Panati even noted a hoop craze in 14th-century England, with hoops used for fun and even as a remedy for ailments. 

The modern hula hoop burst onto the scene in 1958, thanks to Wham-O. It all started when kids in Norway and Australia went wild for hoops, leading Wham-O to mass-produce the plastic version. Within months, they sold 25 million hoops, and the hooping craze was on! 

Hooping took a dip in the '80s but bounced back in the '90s with a fresh spin thanks to bands like The String Cheese Incident and online communities. Today, hooping is not just for kids—it's a vibrant fitness and performance art, with everything from LED hoops to fire hoops lighting up stages and studios worldwide. Whether you're into classic tricks or new-school moves, there's a hoop out there for everyone to enjoy! 

What is the hula hoop tree?

That brings us to the magic that is the Hula Hoop Tree.  Are you familiar with the hula hoop tree?  I was not but have gotten up to speed with how cool this one-time roadside attraction was.  You can't have a hula hoop tree without first knowing about the hula hoop.  I'm not sure if we're versed on how trees are made but just in case Where Do Trees Come From? It's like when chocolate and peanut butter came together.

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As I looked through the Facebook posts it was a special place for many people.  For some, it was a destination coming from out of state.  Many visitors liked driving by to see how many hula hoops graced the branches of the tree.  One Facebook post from Melissa spoke about getting engaged there in 2019.  It was special to many for different reasons.

Also left for visitors to take were painted hula hoop rocks.  You can see unique designs with a quick Google search of hula hoop tree painted rocks.

What happened to the hula hoop tree?

Sadly this message was left by the owners of the hula hoop tree

'It is with very mixed feelings and heavy hearts that we have to post that Her Majesty will now just live in the memories, photographs, & videos of all who've visited. Like the COVID-19 situation that we've all been enduring, decisions & actions are implemented for the safety of the public. We will miss her VERY MUCH, but we are relieved that She's been taken down before any tragedy befell a visitor.'\