There’s something about a kitschy display at the side of the road that is strangely alluring. Some bizarre sights entice you to make an off-route detour just to check them out. It’s a badge of honor to capture a low-brow photo for posterity. The tackier the better. The good ol’ US of A is full of these kinds of kooky diversions that help break up a monotonous journey in the car. Here are 13 of the wackiest roadside attractions in America you should pull over for and say “cheese”.
1. Get your Kicks at the Haines Shoe House
If you’re driving along the Lincoln Highway near Hallam, Pennsylvania, step on the breaks at the Haines Shoe House. It was built by a shoe salesman back in 1948 as an advertising gimmick. It’s actually a functional five story house in the shape of a work boot, complete with a shoe dog house at back. The kitchen is in the heel, the living room is at the toe, two bedrooms are up the ankle and an ice cream shop is at the instep. At one point it was open for overnight stays, for those who have Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe fantasies. Today it’s just an odd roadside attraction you can poke around in to impress the folks back home.
