One of the best parts of a road trip is never knowing what you might find along the way. Between the scenic overlooks, small towns, and stretches of open highway, America is packed with strange roadside attractions that can turn an ordinary drive into something memorable. Sometimes all it takes is a giant statue, an unusual museum, or a bizarre sign to convince you to take the next exit.
From oversized landmarks and quirky local creations to attractions that are almost impossible to explain without seeing them for yourself, these stops prove that the journey can be just as entertaining as the destination. Here are some of the strangest roadside attractions in America and where you can find them.
Herkimer, the World’s Largest Beetle
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Do you have an interest in seeing the world’s largest beetle? You can visit Herkimer, the World’s Largest Beetle, in Rock Creek Park, Colorado. It’s a cool stop on a Southwest road trip and was recently renovated in the spring of 2022.
So, what is the story behind this massive insect? The World’s Largest Beetle Statue sits in front of the John May Museum Center, a bug museum with over 7,000 insects. The beetle statue is a replica of Dynastes Hercules, one of the world’s largest beetles. Interestingly, while this statue has sat in Rock Creek Park since the 1950s, it was once part of the traveling May Tropical Exhibition.
Old Salem Coffee Pot
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Next on our list of the strangest roadside attractions in America is the Old Salem Coffee Pot in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s also the Mickey Coffee Pot. This unique structure has over 150 years of history.
Julius and Samuel Mickey built this large tin coffee pot in 1858. It served as a form of advertisement for their tin shop. Interestingly though, this large advertisement was almost removed from its spot because it was dangerous and had been damaged by a car in 1920.
The pot is impressive. It stands at about 7 feet and 3 inches. It has a volume of 740 gallons.
The Cabazon Dinosaurs
Imagine taking a drive and seeing tall dinosaur sculptures getting closer! The Cabazon Dinosaurs are a roadside attraction in California. They were previously Claude Bell’s Dinosaurs.
Claude K. Bell created this unique roadside attraction in hopes of attracting attention to his restaurant, the Wheel Inn, which was open nearby. He started sculpting the massive dinosaurs, Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr. Rex, in 1964. It took decades. Dinny the Dinosaur was completed in 1975. This first dinosaur stands at 150 feet. Soon after the first dinosaur was complete, Claude began constructing Mr. Rex, a 65-foot T-rex. Claude had hoped to create more sculptures and even develop the land into an amusement park but he passed away in 1988 before he could finish this dream.
Abita Mystery House
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The Abita Mystery House is a Louisiana hidden gem in Abita Springs. It’s an odd roadside attraction with a lot of charm and spirit. The Abita Mystery House has thousands of objects. You can spend hours in the area looking at the artifacts that range from Darrel the Dogigator to the House of Shards. It is the strangest museum in the state. If you can’t make it to this unique mystery house, you can take a virtual tour, starting from the museum’s vintage gas station entrance.
Cadillac Ranch
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Who hasn’t heard of the random and baffling Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas? This gorgeous art installation is hard to miss. In the middle of a quiet field, this art installation is bizarre to see, especially if you aren’t expecting it on a long road trip. Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels created this art piece in 1974. It consists of 10 Cadillacs of various years buried nose-first in the ground. They have vibrant colors and patterns and are facing the same angle as the pyramids of Giza.
Lenny, The Chocolate Moose
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Who doesn’t want to see a realistic chocolate moose? For some people, Lenny, The Chocolate Moose is a must-stop roadside attraction. It’s located in Maine and is inside the Len Libby candy store. While you won’t spot it when driving, you should add this to your list if you want to see the only life-size chocolate moose.
It was sculpted carefully in the candy store using an astonishing 1,700 pounds of the finest milk chocolate. It took four weeks to complete. To visit this gorgeous and unique sculpture, you’ll have to enter the candy shop when it’s open. Lenny, The Chocolate Moose stands in a pond of blue-tinted white chocolate.
Jolly Green Giant
Continuing our list of the strangest roadside attractions in America is the massive Jolly Green Giant statue in Minnesota. You have to really like green peas to want to see this large and vibrant statue. It’s located in Green Giant Statue Park.
The Jolly Green Giant statue stands at 55.5 feet. Within Green Giant State Park is a play area, gift shop, and informative museum for the canning company.
Skunk Ape Research Center
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If you like Florida cryptids and are traveling through the Everglades, you should add the Skunk Ape Research Center to your list of stops. Another name for the Skunk Ape Research Center is the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters. It details the history of the legend of Florida’s Skunk Ape. While in the museum, you can see potential pictures of the cryptid, footprints, and audio recordings. This bizarre attraction is in Ochopee and also includes some animal exhibits. While there, you can meet animals like snakes, turtles, and alligators.
World’s Largest Pistachio
You might have noticed that many of the strangest roadside attractions in the United States are large statues and world-record-breaking objects like the World’s Largest Pistachio. You can find the World’s Largest Pistachio in New Mexico. Although this statue might look silly, it holds a lot of meaning. This pistachio is a tribute to a son who loves and respects his father. Tim McGinn built this unique statue to honor the memory of his father, Tom McGinn. Although only built in 2007, it’s been featured in movies, books, and more.
Grotto of the Redemption
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Have you ever heard of the Grotto of the Redemption? Honestly, pictures don’t do this unique roadside attraction justice. The Grotto of the Redemption is a man-made grotto in West Bend, Iowa. This shrine is intricate and detailed and depicts the scenes of the life of Jesus Christ. Construction of this lovely grotto began in 1912 and continued for four decades. If you can’t make it physically to see this unique attraction, you can take a virtual tour.
Jeremy “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park
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This last strange roadside attraction is also heartwarming and tragic. Jeremy “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park goes by many names. It’s also called the Boo Castle Park. It’s open to the public from 9 am to sunset for free and is located in Carbondale, Illinois. So, what makes this park special? Well, it’s full of castles, fantasy creatures, and dragons! This mystical park was created in memory of Jeremy “Boo” Rochman, who passed away in a car accident in 1993 at 19 years old. Jeremy was a huge fan of Dungeons and Dragons. He also loved painting wizard figurines, which you can see enlarged throughout the park.
