We’ve all started what we thought would be a simple project around the house that turned into something so much more than we expected. For one teacher, a simple summer landscaping project turned into tons of work.
Brendan Dudas, from Indianapolis, found himself with extra time during summer break and decided to tackle a persistent nuisance in his yard—a large rock that interfered with mowing. What began as a simple landscaping task quickly turned into an extraordinary discovery.
Inspired by a TikTok creator known for digging up boulders, Dudas began excavating the rock himself, expecting a manageable project. However, the situation escalated as he realized the rock was far larger than anticipated.
Documenting the process on TikTok, Dudas received advice from viewers, including suggestions to use a crane. He was cautious about potential damage to his or his neighbor’s foundation, so he proceeded with trial and error before eventually enlisting a crane company. The boulder, once removed, was found to weigh over 10,300 pounds and is estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old, dating back to the end of the last Ice Age.
Rather than discard the boulder, Dudas embraced it as a centerpiece for his landscaping. He redesigned his front yard around it, adding mulch, topsoil, native plants, and smaller rocks.
The transformation didn’t stop there, because of course no home project really ever ends, he continued improving other parts of his property and plans to install lighting to showcase the boulder at night.
You can check out the full TikTok and story here: Man Tries to Dig Up Rock in His Front Yard, but What He Finds Is Bigger Than Anything He Could’ve Imagined