Defunct Train Cars Get Monarch Mural Metamorphasis In Cape May

CAPE MAY, NJ — Old, abandoned train cars have been given a new lease on life, mirroring a caterpillar's transformation from a humble cocoon into a beautiful butterfly - and you can see them for yourself via railbike at this South Jersey nature preserve.

It was several years ago when RevRail teamed up with the Nature Conservancy to bring a unique railbiking experience to the Garrett Family Preserve, providing guests a one-of-a-kind way to traverse nature on old railroad tracks. The two have teamed up again to makeover three defunct train cars near the preserve's entrance, while educating visitors about the importance of pollinators at the same time.

These cars, which were falling apart and in disrepair, now showcase murals by local artist Alex Lebron. Since the preserve is a haven for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, these murals feature monarch caterpillars and milkweed (their food of choice). Article continues below photo

It also honors the legacy of Philadelphia illustrator James M. Garrett, whose bequest helped expand the site into a public-friendly preserve in 2013.

The murals join existing arts and pollinator crossovers at the preserve, including a poetry path, leafy arbors, permanent art easels and a giant interactive butterfly sculpture called “Dream Machine Monarch” by artist Rubem Robierb.

TNC acquired the property in 1999 as an opportunity to manage a significant piece of land for migratory songbirds, whose stopover habitat, especially at the southern tip of the Cape May peninsula, has been all but wiped out. The Garrett family donation in 2013 enabled expansion of the site as well as improvements to habitat and visitor amenities.

Learn more about the Garrett Family Preserve here.

See more photos below.