Buzz
Roadside attractions have been an integral part of American culture ever since the first stretch of Route 66 was paved. These quirky destinations, perfect for postcards, novelty hunters, and Instagram moments, are often peculiar and outlandish.
While some, like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, may appear strange at first glance, a deeper dive into these sights uncovers even weirder gems. Here are ten of the most bizarre roadside attractions in the US. (And for the curious, the twine ball resides in Cawker City, Kansas.)
10. Unclaimed Baggage Center, Alabama
Created by Doyle Owens in 1970, the Unclaimed Baggage Center (UCB) is a secondhand store with a one-of-a-kind supply chain: American airlines. Today, it remains the only store in the country that sells lost luggage. Spanning an area the size of a city block, UCB has partnered with most major airlines, selling not only lost luggage but also stray carry-on items that are left behind.
What started as a humble operation selling items on card tables in a rented house in Washington, DC, evolved in 1995 when Bryan Owens moved the nearly 7,000 daily items to their current location in Scottsboro, Alabama. Thanks to exclusive agreements with major US airlines, UCB attracts over a million visitors annually. The store also features a museum displaying oddities and curiosities, which are not for sale. (One of the more fascinating exhibits is an African djembe.)
9. Lucy, The Margate Elephant, New Jersey
Located just south of Atlantic City, a 20-meter (65 ft) tall structure rises from the Margate sands. However, this is no ordinary building – it’s shaped like a giant elephant, known as Lucy. Since its construction in 1881, sailors began reporting sightings of a giant elephant on the horizon, sparking curiosity. As visitors flooded Absecon Island, they were stunned to discover that it wasn’t a mirage.
Lucy, the brainchild of James V. Lafferty, Jr., was patented in 1882, with Lafferty being granted a patent for inventing a “building in the form of an animal.” Over the years, subsequent owners began offering guided tours, attracting notable visitors, including President Woodrow Wilson. Throughout its history, Lucy has served as a summer residence for an English doctor and his family, a tavern (which nearly led to a catastrophic fire), and, to this day, a popular tourist attraction.
8. Wall Drug, South Dakota
Widely regarded as the most famous tourist trap in the United States, Wall Drug began in 1931 on the outskirts of the South Dakota Badlands. Using his last $3,000, Ted Hustead moved to the small town of Wall with his wife and child and bought a modest pharmacy. Business was tough, and they struggled to make a living during the challenging years of the Great Depression.
Nevertheless, their most successful draw remains one of their first: free water. Dorothy Hustead came up with the idea on a hot July afternoon while she was trying to sleep. Thanks to this idea and a series of cleverly placed billboards, people flocked to the pharmacy, quenching their thirst with free ice water and indulging in the occasional ice cream cone. Today, Wall Drug attracts more than two million visitors each year, contributing over $10 million in revenue.
7. Nicolas Cage’s Tomb, Louisiana
In an act that further cements his reputation for eccentricity, Nicolas Cage acquired a tomb in the notorious New Orleans cemetery in 2010. Due to the city’s below-sea-level position and repeated disease outbreaks, there are strict regulations on where cemeteries can be situated, unless they are aboveground. This is why Cage purchased a 2.7-meter (9 ft) tall pyramid-shaped tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
The true reasons behind Cage's purchase of the tomb remain a mystery, though some locals are upset that he was even allowed access to the cemetery. In fact, some have gone as far as to accuse him of disturbing older graves to make space for the pyramid. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the first in New Orleans to feature aboveground burials, is also the final resting place of Marie Laveau, the renowned voodoo queen.
6. Airstream Ranch, Florida
Inspired by Cadillac Ranch, an art installation featuring junked Cadillac cars, Airstream Ranch was located near Tampa, Florida, and utilized old RVs as its medium. The brainchild of Frank Bates, who also runs a nearby RV dealership, the ranch was a controversial art project throughout its existence (such is the nature of modern art). After nearly two years of legal battles, state courts overturned local orders to demolish it.
