Drawn the Road Again

Category: Roadside Attractions

  • Duck dining

    Duck dining

    A “duck” is kind of the architectural version of “you are what you eat”—at least in this case. Hey, if you’re looking for good roadside food, it’s hard to go wrong with a place that gets a blue ribbon in the atmosphere department.

  • Just slightly corny

    Just slightly corny

    Every time I see something like this, I have to wonder why there are still plain, non-food-shaped watertowers in the world. I mean, come on!

  • Paul’s flaxen frére

    Paul’s flaxen frére

    Oh, you didn’t know Paul Bunyan had a brother (from another mother)? Well, neither did I. But thankfully my proud K State alumni friends, who know the “Little Apple” better than anyone, set the record straight for me. I give you Johnny Kaw—the frontier’s biggest pioneer. Let Paul handle the trees up nort’—Johnny’s got his…

  • And a hat, to boot

    And a hat, to boot

    For every alive-and-well Paul Bunyan statue out there, there’s a roadside attraction that’s gone to seed—or given up the ghost entirely. And since you don’t see a lot of vintage kitsch in museums or public trusts, these landmarks are too easily overlooked by community restoration projects. Not so in Seattle, my friends. The Hat-n-Boots have…

  • Tourist (lobster) trap

    Tourist (lobster) trap

    No trip to the Maritimes is complete without a good lobster meal (or two, or three…). And a pound of fresh lobster looks mighty impressive on a plate—good drawing and good eating. Now, a fifteen-foot, fifty-ton roadside lobster statue? That’s something I could sink my teeth into.

  • Bottled up

    Bottled up

    You know how much I love kitschy restaurants and giant statues of random objects—so you can imagine how happy I am whenever the two are combined into one. And when said eatery serves up a mean huckleberry shake to boot—you can bet I’ll be a fan for life.

  • Exit, pursued by a bear

    Exit, pursued by a bear

    Speaking of bears, the great state of Montana must have a lot of them… …since they get their own highway exit and all.

  • U.F. Uh-Oh

    U.F. Uh-Oh

    When the Tailor and I drove to Texas last year, we planned our return route around my decades-long desire to visit Roswell, NM. I was so excited to see what kind of alien-themed kitsch would be waiting for me that I banned myself from looking online to see exactly what was there. I just didn’t…

  • Babe-y blue

    Babe-y blue

    There are a lot of Paul Bunyan statues out there (and I’ve sketched a bunch of them, as you’ll see in the coming months), but I honestly think there are none finer than the magnificent Paul and Babe way up nort’ in Bemidji, Minnesota. In fact, I may go so far as to say these…

  • Chicken Little

    Chicken Little

    Of all the “world’s largest” giant fiberglass animals out there, this isn’t exactly one people make cross-country pilgrimages to see. Yet for some reason, it’s one of my all-time favorites. Actually, I think it’s because with the help of the surrounding landscape, this chicken would make for one hilarious monster B-movie. If only Ed Wood…