12 Roadside Attractions That Have Disappeared
These attractions were once iconic pit stops that gave American highways their weird and wonderful flavor.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
In a time before GPS and online reviews, roadside attractions served as surprise gems on long car rides, inviting families to pull over and explore something odd, delightful, or downright bizarre. These lost landmarks tell stories of the postwar travel boom, local entrepreneurship, and changing tastes in tourism. Though many are gone, their echoes still haunt forgotten exits and dusty souvenir stands.
1. The Original Wigwam Village, Horse Cave, Kentucky
Image from Wikipedia
Long before Airbnb, travelers could sleep in a concrete teepee at the Wigwam Village #1, opened in 1933. It was part of a now-iconic chain that gave road trippers a taste of novelty lodging. Sadly, the original location was demolished, leaving only photos and postcards to tell its story.
2. The Shoe House, Hallam, Pennsylvania
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Built in 1948 by a shoe salesman as both a home and advertising gimmick, this house shaped like a giant work boot once welcomed curious visitors with tours and even ice cream. For decades, it stood as one of the quirkiest landmarks off Route 30. Though other shoe houses exist, the original attraction was closed, sold, and lost its public appeal.
3. The Tree Stump House, Olympia, Washington
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Built entirely inside a hollowed-out, 1,000-year-old tree stump, this bizarre roadside oddity was once a popular photo stop in the Pacific Northwest. It was relocated, rebuilt, and even used as a traveling exhibit. Over time, it was dismantled, and now only a replica exists in a museum.
4. The Desert View Tower Zoo, Jacumba, California
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Perched on the edge of the desert, this strange little zoo once showcased goats, peacocks, and even a camel beside a historic stone tower. It was part of the Desert View Tower attraction, where visitors could take in sweeping views and explore nearby boulder sculptures. The zoo was eventually shut down due to concerns over animal welfare and upkeep.
5. The Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa, California
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Once marketed as a miracle health resort in the Mojave Desert, Zzyzx (yes, that’s how it’s spelled) was founded by a radio evangelist named Curtis Springer. The resort boasted mineral baths and healing tonics, drawing curious and desperate travelers alike. After Springer was evicted in the 1970s for squatting on government land, the spa was abandoned and later converted into a research facility.
6. The Mystery Hole, Ansted, West Virginia
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This gravity-defying tourist trap featured tilted rooms and optical illusions that made people feel like they were walking on walls. It attracted families and skeptics alike, all trying to figure out the tricks behind the mind-bending experience. It was closed in the 1990s, boarded up for years, and though it later reopened briefly, it never fully reclaimed its roadside glory.
7. The Oregon Vortex’s Original Cabin, Gold Hill, Oregon
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Before becoming a polished roadside attraction, the Oregon Vortex featured a crude, decaying shack where odd things supposedly happened due to magnetic fields and mysterious forces. The structure collapsed from age and disrepair but sparked decades of supernatural legends. A newer building replaced it, but the charm of the original has long since vanished.
8. Santa’s Land USA, Putney, Vermont
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Opened in the 1950s, this seasonal Christmas-themed park greeted families with reindeer, elves, and kitschy holiday charm. It operated for over 50 years before financial troubles and a tragic animal abuse case shuttered it in 2011. Though there’s been talk of revival, its magic has faded with time.
9. Chief Wapello’s Memorial Park Teepee, Agency, Iowa
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A giant white teepee once honored Chief Wapello near his gravesite, welcoming highway travelers to a quiet stop filled with history and a picnic table or two. Over the years, the structure decayed and was eventually dismantled due to lack of funds. Today, only a marker remains to hint at what once stood there.
10. The Leaning Tower of Niles, Illinois (pre-renovation version)
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Before its glossy 1990s facelift, the Leaning Tower of Niles was an odd, rusting half-scale replica of the one in Pisa. Built in the 1930s as part of a YMCA complex, it stood as a strange photo op next to a parking lot. The original look has disappeared beneath restoration efforts, removing some of the offbeat appeal that made it a classic roadside curiosity.
11. The Cadillac Ranch Graffiti-Free Era, Amarillo, Texas
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Before the Cadillacs became canvases for spray paint, they stood pristine and untouched as art. When created in 1974, they were meant to reflect the evolution of the Cadillac tailfin, not be covered in layers of graffiti. That clean version is long gone, and while the installation still exists, its original look has disappeared forever.
12. The Haunted Mystery House, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
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Built to entertain and spook passing motorists, this eerie funhouse-style walk-through featured uneven floors, creepy props, and corny jump scares. It thrived during the golden age of road tripping but fell into disrepair as tourist numbers declined. By the early 2000s, it was demolished, and all that remains is an empty lot and a few faded memories.