Check Out These Roadside Attractions on Your Next Road Trip
Half the fun of a road trip is stopping at quirky roadside attractions along the way. And although you’ll probably not find these fun and funky stops splattered across the pages of high end travel magazines, they are all great spots to stretch you legs and take in the local color. Even better – they’re all wheelchair accessible.
Salvation Mountain
Niland, California
salvationmountain.us
Although this Southern California artistic creation is located about 35 miles off Interstate 8, it’s definitely worth the detour. Just take exit 118 B, east of El Centro, and follow Highway 111 north. When you hit Niland, make a right on Main Street. Soon you’ll pass the city dump, and the makeshift community of Slab City, before you spot Salvation Mountain on the right.
This colorful masterpiece was crafted by Leonard Knight, who sadly passed away in 2011. His vision was to create a piece that reflected God’s love; and the 100-foot wide concrete mountain colorfully announces that belief to all who visit. And even though Leonard is gone, his predecessor Ken keeps watch over Salvation Mountain, and lovingly touches up the fading paint as he chats with inquisitive visitors.
There’s no striped parking at the site, but there’s plenty of room to parallel park an adapted vehicle in the dirt parking lot. Although there are steps up to the top of the mountain, you can get an excellent view of the entire piece from below. Plus there’s plenty of room to roll around the companion pieces, including the Jesus scooter, the God is Love truck and the Acts 2:38 station wagon (complete with cat food on the hood), which are parked in front of the mountain. There’s also level access to a small cave on the right, which includes more colorful messages about God’s love and contains everything from tires, hay bales and tree branches, to an odd collection of prayer cards, and even a trophy. The pathway may be a bit bumpy for wheelchair-users, but it’s certainly manageable for most slow walkers.
In the end, everyone can take something away from a visit to Salvation Mountain.
Navajo Bridge
Marble Canyon, Arizona
www.nps.gov/glca/learn/historyculture/navajobridge.htm
Located along Highway 89A near Mile Post 538, Navajo Bridge is a must-stop on the way to Grand Canyon North. This Northern Arizona landmark is easy to spot, as the historic bridge parallels the current model along the main road. There’s accessible parking near the old bridge — which was replaced with the current incarnation in 1995 — and level access to the accessible restrooms, visitor center and gift shop. There’s also an accessible picnic table in the shaded picnic area near the historic bridge. Access is excellent at this roadside stop, and it’s easy to roll across the 834-foot bridge which was constructed in 1928. And although bridge buffs will love this site, it also offers an impressive view of the canyon with the Colorado River below. The far side of the bridge is located on Navajo land, and it features a few trinket stands.
Welcome to Roswell Mural
Roswell, New Mexico
If a trip to the unofficial UFO capital of the world is on your travel itinerary, then be sure and stop at the creative Welcome to Roswell mural just outside town. You’ll find the masterpiece on the east side of Highway 285, about six miles south of the city. Unveiled in 2013, the mural is easy to miss, due to artist John Cerney’s technique. Described as “giant cut-out art”, Cerney’s Rockwell-like highway murals are designed to blend into the existing landscape and catch passing motorists off guard. And the Roswell installation is no exception.
There’s no official parking lot for the mural, but there’s a wide level dirt area where you can stop and have a good look at the piece. And if you’d like a photo op with it — and who wouldn’t — there’s also a level dirt path over to the mural.
The mural itself depicts an alien spacecraft with a few green beings in front of it, who are being offered a pie by a local woman. The aliens seems put-off by the culinary creation, and one of them appears to be holding ET of movie fame in his arms. Back on the ship, the navigator is reading a map with Roswell prominently marked, which also includes a “photo” of two figures that eerily resemble The X-Files Scully and Mulder. And over on the other side, a rancher is receiving roadside assistance for his broken down California truck from yet another alien. There’s a lot going on in the mural, so take some time and look for the “little things”. And again, it does blend in to the landscape, so keep an eye out for it as you approach town.
A required stop for any Roswell visit!
