< Back to Table of Contentsare t
Whirligigs in Wilson, North Carolina
adobe stock
Weird and Wonderful
Roadside Attractions
Mark the nation’s milestone year by stopping at unusual highway attractions that reveal the country at its most imaginative.
by Laura Del Rosso
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, it’s a time to enjoy national traditions, even the quirkiest ones, such as whimsical and often fascinating roadside attractions. Here are just a few offbeat delights to discover as you celebrate America this year
Carhenge in Nebraska
Wikimedia Commons/Richard J Woodland
NEBRASKA
Carhenge
England is justly proud of ancient Stonehenge, but Nebraska can point to its own take on those mystical stones that is uniquely American. In 1987, the late engineer Jim Reinders and his family created Carhenge from 38 automobiles placed in the same proportions as Stonehenge. The cars are sprayed with gray paint, some held upright in pits, trunk end down. Additional sculptures have been added, known as the Car Art Reserve. The quirky car monument can be found just north of Alliance, a town in western Nebraska.
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues stand on the shores of Lake Bemidji.
Bemidji Area COC
MINNESOTA
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox
In 1937, huge statues were erected in Bemidji, Minnesota, depicting Paul Bunyan, the folk legend who cut trees in Minnesota forests with the help of his ox, Babe. The Tourist Information Center here showcases Bunyan, lumberjack memorabilia and the Fireplace of States, built with 900 rocks from every Minnesota county, every U.S. state and Canadian province, as well as rocks from other important locations.
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville, Illinois
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/public domain
ILLINOIS
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle
When you think of catsup, you may think baseball and hot dogs—not a small Illinois town. However, Collinsville, near the Missouri border, is home of the world’s largest catsup bottle. The 170-foot-tall water tower was built in 1949 for a local bottling plant. It’s an Instagram-ready site that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park video
NORTH CAROLINA
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
What’s a whirligig? You’ll find out at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, the testament of the passion and creativity of one man who created huge kinetic sculptures at his Wilson, North Carolina, farm. Simpson continued building whirligigs almost up until his death at age 94 in 2013. The two-acre park displays 30 of his astounding works, including some of the largest.
Old Ben, Kokomo, Indiana
wikimedia commons/public domain
INDIANA
Old Ben
Perhaps the best-known and oldest Indiana roadside attraction, Old Ben easily set a record for the world’s largest steer–a record that still stands. Thanks to taxidermy, the steer remains famous today in Kokomo, Indiana, drawing awestruck visitors to the Highland Park Visitor’s Center. He measures all of 6 feet, 4 inches tall and more than 16 feet from his nose to the tip of his tail. He was preserved and mounted more than 100 years ago.
Dr evermor forevetron video
WISCONSIN
Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron
The second-largest scrap metal sculpture in the world, Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron, rises almost inexplicably along Highway 12 in Sumpter, Wisconsin. It was built by the late Tom Every, a demolition expert who collected antique machinery, and used scrap, including the decontamination chamber from the Apollo 11 spacecraft, for a 50-foot-high other-worldly creation.
Outside view of The Voyage Home Riverside History Center
VOYAGE HOME MUSEUM
IOWA
The Voyage Home Riverside History Center
You don’t have to be a Trekkie to celebrate the sci-fi universe at The Voyage Home Riverside History Center in Riverside, Iowa. Designated as the “future” birthplace of Star Trek Capt. James T. Kirk, the center celebrates Star Trek TV shows and movies with a memorabilia collection. Thousands flock here for the annual TrekFest each June.
International Towing and Recovery Museum video
TENNESSEE
International Towing and Recovery Museum
Who knew that Chattanooga was the birthplace of the U.S. towing industry? Towing professionals in this Tennessee town certainly did. In 1985, the Friends of Towing opened the International Towing and Recovery Museum to honor their profession and display equipment dating back to 1916. It’s all in the service of keeping the country’s roads operating and clear of vehicles.
If you’re interested in reading about more Weird and Wonderful Roadside Attractions, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas.
Tall orange carrots outside of the Food Gatherers warehouse
FOOD GATHERERS
MICHIGAN
1 Carrot Way
Six big carrots seem to just pop out of the land at 1 Carrot Way in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The orange taproots range from 4 to 10 feet in height. It’s the work of Food Gatherers of Washtenaw County, an important local food bank. Originally “planted” in 2013, the “carrots” decayed until they were restored to their original orange by Calista Dillon, who took it on as a college art project.
When planning a trip to see roadside attractions, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas. You can plan your route and unlock AAA Member savings on accommodations, car rentals, audio tours and more.
Here are more great stories for you to read!
Road Trip: Southeast U.S. to the Midwest
Scenic Mountain Railways: Tracks Towards the Sky
How Does Downsizing Impact Your Insurance
Local Events—June & July