Founded in 2007 to commemorate Airstream’s 75th anniversary, the ranch was originally planned to feature brand-new RVs. However, Bates chose instead to source one from each decade of the company’s history (though he only managed to get RVs from five decades). His vision was to expand the ranch into a park and even a wedding venue. Unfortunately, the Airstream Ranch was demolished in 2017 to make way for a new Airstream dealership.
Another roadside attraction similar to Airstream Ranch is Carhenge, located in Alliance, Nebraska. As the name suggests, it’s a replica of Stonehenge, but made entirely of cars.
5. Cross Island Chapel, New York
Often referred to as The World’s Smallest Church, the Cross Island Chapel was constructed in 1989 in the quaint town of Oneida, New York. Not only certified by Guinness World Records, it sits on a small dock in the center of a pond. Although it can only accommodate three people standing (or two seated), the church has still hosted numerous weddings. On one occasion, guests had to anchor their boats nearby to attend the ceremony.
Although it lost its title of World’s Smallest Church just months after receiving the certification (a church in Switzerland now holds the title), the Cross Island Chapel continues to draw visitors, many of whom come to pray or simply admire the structure. Originally built to honor God, the chapel no longer sits on “Cross Island” due to rising water levels, forcing the construction of a dock to house the 2.7-square-meter (28.7 ft) chapel.
4. The Hobo Museum, Iowa
Located in Britt, Iowa, home to the National Hobo Convention, an annual event that has been celebrated since 1900, is the Hobo Museum—a building dedicated to preserving the history and memories of hobos. Situated in an old theater, the museum began with just a single box of random items. Today, the building is packed with exhibits showcasing the origins and values of the hobo lifestyle. (To clarify, a hobo is a traveling migrant worker, a tramp is someone who travels but avoids work, and a bum neither works nor travels.)
In 2008, students from various classes at nearby Iowa State University began efforts to have the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places and to restore the theater to its former glory. Other local sites celebrate hobos, including the Hobo Jungle and the Hobo Cemetery, a section of a larger graveyard specifically reserved for hobos.
3. World’s Largest Collection of World’s Smallest Versions of World’s Largest Things, Kansas
This one requires a bit of explanation. Inspired by the American tradition of creating the largest versions of various things, artist Erika Nelson decided to put her own spin on it. Her creation became a traveling exhibit featuring miniature replicas of these oversized objects. Before building each model, Nelson conducts extensive research and measures the originals with precision.
Whenever possible, appropriate materials are used; for instance, the World’s Smallest Version of the World’s Largest Ball of Rubber Bands was crafted using tiny rubber bands. Furthermore, a photo is taken of each exhibit placed in front of its original counterpart. While the attraction is typically on tour and best experienced while traveling, when it's not on the road, it is based in Lucas, Kansas.
2. The Octopus Tree, Oregon
Contrary to the mythical Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, the Octopus Tree in Oregon is a massive spruce, famous for its limbs resembling the tentacles of an octopus. Regarded as possibly the largest Sitka spruce in the state, the origins of this tree are debated, though Native American involvement is the most plausible theory. Coastal tribes like the Tillamook were said to have shaped trees as part of their sacred rituals.
The theory suggesting Native American influence posits that the tree was utilized to hold cedar canoes and other items of ritual significance. As for the Octopus Tree itself, it is believed to be centuries old and has been referred to as “The Council Tree,” a place where tribal elders reportedly gathered to make important decisions.
1. Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard, Vermont
Ever wondered where discontinued ice creams like Festivus or Dublin Mudslide go? They have been laid to rest in a place worthy of their flavors: the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard. A playful tribute by a playful company, the graveyard is not just an amusing page on their website but also a physical site located at their Waterbury, Vermont factory.
First established in 1997, the graveyard began with only four flavors, but over the years, the collection has grown, with 35 flavors added to the list by the most recent count. Most of the graves are unmarked, except for What A Cluster, for which a real funeral was held. (As to whether the ice cream truly rests underground, that remains a mystery.) While it might not be the most visited spot, Sean Greenwood, Ben & Jerry’s publicity head, mentions that fans still make pilgrimages to honor their beloved discontinued flavors, often leaving flowers by the elaborate granite gravestones.
