Roadside America

The “Road Trip” feels like something that is wholly American. I know people in other countries do it (heck, I’ve done it in other countries!), but the image of people piling into a car and hitting the road feels quintessentially American.

Another thing that feels sooo American, is the roadside attraction. As convenient as the “Motorway Service Stations” are in the UK, they take some of the fun out of being on the road. Part of the excitement of a road trip is discovery! Since the invention of the automobile, American businesses, and towns, have been trying to find ways to get people to pause and spend money with them, instead of somewhere else. I also think part of the advent of roadside attractions is the feeling that a road trip is not completely about the destination but also about the journey.

Since this idea basically sums up my entire existence at the moment, taking time (and mileage) to seek out some of these quirky (and free!) sights has become somewhat of a mission of mine. While there will be plenty more, I am going to share a few of my favorite stops that I’ve made along the way during 2021.

Recycled Roadrunner

Location: Le Cruces, New Mexico – off I-10, eastbound rest area at mile 135, southwestern New Mexico

You can see this 40-foot long, 20-foot high sculpture from the highway as it sits perched high on a cliff above the freeway. It’s cool looking from a distance but up close it’s pretty wild as it’s made from junk like shoes, tires, and electronics. The rest stop also gives you an amazing view of the town and the stunning mountain range of the Rio Grande beyond.

Downtown Artesia

Location: Artesia, New Mexico – At the crossroads of highway 85 & 285, southeastern New Mexico

The main street of Artesia is a feast for the eyes and filled with interesting history, mostly through (what they call) “History in Bronze.” From one end of main street to the other there are a series of bronze sculptures which show people and events that shaped the town’s very interesting past.

Three of these sculptures depict a Cattle Drive from the late 1800s. They are amazing in how they seem to have frozen the people and animals mid-action. As I stood next to them I felt as if at any moment they would burst to life.

Further down the road was a statue of Sallie Chisum, a pretty awesome lady who took full advantage of the freedoms given to upper-class women in the American Old West. She’s particularly famous for one particular gentleman caller: Billy the Kid (you know, the Old West outlaw and gunfighter? Yeah, that guy). She apparently also taught at the local school, but that’s not nearly as cool.

Artesia is a rich hub of art, but it’s also just a rich town (it’s high school football stadium is nicer than some colleges’ and can seat 6,500 people – which is over half of the town’s population). The reason for this wealth? Liquid gold, AKA oil. This aspect of Artesia’s history is memorialized near the end of main street in a life-size sculpture of a drilling rig. Interestingly the artist wanted to emphasize the people who worked these rigs and so made them 125% life-size.

I hope to someday visit Artesia post-pandemic, as it feels like there is so much more to see and experience when things are open. However, as a stopping point on a long drive, I couldn’t have asked for a more interesting spot!

Cadillac Ranch

Location: Amarillo, Texas – off I-40, Northwestern Texas

Lined up in a perfect row are 10 burnt-out Cadillacs, covered in multicolored paint. This is a pretty funky piece of public art. It’s located on what used to be Route 66 in the middle of a field, though it’s really easy to access. The cool thing about it is that it’s “interactive.” What I mean is you can bring paint and add your own self-expression to it! While I was there this one woman was putting on a full painter’s suit and looked like she was going to do a mural up high on one of the cars’ hoods. If I ever go back I’m totally going to bring some paint and leave my own mark!

Sinclair Dinosaur

Location: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin – off I-90, central Wisconsin

I think Sinclair dinosaurs are part of most 1990s Midwestern American’s childhood (or if they aren’t, they should have been). If you grew up in a “flyover” state (you know who you are), you probably have climbed on at least one of the green beasts. Located in one of the biggest tourist traps in the Midwest (the self-proclaimed waterpark capital of the world), is what is probably the largest Sinclair Dino (though now it’s at a Citco gas station, go figure). This massive brontosaurus stands at least 40 feet tall and has the goofiest grin on his face (potentially from years of inhaling too many gas fumes). His massive front legs straddle the front door and allow the visitor to get up-close to the gentle giant.

Pink Elephant

Location: DeForest, Wisconsin – off I-90, Southeastern Wisconsin

This statue is a prime example of a gas station trying to stand out! The little station along a main thoroughfare got the life-size pink elephant in the 1960s. “Pinkie,” as he’s been lovingly named, was one of several pink elephants in the area (though, said to be the only one with sunglasses!), but is the only one that remains today. As with all good tourist traps, you can not only take pictures with/of Pinkie, but go into the station and do a little shopping!

Superman

Location: Metropolis, Illinois – a few miles off I-24, on the border of Illinois and Kentucky

With a town called Metropolis, how could they not have a giant statue of Superman in the town square? DC Comic has even authorized it as his adopted home! I got to the town early (and during a pandemic . . .) so I mostly had the place to myself to take absolutely ridiculous pictures with the superhero. If I’d mastered my tripod yet (sometimes I make the simplest things so complicated, you know what I mean?) I could have also pretended to be him or Supergirl (woman?). They even have a museum with the largest collection of Superman memorabilia in the world (according to them). Sitting on the street is also a beautiful classic car that I can only think is a nod to Pixar’s Cars, as that can be the only explanation for the (creepy?) eyes on the windows.

There are hundreds (thousands?) of roadside stops just off the many highways and interstates of America. Some you find by accident, some you seek out. There are websites devoted to cataloging and reviewing them. None are truly amazing, but all are fun and interesting in their own way. If you are focused only on the destination, you’ll miss most of them. Wouldn’t that be a shame? Next time you hit the road, take a few minutes and see what fun stops you can make along the way so that the journey is just as much fun as where you end up! One of the best places to find fun/crazy/wacky/interesting roadside spots is at RoadsideAmerica.com, go check it out!