I love Roadside America attractions. I figured it would be nice to have a thread devoted to them.

I'll start the ball rolling by bringing up one of the most unique Roadside America attractions.

Webb City in St. Petersburg, Florida, was like no other drug store. It opened in 1925 and no longer exists. But in it's day it used just about every trick in the book to get people to go there. They had a talking mermaid, a real mummy, dancing chickens and all sort of other things.

The place was huge. It stood about four stories tall, and that was just the drug store. Through the years they added a lot of other stores. I remeber visiting it when I was very young.

The place was created by a clever business man named Doc Webb. Webb City was known throughout the country. It billed itself as "The World's Most Unusual Drug Store." It grew to be a large campust that had 77 different stores.

In the 1950's, as many as 60,000 people a day would visit it. Sadly, it closed in the late 70's.

I believe Casa de Fruta fits this thread. It's not just a fruit stand. They also have Casa de Gifts, Casa de Coffee, Casa de Wine, Casa de Train (mini train that you supposedly can ride, and yet, I've never seen it), Casa de Wine, and Casa de Buffalo (I really don't know what that sign is advertising). If that's not enough, there's also Casa de RV Park and Casa de Motel. And how could I forget the Casa de Candy? I'm pretty sure there used to be a sign that said "Casa de Gas," which is no longer there. We always joke about stopping there to stop our car in the "Casa de Parking Lot" and to use the "Casa de Restrooms."

The diner there (Casa de Coffee) is supposed to be the home of the World Famous Cup Flipper. I think he (or she) may be retired, as I have never seen him (or her).

Ok, how about the biggest ball of twine in minesota? (If you can get that I recomend ECT) Well I have been to many a old west town in Ca and Az (I don't know why) but I think one (in Az) was called Jerome, they shot fire in the sky there, had great chery cider. Oh and also Slip/slide rock park was interesting to look at, didn't want to go sliding on some scaline rock.:D

It would be very irresponsible of me not to mention the Aligator farms throughout Florida. Has anyone here ever been to one?

They are very unusual, yet charming. Some of them even try to teach the aligators to do tricks. These places represent old Roadside Florida.

Even though it counts as a national park or historical landmark or something like that. Hearst castle is a great thing to visit, but not a whole lot of stuff to do arround there (outside of ploting to rob the castle. :D )

The Grand Canyon Caverns on old route 66 between the grand canyon and Laughlin. They claim that there are air pockets that connect the caverns to the grand canyon. That's why they can legitimately use the name they do. You wonder, since the place is a few hundred miles out in the middle of NOWHERE.

Well it's not like anyone would care too much since I doubt the grand canyon is a copyrighted thing.:D

Hmmmm... anyone ever hear of the corn palace? It's covered in corn!:D

Originally posted by Nigel2
Well it's not like anyone would care too much since I doubt the grand canyon is a copyrighted thing.:D

Hmmmm... anyone ever hear of the corn palace? It's covered in corn!:D

That sounds great. I love silly stuff like that. How big is it?

South of the Border - on rt 95 on the border of North and South Carolina. It is the cheesiest roadside attraction.So Cheesy it is cool!

I'd say the Worlds Tallest Thermometor In Baker counts as Roadside America! ;)

A great place is the actual Roadside America web site http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

Pretty interesting, and good for trip planning. :)

Thomas

Thanks for that link. I've been looking for some explanation of that "Metaphor" tree in the Salt Flats for something like eight years now. See it here (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/UTWENmetaphor.html).

The Black Hills of South Dakota should be the Roadside Attraction capital of America. Caverns, trains, animal parks, a Flintstones theme park, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, some old western towns, presidential summer homes... it is a kitsch lover's dream.

Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. :)

Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. Also, the Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton, which goes down to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Bonfante Gardens Theme Park (wonderful!) in Gilroy has rescued several of the old Circus Trees that used to be a roadside attraction in Scotts Valley.

Somebody already mentioned Casa de Fruta... we love the playground and miniature train ride.

Originally posted by Matterhorn Fan
I believe Casa de Fruta fits this thread. It's not just a fruit stand. They also have Casa de Gifts, Casa de Coffee, Casa de Wine, Casa de Train (mini train that you supposedly can ride, and yet, I've never seen it),
I think I've seen it running once. They store it in the tunnel behind the restrooms when it's not in use. Just peek in there for a good look at it.

