Roadside Oddities [Archive]

Gregoshi

05-17-2007, 14:34

I'm sure in our travels we've all run into odd things sitting along the roadside. You know, those things that make to do a double take and exclaim "what the heck?" These oddities are often undocumented in travel brochures. I've run into my share of them. I thought it would be cool to share our discoveries of roadside weirdness.

I'll start off with two that I encounter on my way up to my dad's cottage in Canada.

First one is in Canada on a farm just a few miles north of the St. Lawrence River Thousand Islands region. It is what we call the "golden egg". The egg was always a welcome sight as it meant we'd be at my dad's place in about 20 minutes (after an 8 hour drive).

Here's the golden egg:

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/gbresslr/Org%20Pictures/Canada2007Jan_73.jpg

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/gbresslr/Org%20Pictures/Canada2007Jan_74.jpg

The other oddity is in New York state just a couple of miles south the St. Lawrence River Thousand Islands region along Interstate 81. Due to the local geography, it can only be seen from the southbound lane and is only in view for about 4-5 seconds while driving. This oddity is three large, 9-10 feet (3 meters) tall, iron crow statues sitting in a field. I was unable to get a picture of them last time I was up north due to unfavourable weather, but I did find some pictures someone else took of these iron giants. (These pictures were taken by Paul Tomblin) In the first picture you can see I81 in the background behind the two crows on the right side.

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/gbresslr/Org%20Pictures/GiantCrows2_Paul_Tomblin.jpg

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/gbresslr/Org%20Pictures/GiantCrows_Paul_Tomblin.jpg

So, what little treasures have you found along the road?

KukriKhan

05-17-2007, 15:07

Also in Canada (Leamington, Ontario) is:

https://jimcee.homestead.com/wltomato1.jpg

Long ago, in a previous life, I spent a year one weekend trying to hitch-hike out of that place (not that it was a bad town; just no work for me).

Gregoshi

05-17-2007, 15:19

Nice tomato. I gather (so to speak) that tomato is at a stand or market of some sort?

One of the things that bugs me about some of these things is not being able to find out "why?" If the tomato is for a business, that makes some sense - as does the golden egg. But why giant iron crows? Mysteries of the universe...

Sasaki Kojiro

05-17-2007, 15:22

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7481/20050113giantjesusnj1.jpg

Touchdown Jesus, off a highway near Cincinnati.

KukriKhan

05-17-2007, 15:38

Nice tomato. I gather (so to speak) that tomato is at a stand or market of some sort?

In this case, it's near a Heinz factory (ketchup-makers), proclaiming Leamington the "tomato capital of the world". In my usual habit of good timing, harvest had finished a week before I drifted into town.

One of the things that bugs me about some of these things is not being able to find out "why?" If the tomato is for a business, that makes some sense - as does the golden egg. But why giant iron crows? Mysteries of the universe...

Yeah; I don't get the crows either.

Nice pic Sasaki.

Mikeus Caesar

05-17-2007, 15:48

Long ago, in a previous life, I spent a year one weekend trying to hitch-hike out of that place (not that it was a bad town; just no work for me).

What?

KukriKhan

05-17-2007, 16:13

It was a weekend, but so dreary and tedious, it seemed like a year. Figure of speech. Sorry. I guess you've never hitch-hiked?

drone

05-17-2007, 16:25

Somebody put this up right next to the A303. Nobody really knows why it's there.
https://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3799/swstonehenge13ri0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

~D

Samurai Waki

05-18-2007, 07:13

https://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e177/Wakizashi1985/d14.jpg

One of the Oldest Mosques in the US (1926)(now is the town Civic Center), followed by the Cathedral of St. Helena (which is actually an exact replica of the Votivekirche in Vienna.) both fully viewable from I95 going into my Hometown of Helena, MT.

...decided to add some more.

https://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e177/Wakizashi1985/butte_ourlady1.jpg

Our Lady of the Rockies (going into Butte, MT)

https://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e177/Wakizashi1985/421.jpg

Sleeping Giant (going into Helena) ...I really miss Montana... *sigh*

Csargo

05-18-2007, 08:11

https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7481/20050113giantjesusnj1.jpg

Touchdown Jesus, off a highway near Cincinnati.

hehehehe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0OxLXe5YnQ) :grin:

Gregoshi

05-18-2007, 12:58

Wakizashi, that Our Lady of the Rockies statue looks a bit unnerving towering over the surrounding cliffs. I feel like I'm looking at something out of a Godzilla movie. I Googled it and the statue is 90 feet (27 meters) tall to give us uninitiated a sense of scale.

