14 Roadside Attractions That Used to Be a Big Deal
Here's a look back at once-famous roadside landmarks that faded with time.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
These attractions were once iconic stops for road-tripping families, offering a mix of the bizarre, the oversized, and the endearingly weird. Before smartphones and interstate exits lined with chain restaurants, these places held genuine excitement and mystery. Today, many remain only in family albums, roadside myths, or forgotten stretches of old highways.
1. The Thing – Arizona
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Once proudly advertised on billboards for hundreds of miles, “The Thing” was a dusty roadside mystery hidden inside a display case off I-10 in Arizona. For just a couple of bucks, travelers could gawk at what was claimed to be a mummified alien, or maybe a hoax, depending on who you asked. It was less about what it actually was and more about the journey and buildup to finally seeing it.
2. South of the Border – Dillon, South Carolina
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This Mexican-themed rest stop used to dazzle kids and weary parents with its bright neon lights and cartoonish mascot, Pedro. It combined a motel, restaurants, a gas station, and a gift shop into a roadside empire that screamed Americana kitsch. Over time, changing tastes and cultural awareness have made it feel outdated, though it still clings to its faded glory.
3. Coral Castle – Homestead, Florida
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Built entirely by one man using massive coral blocks, Coral Castle was once hyped as America’s Stonehenge. Edward Leedskalnin spent 28 years creating the site in secret, sparking myths about anti-gravity powers and lost love. While it is still around today, it used to be much more of a roadside legend in pre-Google Maps days.
4. Gatorland – Orlando, Florida
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Before Disney took over Florida tourism, Gatorland was a genuine contender with its gator wrestling shows and massive reptilian jaws welcoming drivers from the highway. Families stopped for photos with live alligators and watched daring trainers risk life and limb. Now it’s more of a niche stop than a must-see.
5. Lucy the Elephant – Margate, New Jersey
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Lucy is a six-story elephant-shaped building that once served as a hotel and attraction. Built in 1881, she was part architectural oddity, part coastal mascot. Time and changing travel habits have dimmed her celebrity, though she’s still standing with a loyal fan base.
6. Weeki Wachee Springs – Weeki Wachee, Florida
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This natural spring was transformed into a mermaid performance theater, where women in tails performed synchronized underwater shows through air hoses. For decades, it captured imaginations and packed in tourists before Florida became dominated by high-tech theme parks. Though it still exists, its heyday is long gone.
7. The World’s Largest Ball of Twine – Cawker City, Kansas
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Started by one man in 1953, this ever-growing ball of twine once made national news and drew curious families from far and wide. Tourists would take Polaroids standing next to it, and it became a symbol of quirky Americana. Today, it’s still growing, but only the diehards make the detour.
8. The Desert of Maine – Freeport, Maine
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A natural oddity created by poor farming practices, this 40-acre desert became a novelty for road trippers not expecting sand dunes in Maine. Kids could ride a sand sled or marvel at partially buried wagons. Once a postcard staple, it now survives mostly by nostalgia.
9. Wall Drug – Wall, South Dakota
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Starting out as a small-town pharmacy in the 1930s, Wall Drug exploded into a kitschy mega-complex after offering free ice water to travelers. The signs were everywhere across the country — some even as far as Europe. Now, while still open and enormous, it’s no longer the bucket list stop it once was.
10. Enchanted Forest – Ellicott City, Maryland
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This fairytale-themed amusement park was a staple for kids growing up in the mid-20th century. Life-sized gingerbread houses, dragons, and princess castles lined the trails, thrilling little imaginations. It eventually closed in 1995, with fragments now displayed in a nearby shopping center.
11. The Blue Whale – Catoosa, Oklahoma
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Built as a gift from a husband to his wife, the Blue Whale of Route 66 became a smiling symbol of Americana and a swimming hole for passing families. Its whimsical face and odd proportions made it an irresistible photo op. While it’s maintained today, the magic has mostly faded from its heyday in the ‘70s.
12. Dinosaur World – Beaver, Arkansas
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Once featuring dozens of towering, concrete prehistoric beasts, this attraction lured in families fascinated by dinosaurs long before CGI made them realistic. The paint may have faded, and the science was a bit off, but it held the imagination of kids passing by. It quietly closed down, leaving behind an eerie fossil of roadside tourism.
13. Rock City – Lookout Mountain, Georgia
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“See Rock City” signs were once painted on barns across the South, drawing people to this mountaintop garden filled with rock formations and panoramic views. It promised you could see seven states from a single viewpoint. Though still operational, it’s no longer the massive draw it once was.
14. Mystery Spot – Santa Cruz, California
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This gravity-defying shack in the redwoods became famous for baffling visitors with optical illusions and tilted rooms. People claimed compasses spun wildly, and people shrank or grew depending on where they stood. While still popular with local tourists, it no longer holds the national curiosity it once sparked.