Casa de Wine, and Casa de Buffalo (I really don't know what that sign is advertising).
I believe it's for the petting zoo type thing they have there.

For those who don't know, Casa De Fruta is located off of the 152 here in California, wedged up in the mountains between Los Baņos and Gilroy (as if that means anything to you out-of-staters). It's the ultimate restroom stop for anyone heading from the San Joaquin Valley to Santa Cruz, San Jose or other Central Californian coast attractions.

You used to have to stop in front of Casa de Fruta before continuing on along the highway, but a few years back they added a big freeway bypass that allows you to go right through without stopping. I still do, though, because Casa de Fruta has the only restrooms for miles around.

Mammoth Orange, located just north of Madera along the good ol' highway 99 is probably one of my favorite roadside attractions. Though I've never eaten there, it's impossible to miss the orange shaped building (step aside Orange Stinger) with an ordering window cut into the side. Their "mammoth burgers" are supposedly legendary. When I used to live in Modesto, I'd come down to visit grandpa and grandma in Madera every now and then, and I'll always remember the smaller, satellite Mammoth Orange located south of the main place. Whenever I saw that orange shaped building, I knew we had reached the turnoff and the long journey had ended. Unfortunately, the satellite restaurant closed quite a few years ago, leaving the main building alone.

It looks like the future of Mammoth Orange may be in jeopardy. Check out this article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/04/12/BA167063.DTL) for details. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful little place before it closes forever.

Nooo! They can't take away Mammoth Orange! That's a classic! (Never mind the fact that I've never stopped there.)

Actually, I was under the impression that Mammoth Orange had been closed for quite some time. The other day I noticed people--real people--sitting at the picnic tables there.

A fresh coat of paint would help that place out immensely. It looks abandoned.

Casa de Fruta a restroom stop??? Oh, I would put it several notches above that. My goodness! That place has the best chocolate covered fruits and nuts anywhere, a variety of food gift items, fresh produce, a classic American restaurant, a playground.. I don't think we have ever spent less than 30 minutes there. The train ride is sweet. If you have little kids, this is the place to let them run off energy. :D

I forgot to mention the Brookdale Lodge. We got married there... terrific old place, even if it is haunted. :eek:

Originally posted by Imhere
South of the Border - on rt 95 on the border of North and South Carolina. It is the cheesiest roadside attraction.So Cheesy it is cool!

I always wanted to go to South of the Border, but whenever we were on a roadtrip my dad wouldn't stop. He thought that it looked like a cheesy tourist trap. Of course it is, that's why we always wanted to go to it.:D

There was a special yesterday on the Travel chaenel for roadside attraction in Orlando, like spook hill, the sinkhole and some famous natural place.:D

Spook Hill is located in Lake Wales, Florida. It's on a road. You stop your car and put it in neutral. Then your car seems to be mysteriously pulled up the hill. Pretty scary, huh.

(Going off what the show stated)
But the odd thing is that there are no magnetic deposits, nor it is an opitcal illusion (they used a level and it was going uphill) and there is no explanation for it. I wonder if they have the same "effect" where if you put powder on your car (front bumper) there will be "little handprints" all over it.:)

Oh, now I really want to go to Florida to try out that hill. (Along with other obvious reasons.)

I always loved a store called Fireworks. It was for tourists. I think it was in New Mexico, Texas, or Oklahoma. However, I don't know that it would classify as an attraction.

I have also always been a fan of what you can see of the Indian reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Once we stopped at night when I was about 4. I remember seeing some sort of ritual involving a huge fire and headresses. I asked my Grandmother about it the other day, she said it happened. But that probably doesn't classify as an attraction either. I still stop every time though.

Man, I need to go to Florida!

Originally posted by HTHBellcaptain


That sounds great. I love silly stuff like that. How big is it?

If you are talking about the corn palace I can't give a definate size on it, just think of a giant building covered in dry ears of corn (they replace them every year). I think it is a museum about corn and things related to corn.:D

That sounds really cool. Bizare, but really cool.

There is a place in my home town of Tarpon Springs, Florida called Sponge-a-rama. It's a museum of sorts dedicated to the sponge diving industry.

Ah, well you could always travel into the desert and go see them mine for borax (I think there is a museum as well):D

Originally posted by Nigel2
Ah, well you could always travel into the desert and go see them mine for borax (I think there is a museum as well):D

Ahh, Boron, CA! :)

Just Take 395 to Kramer Junction, then turn west, then follow the signs!