Wild, Weird and Wacky American Roadside Wonders
What is it that draws us to those oddball attractions dotting the roadways of America? Not the nationally advertised tourist traps and amusements that drain your wallet, but the obscure, off-beat oddities that sit quietly in small towns or along blue highways just waiting to be noticed, often for the price of merely driving by. Why do so many people go out of their way to visit these roadside wonders? Maybe it's because our lives are overly franchised. A roadtrip across the country is not much fun when every town looks the same. But add in these monuments to American uniqueness, and a family vacation becomes much more memorable. (When was the last time you heard your kids say, "Hey, remember when we went to McDonald's?") Next trip, slow down and get off the interstate. Show your family some of the landmarks that connect us to a simpler time. I guarantee that someday your kids will be telling their kids about the time they crawled into "that big fish's mouth." I've included here a tiny sample of the odd attractions I've visited, mostly on my recent bicycle trip. Most of them are free -- but if there's a charge, I've noted that in the description. Don't forget to pick up your souvenirs!
Troll Capitol of the World
Attraction in the small town of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
Main Street in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, is known as the Trollway, but you can find trolls all through town. Carved of wood, and sometimes painted, but mostly not, the trolls depict a variety of themes, such as the gardening troll and the troll on a tricycle. According to Norwegian folklore, trolls protect crops, so this little town must have some great gardens! 
See also: The Mustard Museum, 100 W. Main St, Mt. Horeb, WI; daily 10 - 5 (608-437-3986); Free. Over 5,000 mustards on display plus sales of over 50 varieties of mustard, as well as Poupon U merchandise.
Need a Lucky Troll?
Get one for luck
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Paul Bunyan & Babe
Big stuff in Bemidji, Minnesota
300 Bemidji Ave, Bemidji, MN, next to the Visitors & Convention Bureau; FreeOne of many in the country, this Paul Bunyan stands 18 feet tall and was built in 1937. Babe was wheeled around to carnivals for a few years before joining Paul here in 1939. The spot is said to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan.
Paul Bunyan Collectibles
And Babe, too
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byNanabojo
More big stuff in Bemidji, Minnesota
Just down the street and on the other side from Paul Bunyan; FreeAccording to Chipppewa legend, Paul Bunyan was so greedy about cutting down all the trees that Nanabojo stopped him by beating him to death with a big fish.
Find Offbeat Attractions
Fun things to see on your road trip.
Eccentric America, 2nd: The Bradt Travel Guide to All That's Weird and Wacky in the USA
Amazon Price: (as of 01/02/2010)
Big Fish Restaurant
Landmark in Bena, Minnesota
US Hwy 2, Bena, MN, 30 miles east of Bemidji, next to Big Fish Supper Club (which is closed in winter); FreeThis 65-foot muskie once held a hamburger stand, but it is now closed and falling apart. View from the outside; I don't know if you can go in, but it doesn't look safe to me.
Dala Horse
Outdoor learning experience in Minot, North Dakota
At the Scandinavian Heritage Center at Broadway and 11th, Minot, ND; FreeThe Dala horse is a symbol of Sweden, from the province of Dalarna. A popular art form since the 1840s, they were first made as toys for children. This Dala horse stands 30' tall. Many other outdoor exhibits; visitor center open until 5:00.
Get Your Very Own Dala Horse
Every little girl wants a horse
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byGeographical Center of North America
Landmark in Rugby, North Dakota
Intersection of US 2 & ND 3, Rugby, ND; FreeThe 15-foot rock obelisk was moved when Hwy 2 was widened; it now stands at the edge of the Conoco station parking lot.
Northern Lights Monument
Roadside wonder in Rugby,ND
East of the intersection of US 2 & Hwy 3 (just east of the geographical center obelisk); FreeBuilt in 1999, the 88-foot multi-colored steel monument to the beauty of the northern lights is illuminated at night. An interpretive center is adjacent, with an excellent video explaining the phenomenon of the aurora borealis.
Travel Games
Keep your family entertained between those roadside wonders
Coldest Spot in the Nation
Family fun in Cut Bank, Montana
US Hwy 2, southeast edge of Cut Bank, MT; FreeThe 27-foot concrete statue was built in 1989, but it looks like it came from an older era. It supposedly talks, but I didn't see the activating button.
Remember Chilly Willy?
March a little penguin right into your life
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byHouse of Mystery
Offbeat attraction near Columbia Falls, Montana
At the Montana Vortex, US Hwy 2, 4 miles east of Columbia Falls, MT; April - Sept, daily 10 - 6 (call to verify 406-892-1210); 45-minute guided tour; $8 adults/$6 ages 6 - 12The Montana Vortex is an area where the laws of gravity and perspective are broken. People shrink and grow; marbles roll uphill. The house was built as an attraction in 1970; within, the mind struggles to reconcile what the eyes see with the gravity felt by the body.
Find Even More Oddities
The United States is packed with amazing attractions.
Hi Jolly's Tomb
Monument in Quartzsite, Arizona
Exit 17, north side of I-10, 1/2-mile east on West Main St, north at the Hi Jolly sign to the town cemetery; FreeIn the 19th century, the US Army brought camels from the Middle East to use in the American desert. They also brought Hadji Ali to be the camel handler. The soldiers couldn't pronounce his name, so he became known as Hi Jolly. He was so well-liked that when he died, a special grave marker was built. The marker is a multi-colored pyramid, made of quartz and petrified wood, with a camel silhouette on top.
