In the heart of Illinois, just outside the town of Ottawa, you’ll find a landmark that is as mysterious as it is mundane. It’s not a historical monument or a natural wonder, but a humble 2001 Volvo S80 sedan, perched on a tiny, man-made island in a flooded strip mine. This is Volvo Island, and its story is a testament to the power of a simple, strange idea.
For over a decade, this lone car has been an unexpected local celebrity. It’s visible on Google Maps and has a near-perfect 4.9-star rating, with reviews ranging from “majestic” to “life-changing.” Visitors drive from near and far to snap a photo and ponder its origins.
So, how did a family sedan end up as the sole resident of its own private isle? The mastermind behind this quirky creation is Scott Mann, a local car repair shop owner. The area was once a strip mine that, after being abandoned, filled with about 40 feet of water, creating a small lake. In early 2012, Mann had a brilliant, if slightly bizarre, idea.
He used a tow truck to pull the Volvo onto a peninsula that jutted into the water. Then, with an excavator, he dug away the connecting land, effectively isolating the car and creating the island we see today. The initial plan was to hold a contest, inviting people to guess how the car got there. However, due to safety concerns about people trying to reach the island across the deep water, the contest was scrapped.
The car, however, remained. And in doing so, it transformed from a promotional stunt into a beloved, enigmatic landmark. It’s a symbol of pure, delightful oddity in an otherwise quiet landscape. The Volvo sits, an unmoving sentinel, enduring the elements and drawing curious onlookers.
While you can’t visit the island itself—it’s private property and the water is dangerously deep—the view from the roadside is more than enough. You’ll find people parked on the shoulder, taking pictures and sharing stories. The sight of a car, seemingly marooned in the middle of a small lake, is a strangely captivating one.
Volvo Island is a reminder that you don’t need a grand, expensive project to create a point of interest. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity and a touch of eccentricity to turn an ordinary object into a local legend. So, if you’re ever driving through central Illinois and need a break from the highway, take a small detour and pay your respects to the steadfast, unsinkable Volvo. It’s a road trip stop you won’t soon forget.