Oscar Cooke rests eternal in his tractor-cemetery

BILLINGS -- Oscar Cooke loved tractors such much that before he died in 1995 he arranged to be entombed in one. Today, the late farmer's ashes sit atop a century-old red, green

The entrance to Oscar's Dreamland.

and black tractor at Oscar's Dreamland. It's been designated an official cemetery, making it the world's only cemetery you could actually plow with.

It's the same tractor (or same kind — I couldn't tell from the plaque) that Oscar first "fired" when he was nine.

Oscar's Dreamland is exactly that — the dream (come true) of Oscar Cooke, a one-time farmer and World War II submarine patrol pilot. It's a 19-acre spread of antique tractors and 5,000 other antiques, old farm machines and THINGS, including what must be the world's largest collection of multi-colored tractor seats.

There are also dozens of old cars, hearses, bicycles, thresher machines, and even many horse-drawn vehicles. Basically, anyone who loves farm machines or machines in general, would love this place.

Oscar's grave. See the box on the front of the tractor? That's where you'll find Oscar these days.

Cooke started Oscar's Dreamland in 1968, three years after the idea hit one morning in bed. "By God, I need more tractors!" he proclaimed to his wife Marcella, who probably said (and I'm guessing here), "Oscar, go back to sleep."

Of course, as everyone in Billings well knows, Oscar was serious. By the time died last year at age 95, he had collected more than 300 tractors of various shapes, sizes and ages -- all in working order. Plus, he collected thousands of other farm machines, implements tools and other antiques -- plus dozens of old steam engines. "He started buying them up during World War II," said Herb Ratcliff, who serves as a tour guide and maintenance man. "He couldn't stand seeing them turned into scrap."

What Oscar's Dreamland is famous for, though, is its antique tractors, the world's largest collection that runs. It's an incredible sight: "I've never seen so many HUGE tractors," said Jessie Bojarsky, 7, who was visiting with his family from Sonoma, Calif.

I can't begin to tell you which are the best, because, they look the same to me except some are bigger than others, and they're different colors. I believe, however, that one tractor is the showpiece -- a 1910 Olmstead 25-50 with "articulated four wheel drive" -- Montana's first tractor and the only one left in the state.

Oscar also pieced together an old-time town, complete with bank, general store, mayor's house, newspaper office, schoolhouse -- and more. It's pretty neat if you've never seen an old-time town.

Just a few tractors from Oscar's huge collection.

There are other things — a huge clock, a 110-foot windmill, a giant chicken, and a house-sized frosty root beer mug from Billings' Frosty Top Drive-In, plus a real live goat and horse for the kid's enjoyment.

A transplanted oil well rig is out back. Apparently it failed to produce oil, but instead produced artesian water. So, its owners decide to turn the location into a health spa, which operated successfully for years.

Admission to Oscar's Dreamland is $5 (less for kids), which includes a tour and a 30-minute video narrated by Oscar showing dozens of his tractors in action. On the walls of the room are many news articles about Oscar as well as two of his hats and a jacket, which I touched when nobody was looking.

Oscar once said that he started his collection because he didn't want future generations to forget what life was like in his time. Nowadays, thousands of visitors come each year, including many children on school field trips.

In a 1985 article from the Billings Gazette, Marcella said about Oscar, "He'll never retire until he's six feet under."

1999 UPDATE: Oscar's Dreamland was closed recently. We're not sure what happened to all the tractors.

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