17 Classic Roadside Attractions Still Standing + 5 Bonus Stops You Did Not Know About
Road trips across America wouldn’t be complete without those quirky, oversized, or just plain weird attractions that break up the journey.
These roadside wonders have been pulling travelers off highways for decades, offering photo ops and memories that last longer than the drive itself. From giant animals to bizarre buildings, these stops showcase the delightful oddities that make American road travel so special.
1. The Blue Whale Of Catoosa – Oklahoma
Smiling at travelers since 1972, this charming concrete creature rises from a pond along historic Route 66. The Blue Whale was built by Hugh Davis as an anniversary gift for his wife who collected whale figurines.
Today, visitors snap photos with the 80-foot aquatic giant, picnic nearby, or wade in the surrounding water during summer months.
2. South Of The Border – South Carolina
Miles of colorful billboards announce your approach to this kitschy wonderland straddling the North and South Carolina border.
South of the Border began as a simple beer stand in 1949 before exploding into a sprawling complex. Today’s visitors find sombrero-shaped observation towers, shops selling questionable souvenirs, and dozens of fiberglass animals surrounding mock-Mexican restaurants and motels.
3. The Cadillac Ranch – Texas
Colorful spray paint covers these automotive icons partially buried in a dusty Texas field just west of Amarillo.
The Cadillac Ranch features ten vintage Cadillacs nose-down in the dirt, their tail fins pointing skyward. Bring your own spray paint to leave your mark on this ever-changing art installation created in 1974 by the art collective Ant Farm.
4. The Giant Paul Bunyan And Babe – Minnesota
Towering figures greet visitors to Bemidji with folksy charm and impressive stature that captures America’s logging heritage.
Paul Bunyan stands 18 feet tall beside his faithful blue ox Babe, who measures 10 feet high. These beloved statues have welcomed tourists since 1937, making them among the oldest roadside photo opportunities in the country.
5. Lucy The Elephant – New Jersey
Rising six stories above Margate Beach stands a magnificent architectural oddity that’s survived hurricanes, lightning strikes, and demolition threats.
Lucy the Elephant was built in 1881 as a real estate promotion. This wooden pachyderm contains rooms inside her body accessible by spiral staircase. Guided tours take visitors through her interior and up to the howdah (carriage) on her back.
6. The World’s Largest Ball Of Twine – Kansas
Rural Cawker City hosts this oddly compelling monument to one man’s persistent hobby that continues growing today.
Frank Stoeber started rolling twine in 1953, eventually creating a ball weighing over 5,000 pounds. Visitors can add their own twine during the annual “Twine-a-thon” celebration. A pavilion protects this quirky record-holder from the elements while showcasing its immense size.
7. The Wigwam Motel – Arizona
Concrete teepees line the parking lot of this vintage lodging spot, offering travelers a chance to actually sleep inside a roadside attraction.
The Wigwam Motel opened in 1950 along Route 66 in Holbrook. Each of the fifteen cone-shaped rooms contains modern amenities despite their unusual architecture. Classic cars parked throughout the property enhance the time-capsule atmosphere of this still-operating motel.
8. Wall Drug Store – South Dakota
Famous for free ice water and relentless billboard advertising, this sprawling tourist complex began as a humble pharmacy in a tiny prairie town.
Wall Drug Store grew from a struggling business into a 76,000-square-foot attraction after offering free water to thirsty travelers in 1936. Modern visitors find animatronic displays, Western art, dozens of shops, and an 80-foot brontosaurus that occasionally spouts water from its mouth.
9. The Shoe Tree – Nevada
Hundreds of mismatched footwear dangle from branches along a remote stretch of Highway 50, creating an unexpected splash of color in the desert landscape.
The Shoe Tree tradition reportedly began with a newlywed couple’s fight that ended with shoes hurled into the cottonwood’s branches. Travelers now contribute their own worn-out kicks to this ever-growing collection, creating an oddly beautiful monument to passed journeys.
10. The Corn Palace – South Dakota
Elaborate murals made entirely from corn decorate this unusual performance venue that celebrates agricultural heritage through edible art.
The Corn Palace in Mitchell receives a complete exterior redesign annually using 12 shades of naturally colored corn. Inside, visitors find basketball courts that host games and concerts throughout the year. Since 1892, this “agricultural showplace” has drawn curious travelers to see its constantly evolving corn creations.
11. The Mystery Spot – California
Gravity seems to malfunction inside this tilted cabin nestled among redwoods near Santa Cruz, creating mind-bending visual illusions that defy explanation. The Mystery Spot opened in 1940 after the owner noticed strange compass readings in the area.
Guided tours show visitors walking at impossible angles, water flowing uphill, and people appearing to change heights. Whether caused by mineral deposits or clever construction, the effect remains genuinely disorienting.