Paisano Pete
Fort Stockton, Texas
Although he’s no longer the-record-holding “largest roadrunner”, Paisano Pete is still dearly loved by the locals in this gateway town to Texas Hill Country. Built in 1979, old Pete measures in at an impressive 22 feet long and 11 feet tall. He’s located on the corner of Main Street and Dickinson, and unlike many other large statues, he’s kept up by the locals. The even dress him up for Christmas. There’s no official parking area, but there’s a large level dirt lot next to Pete that serves the purpose. And if you’d like to get a closer look at the bird, there’s curb-cut access up to the nice mini-park that surrounds him.
Billy Tripp’s Mindfield
Brownsville, Tennessee
This local artist’s ongoing creation is just a short jog off of Interstate 40, about midway between Nashville and Memphis. If you take exit 66 and follow Highway 70 for about eight miles, you’ll find yourself cruising down Brownsville’s main drag, just minutes away from the installation. Best bet is to enter the Food Giant address — 352 W. Main Street — in your GPS, as there’s plenty of accessible parking in that lot, and level access over to viewing points in the front and back of the adjacent Rent-A-Center.
Started in 1989 with some salvaged metal, this burgeoning sculpture represents Mr. Tripp’s emotional and personal growth over the years. Although the work can be seen from afar, as it towers over the nearby businesses, take some time to discover some of the everyday objects that are intricately woven into the piece. From a basketball hoop and a claw foot bathtub, to a canoe and several grain hoppers, it’s clear that just about anything is fair game for inclusion.
On a personal level, a prominently displayed plaque honors Tripp’s mom and dad; however the installation is not without political commentary. For example, one piece states that although the artist supports LBQT rights, he also “likes girls”. Take some time to look for other messages hidden in the framework. And don’t miss the water tower, which was transported to the site from a defunct Kentucky factory, and is said to stand as a memorial to the artist’s parents.
Old Hardhide
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
If you need to stretch your legs on the way to the Big Easy, then hop off Interstate 12 and have a look at Old Hardhide, a live alligator that serves as the town’s mascot and lives in a nice enclosure near the historic train depot. It’s also a pleasant little drive through the country.
To find the gator, take exit 42, and head south for about two miles to Highway 22 (it’s marked with a sign “to Highway 55”). Turn right on Highway 22 and travel a little over a mile to downtown Ponchatoula. Turn right on Southeast Railroad Avenue (the street before the traffic light) and park in one of the accessible parking spaces along the road. From there, it’s a level roll over to Old Hardhide’s enclosure. There’s also accessible parking along Northeast Railroad Avenue (the traffic light), but the pathway over the railroad tracks is a bit bumpy, and some wheelchair-users will require assistance.
Old Hardhide was adopted as the city’s ambassador back in 1973, when gators were endangered. Since there, there have been a number of Old Hardhides, as the original was laid to rest with a lavish funeral in 1985. Still the current incarnation is large and quite visible, except for hot afternoons when he retreats to the back of the enclosure.
As an added bonus, there’s also ramp access up to the adjacent 1854 train depot, which has an old caboose and a mail car on display on the right side. It’s a fun stop in a small Louisiana town. And if you’d fancy a bite to eat, some of the nearby restaurants also offer level access.
Lee’s Chicken Restaurant
Lincoln, Nebraska
leeschickenlincoln.com
Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, Lee’s Restaurant first opened in 1945 as a twelve-seat beer joint. Apparently one of the regulars got a hankering for fried chicken, so Alice Lee went out back, slaughtered one and fried it up. And although they’ve added burgers, sandwiches and even lobster to the menu over the years, people still come for miles for their yummy fried chicken. No matter when you go, you’ll find the place filled with locals — a sure sign you’ve made the right dining choice. To add to the quaint atmosphere. there’s even a piano player who takes requests. There’s ramp access to the entrance, but no accessible restrooms inside. Still it’s a fun place to dine. Just take exit 397 off Highway 77, drive two miles west and look for the big chicken. You can’t miss it!