Smallest Museum in the World
Americana in Superior, Arizona
Hwy 60, Superior, AZ; west edge of town at Buckboard City Cafe; daily 8 - 1:30 (call to verify 520-689-5800); FreeThis tiny building has just one aisle and walls lined with glass-fronted shelves. The eclectic collection spans the 40s through the 80s, including presidential campaign materials, memorabilia from TV shows and concerts, old cameras, quill pens, and a mimeograph machine. There is even an ancient HP pc with 10mb hard drive!
What is a Laughable Landmark?
A look at off-beat attractions in the U.S. and Canada
-
LAUGHABLE LANDMARKS
-
Toss your troubles aside because it's time to turn your attention to those tacky tourist traps and ripsnorting roadside attractions. There are oodles of odd, off-beat and some might go so far as to say outrageous things to take your mind off the woe...
Signpost
Help for your roadtrip in California
On CA 62 near Rice, west of Vidal Junction, California; FreeThis stretch of road is "littered" with oddball attractions. Here passers-by tack signs to the pole indicating mileage to various points. I, of course, added one to note the 2,146 miles to my home town.
Shoe Fence
Weird stuff in California
On CA 62 near Rice, west of Vidal Junction, California; FreeThis portion of wire fence is decorated with hundreds of shoes. It looks as if a homestead burned here...is this some kind of memorial?
See also: I did not see these, but apparently this area is also home to a shoe tree (now gone), an underwear tree, and a bra tree.
Running Horses Statues
Outdoor attraction in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico
Outside the Hubbarb Museum of the American West, Hwy 70, in Ruidoso Downs, NM; Free to view horsesEight larger-than-life, realistically detailed horses run and jump in Dave McGary's "Free Spirits at Noisy Water." Among the breeds depicted are the thoroughbred, quarter horse, appaloosa, paint, and Arabian. Each metal sculpture weighs between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds.
Buy Running Horses Greeting Cards
Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Price: 15.99
See also: the Hubbard Museum of the American West, Ruidoso Downs, NM; 575-378-4142; daily 9 - 5; $6 adults/$2 ages 6 - 16.
Giant Roadrunner
Roadside wonder in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Rest stop on the south side of I-10, just west of Las Cruces, NM, between mile markers 134 and 135; FreeThis 20-foot sculpture is constructed of trash -- athletic shoes, toys, computer parts, and anything else the creators could pick up at the city dump where it was built before being moved to its hilltop vantage point. Read about the history of the sculpture.
Everyone's Favorite Roadrunner
Watch out, the coyote's after you!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byMore Weird Stuff Than You Can Shake A Stick At
Roadside America
Travel guide to unusual attractions, tourist traps, weird vacations, and road trips.
Roadtrip America
A resource for destinations, attractions, maps, books, and road trip planning.
Travel guide to unusual attractions, tourist traps, weird vacations, and road trips.
Roadtrip America
A resource for destinations, attractions, maps, books, and road trip planning.
A Modern American Classic on DVD
The tale of a family vacation roadtrip to a tacky tourist attraction
National Lampoon's Vacation (Full Screen Edition)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/02/2010)
Tell Us About Your Favorite Weirdities
submit
-
Reply
- poutine poutine Nov 29, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
- You find the weirdest things while driving along small towns.
-
Reply
- kimarn kimarn Oct 27, 2009 @ 11:54 am
- Very nice lens. I just love these kind of attractions when I'm traveling. Thanks for sharing!
-
Reply
- ScottsdaleRealEstate ScottsdaleRealEstate Oct 17, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
- In the Scottsdale area I would like to nominate, to the roadside list of oddities: The Towering Frank Lloyd Wright Spire. It is proudly located at the intersection of Scottsdale Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. At night it's most impressive because of it's brilliant blue hue from the elaborate internal lighting system. Definitely worth a look, bring your camera!
-
Reply
- stargazer00 stargazer00 Oct 14, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
- I enjoyed reading about Odd Roadside Attractions. Blessed!
-
Reply
- Brit303 Brit303 Oct 13, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
- If it weren't for resources like this lens, many of these interesting places would get no traffic. That's too bad. There's so much of America to see, if we only get off the Beaten Path (aka the Interestate system). Small towns and rural areas have character not found anywhere else, and it's manifested in the types of "art" depicted in this lens. Nice work.
- Load More
News For Tacky Tourist Trap Trackers
The latest and greatest weird and wacky wonders
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGet Your Souvenirs Here
Whether you've been there or not
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byAbout MysticTurtle
Lensmaster MysticTurtle has been a member since February 25 2009, has rated 363 lenses, favorited 100, and has created 57 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "I Live In A Van". See all my lenses
by MysticTurtle
I had a normal childhood, but somewhere along the way I took off on my own path. I backpacked the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail in 2001 and the 700-mil... (more) Explore related pages
Christmas In Colonial Williamsburg- Experience Christmas the old fashioned way in historic Colonial Williamsburg, Vi...
get your kicks on route 66- I've been greatly inspired from my travels upon the old highway...while much of...
Visit Colonial Williamsburg- This guide provides a preview of what you'll see and experience when you visit C...
The Fine Details of Walt Disney World- Fun Things to Look for and Do in Disney World If you travel to far...
TOURISM MALAYSIA- Where it all began Malacca rose from a humble fishing village to become a major...
9,000-Mile Bicycle Tour- In July, 2008, I embarked on a year-long bicycle tour to celebrate my fiftieth b...
