Visit The World's Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City
A road trip through the U.S. is an amazing experience, and not just because of the wonderful destinations. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to see some of the weirdest and coolest things thanks to the variety of roadside attractions. Here are 20 wild roadside attractions worth the detour.
Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia
1. Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, is a surreal art installation off Route 66 with ten Cadillacs half-buried in dirt. Created in 1974, Cadillac Ranch lets travellers bring their own spray paint to add their own graffiti, creating an ever-evolving canvas.
scott1346 from Mechanicsville, MD, USA on Wikimedia
2. Carhenge
Located in Alliance, Nebraska, Carhenge is a fun and quirky homage to Stonehenge. Instead of stone monoliths, it's made from vintage cars that are painted gray. It was created in 1987 as a playful fusion of automotive history and ancient wonder. It attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Brian W. Schaller on Wikimedia
3. The World's Largest Ball of Twine
Visit Cawker City to see the World's Largest Ball of Twine. This roadside oddity is a community project that was started in 1953. It now weighs over 20,000 pounds and continues to grow as more visitors add their own strands of twine. This ball is the pride of Cawker City and illustrates its eccentricity.
4. Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain is a sight you must see for yourself. It's a technicolor art installation in the California desert. It's made from adobe, straw, and lots of paint. It contains a religious message and colorful patterns. For many, it's a spiritual statement, and for others, it's an artistic experience.
5. The Mystery Spot
Located in Santa Cruz, California, The Mystery Spot is a popular roadside attraction that claims to defy the laws of physics. It's been around since 1939, and features tilted cabins where balls roll uphill, and people appear to shrink or grow based on where they are standing. While it's an optical illusion, the experience is unique and fun.
6. Enchanted Highway
The Enchanted Highway is a 32-mile stretch of road in Regent, North Dakota, that's lined with massive scrap-metal sculptures. This attraction was created by Gary Greff to lure more visitors to his hometown. The scale is jaw-dropping, and each stop is whimsical.
7. Foamhenge
Stop at this attraction in Natural Bridge, Virginia, and you'll see a full-scale replica of Stonehenge made of Styrofoam blocks. It's weird, absurd, and shockingly impressive. It's perched on a hill, and the fake stones mimic the layout of the real Stonehenge. It's the perfect place for a series of selfies.
Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA on Wikimedia
8. The Thing
If you're travelling past Benson, Arizona, be sure to stop at The Thing. You'll notice the cryptic message along the highway, and there's little chance you won't be intrigued. The Thing is a bizarre mummified figure in a display case. Other exhibits cover dinosaurs and conspiracy theories. It's a wild experience.
9. Cabazon Dinosaurs
This roadside attraction towers over the desert close to Palm Springs. The Cabazon Dinosaurs are massive sculptures of a T. rex and a brontosaurus that were built in the 1970s and have been featured in several films.
Marius Christensen on Unsplash
10. Corn Palace
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, is a community arena that's adorned with murals made from thousands of bushels of corn and grains. It's redesigned every year with fun, new themes.
11. World's Largest Pistachio
At over 30 feet tall, the World's Largest Pistachio is just that. It's a giant concrete nut in Alamogordo, New Mexico, outside of PistachioLand. This large sculpture is a tribute to the farm's founder and now welcomes tons of travellers every year.
12. House on the Rock
The House on the Rock is in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and it's a combination of a surreal museum and an architectural oddity. It's filled with weird collections and has over 250 animals.
13. Randy's Donuts
Randy's Donuts is a popular landmark and tourist destination courtesy of its massive rooftop donut, which has appeared in tons of TV shows and movies. It's also an active donut shop, so be sure to load up before hitting the road again.
14. Lucy the Elephant
In Margate, New Jersey, you can see a six-story elephant-shaped building that was built in 1881. Lucy the Elephant is a quirky roadside attraction that lets visitors climb inside and enjoy some impressive views.
15. World's Largest Frying Pan
The World's Largest Frying Pan calls Rose Hill, California, its home. It's a 15-foot, cast-iron skillet that can cook over 200 chicken legs at once. Seriously, it really can.
16. Giant Paul Bunyan
Located near the lakeside town of Bemidji, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox are colossal statues that celebrate the lumberjack folklore that is ingrained in Minnesota's identity.
User:Cacophony (photograph)Victor A. Nelson and Victor R. Nelson (statue) on Wikimedia
17. Fremont Troll
Beneath the Aurora Bridge lives the Fremont Troll. This huge concrete sculpture clutches an actual Volkswagen Beetle and has become a Seattle icon of urban art.
18. Winchester Mystery House
This sprawling mansion is filled with curious architectural designs and touches, like staircases to nowhere and doors that open into walls. It was originally built to confuse spirits, but now it delights visitors.
19. World's Largest Ketchup Bottle
The World's Largest Ketchup Bottle is in Collinsville, Illinois, and stands over 170 feet tall. It's a beloved roadside attraction because of its mix of marketing fun and engineering.
Tristan Denyer20:57, 21 December 2005 on Wikimedia
20. Bishop Castle
Located in Rye, Colorado, Bishop Castle is a hand-built stone fortress that was built by one man, Jim Bishop. It took him decades, and you can admire the effort and craftsmanship while experiencing it. It looks ripped from a fantasy story, and its scale and eccentricities are impressive.