12. The Big Texan Steak Ranch – Texas
Impossible-to-miss yellow buildings topped with longhorn sculptures announce this legendary eatery famous for its 72-ounce steak challenge.
The Big Texan offers free meals to anyone who can devour their massive steak dinner within one hour. Failed attempts line the restaurant’s coffers while successful champions join a hallowed wall of fame. Even non-challengers enjoy the over-the-top Texas decor, gift shop, and occasional rattlesnake sightings.
13. The Dinosaur Park – Rapid City, South Dakota
Perched on a hilltop overlooking the city stand seven concrete dinosaurs painted in vibrant colors, frozen in time since the Great Depression. Dinosaur Park was created in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project.
Families climb steep stairs to reach these scientifically inaccurate but charmingly retro creatures. The free attraction offers panoramic views of the Black Hills alongside photo opportunities with tyrannosaurus, triceratops, and brontosaurus figures.
14. The Fremont Troll – Washington
Lurking beneath Seattle’s Aurora Bridge, an enormous stone monster clutches a real Volkswagen Beetle in its massive hand.
Created in 1990 by four local artists, the Fremont Troll was built to rehabilitate a previously problematic area. The 18-foot sculpture is made from concrete, wire, and steel rebar with a hubcap eye that gleams in the light. Visitors climb all over this interactive artwork while posing for uniquely Seattle photos.
15. The Giant Coffee Pot – Pennsylvania
Resembling a massive brown percolator complete with spout and handle, this unusual building has served everything from ice cream to bus tickets over its long history. The Coffee Pot was built in 1927 to attract customers to a gas station along the Lincoln Highway.
Standing 18 feet tall and 22 feet in diameter, this beloved landmark was saved from demolition by local preservationists. Today it sits beside the county fairgrounds, preserved as a quirky piece of roadside Americana.
16. The World’s Largest Ketchup Bottle – Illinois
Rising 170 feet above Collinsville stands a water tower meticulously designed to resemble a vintage Brooks ketchup bottle, label and all.
Built in 1949 to supply water for the nearby Brooks canning plant, this supersized condiment narrowly escaped demolition in the 1990s. Preservation efforts earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The bottle holds 100,000 gallons of water, though sadly not actual ketchup.
17. The UFO Watchtower – Colorado
Alien enthusiasts gather at this unassuming observation platform in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, where UFO sightings are reportedly common occurrences. Opened in 2000 by local resident Judy Messoline, the UFO Watchtower features a metal viewing platform surrounded by gardens filled with cosmic-themed art.
Visitors leave meaningful objects in the “healing garden” and browse the small museum of extraterrestrial memorabilia while scanning the skies for unexplained phenomena.
18. The Garden Of Eden – Kansas
Peculiar concrete sculptures depicting biblical scenes, political statements, and fantastical creatures fill this unusual property created by an eccentric visionary. Samuel Dinsmoor began building his bizarre artistic environment in 1907 at age 64.
The centerpiece remains his concrete mausoleum with a glass-topped coffin containing his preserved body. Tours take visitors through the grounds to see over 200 sculptures representing Dinsmoor’s unique interpretations of religion, evolution, and American politics.
19. The Milk Bottle Grocery – Oklahoma
Ordinary brick building, extraordinary topper! A giant milk bottle perches improbably on this former grocery store’s roof, creating an unforgettable sight along an Oklahoma City street. Built in 1930, the Milk Bottle Grocery served neighborhood shoppers while the 11-foot bottle advertised dairy products.
The triangular building has housed various businesses over decades, but the oversized milk container remains, redecorated periodically by different dairy companies yet always maintaining its distinctive shape.
20. Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue – Georgia
Flashing a toothy grin that mimics its presidential inspiration, this 13-foot peanut statue welcomes visitors to Plains with quirky hometown pride.
The giant legume was created for Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign by Indiana artists. After years of weather damage and repairs, the peanut now stands outside the Plains Historic Inn. Its broad smile and distinct shape make it an irresistible photo opportunity for travelers passing through Carter’s hometown.
21. Giant Rocking Chair – Missouri
Absolutely enormous wooden chair dominates the landscape outside Fanning, making even the tallest visitors look child-sized by comparison.
Built in 2008, this 42-foot rocker briefly held the world record for largest rocking chair. The massive seat sits alongside Route 66, drawing travelers to the Fanning 66 Outpost store. Unlike some roadside giants, this chair actually rocks slightly in strong winds, though climbing isn’t permitted for safety reasons.
22. Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch – California
Sunlight dances through thousands of colored glass bottles attached to metal pipes, creating a tinkling forest of light and sound in the Mojave Desert. Elmer Long created this mesmerizing art installation using bottles collected with his father.
Hundreds of metal “trees” hold vintage bottles that catch desert breezes, creating gentle melodies. Though Elmer passed away in 2019, his family maintains this dazzling roadside gallery that continues enchanting Route 66 travelers.