Ichigo - nice link (in both senses of the word). "Can't believe it's not Jesus" and "Spread the word" are classic lines! :laugh4:

Louis VI the Fat

05-18-2007, 15:38

Ah, roadside oddities - one of my favourite American phenomenons. Carnivals, weird churches and assorted religious buildings, the 'World's Biggest!' this or that, kitch tourist traps, dinosaur shaped hamburger joints.

Did any of you ever play Sam and Max (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_&_Max_Hit_the_Road) hit the road? It's an old Lucasarts adventure game, where you cross America going from one oddity to another. A classic game, I hope to one day follow in their footsteps, renting a camper and just driving from one corny roadside attraction to the next. :2thumbsup:

My own favourite is the cadillac ranch, near Amarillo, Texas. I think it is America's most important work of art. Certainly the most American work of art anyway.

https://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5864/091980tl8.jpg

Gregoshi

05-18-2007, 16:10

I'm aware of that classic work of eccentricity Louis. I'm glad you appreciate the wackier side of America. Your comment does make me ask though, is this an American (and Canadian) phenomenon? :huh2:

Here's one right up Louis' alley - The Wigwam Motel. Two years ago when our family went to Arizona for vacation/holiday, we passed through the town of Holdbrook which happens to lie along the classic old American road Route 66 (Get your kicks on Rt 66!). When we found a place to eat, we noticed this motel just down the block. It certainly was hard to miss:

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/gbresslr/Org%20Pictures/WigwamMotel.jpg

https://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h12/gbresslr/Org%20Pictures/WigwamMotel2.jpg

Have you ever slept in a Wigwam? :indian_chief: Well, have you? :laugh4:

barocca

05-18-2007, 18:07

a Medieval Castle in queensland australia
http://www.sunshinecastle.com/bliblicastle/head3.jpg
(link) (http://www.sunshinecastle.com/) (australia is only 200 years old...)

Big Pineapple in queensland australia
http://www.travelmate.com.au/Images/Things/BigThings/big_pineapple.jpg (link) (http://www.travelmate.com.au/BigThings/BigThings.asp?Type=Show&ToDoId=167957)

Ettamoogah Pub - also queensland autralia...
http://teachit.acreekps.vic.edu.au/cyberfair/EttaPub3c.jpg (link) (http://teachit.acreekps.vic.edu.au/cyberfair/ettamoga.htm)

(please, dont make me continue... all those are within 100k's of where i live,
and the further away from here you go, the wackier things get,
big prawns, big avocadoes, big banana's...even warplanes growing out of the ground...)
B.

Hosakawa Tito

05-19-2007, 01:33

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/berkshireindian.gif
On a trip to visit my sister in Marlboro, Mass. last summer we checked out the Berkshires (Western Mass.) This statue is on the Mohawk Trail, that's my mother pointing out the anatomically correct (I took her word for it) Big Indian.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/rocktop.jpg
Here's a pic of the famous Plymouth Pebble...er...I mean Plymouth Rock. Probably the most underwhelming US artifact I've ever seen. I expected a more impressive boulder-like monument, but apparently early souvenir hunters got a bit carried away...literally.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/bunghole.jpg
No trip to Salem, Mass. would be complete without stopping for a resupply of refreshments at my brother-in-law's favorite alcohol dispensing establishment.

Mikeus Caesar

05-19-2007, 12:10

Gregoshi - if i recall correctly, the Wigwam Motel is parodied in GTA: San Andreas. Somewhere in the desert area, if you keep going along the main road, you'll find it.

InsaneApache

05-20-2007, 08:59

LMFAO! Bunghole Liquors....how very apt. :laugh4:

Louis VI the Fat

05-30-2007, 01:57

I'm glad you appreciate the wackier side of America. Your comment does make me ask though, is this an American (and Canadian) phenomenon? :huh2: Absolutely, I think it is a distinctly American phenomenon. And Canadian and Australian apparantly.

