Whatville began as a dream in the mind of Ray Renfroe, a builder and artist who moved to Angel Fire in 1990. Over the years, Ray has created homes and furniture, but Whatville is something more personal: a way to channel the love, grief, and resilience that followed the loss of his son, Cody Blue Renfroe, in 2001. Rather than let sorrow stay locked in, Ray used it as fuel to build a space that speaks in color, in light, in reclaimed wood, and in celebration.

Purchased about two years before the first art pieces appeared, the property has grown into a vibrant ten‑acre canvas. Over time, Ray gathered driftwood, burned pitchwood, antique vehicles, found objects, and forest trimmings, all woven together into installations that are playful, symbolic, and sometimes even spiritual. It’s a place that balances simplicity and “craziness” — somewhere that a visitor might feel calm, inspired, amused, or awed.