Europeans don't live in their cars. I don't have one. I don't even have a driver's licence. Don't need it.
Reading that you drove eight hours to see your dad feels so alien that it's almost like something out of a National Geographic magazine. You know, 'these weird folk here eat mashed anaconda heads. Those ones over there are expected to have four wives and six goats at eighteen. And these ones right here travel eight hours in one go to see their parents for the weekend'. ~:eek:
So there's no point in highway oddities in Europe. And much what is private space is public space here too. We don't have many billboards next to the highway. And there are laws that prevent you from building twenty wigwams or giant pineapples.
____

Anyway, In my everlasting quest to discover the true soul of America, I stumbled on another must-see - and must-participate! - piece of Americana. It's not a roadside oddity, but this thread seems a good place to post my find:

Redneck Olympics, Georgia.

https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/609/redneckbelyflop1zo6.jpg

The events include the cigarette flip, bobbing for pigs feet, the big hair contest, the hubcap hurl, the seed spitting contest, bug zapper spitball, dumpster diving, and everyone's favorite, the armpit serenade: "That's when you cup your hand under your armpit and make farting noises,"

Video of the Redneck Games (https://youtube.com/watch?v=jGOH-eUe-2E). I'm sooo going to participate one day and beat Strike for the South's arse at every event. :knight:

InsaneApache

05-31-2007, 11:48

Is that you practising Louis? :laugh4:

On second thoughts you can tell from the piccy that she's a nice girl.........her tattoos are spelt correctly. :yes:

lars573

05-31-2007, 16:34

I know of two. One is a giant blueberry with two faces. So it smiles and waves at you coming and going. I don't know where that is exaclty but it's somewhere in NS. On one of the old highways. Outside Sussex New Brunswick there is an Irving oil co. dairy farm. With giant a concrete cow and calf outside it. The calf is about the size of a normal cow.

Gawain of Orkeny

05-31-2007, 18:53

Heres one of my local favorites here on Long Island . By the way we are famous for our ducks :laugh4:
LINK (http://longislandgenealogy.com/ducks.html)

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/ny/NYFLAduck_peter.jpg

http://longislandgenealogy.com/xmasduck.gif

In 1931, Riverhead duck farmer Martin Maurer built this 20-ft. tall, 30-ft. long eyecatcher using concrete (technically, "ferrocement") applied over a wooden frame. Taillights from a Model T Ford became its eyes, glowing red at night. Maurer sold ducks and eggs from the shop in its belly.

Vintage view.Maurer drew his inspiration from odd structures he had seen in California, especially a building shaped like a giant coffeepot. Shrewdly, Maurer patented his fowl creation, and the Duck became the darling of locals and travelers. This may explain why, in the world of architecture, any building shaped like its product is referred to as a "duck." Not a "coffeepot."

Maurer is long dead, and the Big Duck has shifted locale a few times. When the land was earmarked for development, giant duck preservationists and the Friends for Long Island's Heritage campaigned to save it. The owners donated the Big Duck to Suffolk County in 1987. In 1988 it moved from Flanders to Hampton Bays along Route 24 at the entrance of Sears-Bellow County Park. The shop still operates -- now as a tourism center for the East end of Long Island, selling duck souvenirs to flocks of city weekend-trippers.

Big Duck at Christmas time. Each year, (the first Wednesday in December) the Suffolk County Parks Department sponsors the Annual Holiday Lighting of the Big Duck. Local school children sing "Duck" carols, and warm refreshments including hot chocolate, cookies and doughnuts are served. Visitors join in singing the duck carols while awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, transported by the Flanders Fire Department. Once Santa arrives, the switch is flipped and the Big Duck lights up for all to see.

Hosakawa Tito

05-31-2007, 20:31

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/35135552_29_619_MudTheater.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/scar12.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/scar39.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/hoppy84/35135554_31_635_CaesarGetsTips.jpgCollecting tips for diving in mud and acting the fool; the 15th Century must have been a hoot.

In keeping with Louis's Mud-Pit theme, here are two shots from the Mud-Pit Theatre at a Renaissance Fair we attended a while ago. These fairs are lots of fun, but I suggest you stand in the back-row to watch the Mud-Pit Theatre skit. Front row seating can be messy.

The_Mark

05-31-2007, 20:48

Roadside oddities, around here? Mostly roadkills.

GeneralHankerchief

05-31-2007, 21:18

Gregoshi

06-01-2007, 14:05

-edit- Hosa, was that Renaissance Faire in Pennsylvania by any chance?
I'm wondering the same thing - or is it just that similar in appearance?

Good roadside oddities posted, all of them. :2thumbsup:

I saw a somewhat small thing in someone's yard a couple of weeks ago. I've driven by dozens of times and never noticed it, but when I did, I did a double take. If I remember to stop next time, I'll take a picture and post it. I always manage to forget about it until it is too late.

BTW, I was watching an old Ghost Hunters show on SciFi Wednesday night and they drove by Louis' "half buried cars" art work on their way to Tombstone Arizona.

Reading that you drove eight hours to see your dad feels so alien that it's almost like something out of a National Geographic magazine.

Road trip! :laugh4: I love'em.

Hosakawa Tito

06-01-2007, 15:26

Originally Posted by GeneralHankerchief
-edit- Hosa, was that Renaissance Faire in Pennsylvania by any chance?

I'm wondering the same thing - or is it just that similar in appearance?

Good roadside oddities posted, all of them.

I've been to at least 6 of these faires in Wisconsin, New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania over the years. So you are probably correct if they look familiar to you. I get the various trips all mixed up together in my memory and really can't be sure.

These Faires do seem to run a similar theme and attractions. The actors must really have a blast interacting with the visitors. I do remember that one of my favorites was a midget dressed up like a hunchback juggler. He followed my wife and young daughter around gibbering nonsense and goofing with us. My daughter and I still reminisce and laugh over that one. Wish I could find the pics of that, but no luck so far.

Gregoshi

06-01-2007, 16:45

The actors are great. The time we went to the Pennsylvania Ren Faire, one of the "mud women" was sitting in a tree as we walked by. She said to my wife (who's very particular about her hair), "I used to have hair like that." Later, the jester (bless 'em all) slowly approached my 6-7 year old nephew, crouched down to his level and cautiously reached out a hand towards him. The jester then paused, looked up at his mom and asked "Does it bite?" ~:joker: I overheard a couple of actors standing between two food stands like they were on break, but they never broke out of character. It was amazing.

GeneralHankerchief

06-02-2007, 01:56

Here's another goody: Tiki Murph.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/tiki1.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/tiki2.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/tiki3.jpg

The pictures don't really do it justice (they were taken from a website), so imagine this: You've been driving down a road for an hour, seeing nothing but more road in front of you and trees on the sides. Suddenly, a series of signs pass by: "Honk" "If" "You" "Love" "TIKI" and about a minute later this outside market selling the most random things known to man comes into view. You know that your destination (Long Beach Island) is not far.

The actors are great. The time we went to the Pennsylvania Ren Faire, one of the "mud women" was sitting in a tree as we walked by. She said to my wife (who's very particular about her hair), "I used to have hair like that." Later, the jester (bless 'em all) slowly approached my 6-7 year old nephew, crouched down to his level and cautiously reached out a hand towards him. The jester then paused, looked up at his mom and asked "Does it bite?" :joker: I overheard a couple of actors standing between two food stands like they were on break, but they never broke out of character. It was amazing.

Ha, the mud woman's probably Ploppy. She's the best of 'em. :yes:

I remember my first time to the Faire, on a school trip, my friend and I got into this engaging conversation with one of the traveling minstrels who was flawless with staying in character. Every single time that we accidentally mentioned anything that was technicologically unavailable during the time period he would ask us to explain ourselves and the conversation would derail horribly. :laugh4:

Crazed Rabbit

06-02-2007, 04:50

Renn fairs must be more popular on the east coast - or outside of Washington.
Here, we don't really have them - but we do have Scottish highland games with lots and lots of bagpipes and tap dancing and fun.

I remember one small shed near a road by my house, painted in Gary Larsen style. The three sides visible form the road were painted - the first, perpendicular to the road, showed cows standing and talking and one shouting 'car!;, the second showed them grazing normally, the third showed them talking again.

The shed was by a cattle farm, owned by relatives of Mr. Larsen, I believe. Alas, it's been painted over with the logo of a state college.

If you travel the far reaches of Washington state, you may come upon a huge barn in the middle of endless fields. This barn is hundreds of feet long and made of metal, and on the side are the words 'GO COUGS', in reference to a state university mascot. These letters are huge - twenty feet tall at least, and visible a mile or more away.

Oh, and who could forget the Toe Trucks of Seattle?
https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2037/2002175644jy9.jpg

A Seattle Classic.

Europeans don't live in their cars. I don't have one. I don't even have a driver's licence. Don't need it.

Wha....? Here, you have a driver's license. There's no two ways around it. Truly, you Europeans are an odd people.

And there are laws that prevent you from building twenty wigwams or giant pineapples.

Aww. :embarassed: That's too bad.

Crazed Rabbit

drone

06-04-2007, 15:55

The Grandaddy of all roadside attractions/tourist traps:
South of the Border (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_the_Border_%28attraction%29)

https://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4126/401pxsouthofthebordersish6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Located on Interstate 95 just as you cross into South Carolina from North Carolina. Created with the best capitalist intentions in mind, allowing North Carolinians to cross the border for booze (the adjacent county in NCar was dry a while ago) and fireworks, which are still illegal in "the North".