Because there is plenty to see along the interstate if you just keep your eyes open.

As the trees wiz by, going seventy-five miles an hour on the interstate, do we ever stop to think, what is on the other side of those trees?  What is down those roads behind the exit signs?  Well, the phenomena of roadside attractions have been around since roads, perhaps even since cart paths.  So, it is no surprise that the bigger the road – the bigger the attractions and if not bigger, the more abundant.  On the east coast, I-95 is the big daddy of highways, but who would have known that there was so much to see off of I-95’s beaten path.  Come along with me as I lead you down the road less traveled with some of the coolest, silliest and just plain strangest sites that there are to see when you just make a right turn onto a few of the exits of 95 in North Carolina.

Largest Chest of Drawers – High Point, NC

High Point is known as the “furniture capital of the world”, so it only makes sense to have two of the largest pieces of furniture in the world.  Standing two stories tall and built by the chamber of commerce in the 1920’s, this realistic piece of kitsch served as the visitor center for High Point up until 1996.  In 96, the chest was renovated and moved into the lobby of the new visitor’s center and an addition was made – a pair of socks were hung from one of the drawers to illustrate that high point is also the “hosiery capital of the world”.  High point has no shortage of things to represent.  Recently, a new chest of drawers was erected nearby, only this time they built it 80 feet tall and attached it to a furniture store.  But c’mon can we get an 80 foot bed to take an 80 foot nap in, all this giant furniture shopping as tuckered us out.

World’s Largest Ten Commandments – Murphy, NC

If you did have access to satellite photos as they made their pass of North Carolina, you would be able to read the ten commandments from outer space.  Built in 1945, Fields of the Wood is not only famous for its 300 foot tribute to Moses’ “do not do” list.  It also has stones scribed with 29 of the most important teachings of the bible along the 350 step walkway up to the top of the commandment mount.  At the top of the hill stands a towering open bible, known as “The World’s Largest Testament.”  There is also a replica of Jesus’ tomb and a 115 foot cross.  Christian or not, it is a spectacle to check out.

Belhaven Memorial Museum – Bellhaven, NC

Every small town has their eccentrics – some small towns just have their local crazies.  Belhaven was home to an eccentric that was borderline crazy.  There were so many oddities found in the home of Mrs. Eva Blount Way that they dedicated a museum to them.  The museum is a dank house with no air conditioner – hand written descriptions of the exhibits line the glass cases.  The exhibits that decorated the late Mrs. Way domicile include three jars filled with freakish prenatal babies, large pickled tumors – some up to ten pounds, a one-eyed pig, a two-headed cat, some mummified squirrels, a dress worn by a seven-hundred pound woman, ingrown toenails and cataracts but the topper are the fleas dressed up as a bride and groom that can be seen under a magnifying glass.             

Our next adventure takes us even further north as we head into Virginia.

Because there is plenty to see along the interstate if you just keep your eyes open.

As the trees wiz by, going seventy-five miles an hour on the interstate, do we ever stop to think, what is on the other side of those trees?  What is down those roads behind the exit signs?  Well, the phenomena of roadside attractions have been around since roads, perhaps even since cart paths.  So, it is no surprise that the bigger the road – the bigger the attractions and if not bigger, the more abundant. 

On the east coast, I-95 is the big daddy of highways, but who would have known that there was so much to see off of I-95’s beaten path.  Come along with me as I lead you down the road less traveled with some of the coolest, silliest and just plain strangest sites that there are to see when you just make a right turn onto a few of the exits of 95 in the Panhandle of Florida.

The Panhandle is mostly rural communities with more southern hospitality than freaky hotspots, but two cities along Highway 10, on the coast, are pretty eccentric.  So here is a guide to those two cities – make it fun – create your own scavenger hunt or if your going to be in one of these towns, just plot your path to catch a quick peek of each of these pieces of awkward Americana.

Panama City

Just outside of Panama is the little town of Chipley, where a monument stands to commemorate a bleak time in the town’s history – a time during the great depression when the whole town survived off of eating Opossum.  There is a bronze plaque, there is a sense of survival and it has been said that whenever an Opossum is hit by a car, they face the direction of Chipley before they die. 

Down in the heart of Panama City Beach stands a ship on the land.  A restaurant made into a 200 foot replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Spanish Galleon, The Golden Hind.  Patrons to this stately pirate ode are encouraged to slur their speech and talk in pirate slang.

King Neptune is for sale, off of Hwy 98, there is a statue that was originally a Viking but transformed into the Emperor of the sea.  Towering at three stories, this concrete monstrosity’s owners have moved out and left him alone and for sale.  Perfect for any garden or lawn, and your neighbors will love him.     

Pensacola

Right outside of Pensacola is Gulf Breeze, the home of Shoreline Park and the UFO Mecca of the world.  Bring a beach chair, some binoculars and mingle with the locals – they will clue you in on the countless sightings of strange phenomena from aliens in the woods to portals of time to men without faces.  Bring a cooler and make it a night out – literally.

Pensacola also has sites of valid national history.  The scaled-down Vietnam Wall Memorial and Park have everything that the Washington site has with bonuses.  Beautiful grounds host the wall that list all 58,217 names of the fallen and missing soldiers in Southeast Asia.  There is also an actual helicopter used in Vietnam.  Stroll the park and check out the other monuments to WWII and Korean War Veterans.

Also in Pensacola is the National Museum of Naval Aviation.  Here is everything and anything related to Naval Aviation.  An indoor Aircraft Carrier, a replica of a WWII pacific island airbase, an IMAX exhibit that allows you to dogfight and dive bomb, a replica of “The Fatboy” nuclear bomb, a gallery of cockpits where you can sit in a dozen different hot-bird seats.  Perhaps the most impressive exhibit is the actual NC-4 which was the first plane to succeed in a transatlantic flight in 1919.  There is a day’s worth of fun here – so get out of the Florida Sun and enjoy a part of history that is actually exciting.         

Our next adventure takes us North to North Carolina.  Looking for lore, we head into the area of oddities and highlight some of the state’s hidden treasures along the roadside.

Because there is plenty to see along the interstate if you just keep your eyes open.

As the trees wiz by, going seventy-five miles an hour on the interstate, do we ever stop to think, what is on the other side of those trees?  What is down those roads behind the exit signs?  Well, the phenomena of roadside attractions have been around since roads, perhaps even since cart paths.  So, it is no surprise that the bigger the road – the bigger the attractions and if not bigger, the more abundant. 

On the east coast, I-95 is the big daddy of highways, but who would have known that there was so much to see off of I-95’s beaten path.  Come along with me as I lead you down the road less traveled with some of the coolest, silliest and just plain strangest sites that there are to see when you just make a right turn onto a few of the exits of 95 in Southern Florida.

House of Refuge – Stuart, FL

Built in 1876, this was a sanctuary for shipwreck sailors off the Florida coast.  Originally one of ten safe-havens, this is the only one still standing.  Even after being directly in the path of two hurricanes in 2004 and access to the museum being washed away, the structure still stands firm.  Made up to look like the lodgers had just stepped away, they have kept the authenticity alive with original furniture and nostalgic photos.

Solomon’s Castle – Ona, FL

In the heart of the Central Florida Swamp stands an awkward site.  At 12,000 square feet and three stories tall towers a castle built by an artist of unusual tastes.  It is hard to miss this monstrosity with its exterior consisting of aluminum printing plates shining in the Florida sun and its walkways constructed of concrete painted to look like brick.  The castle houses sculptures always made by Solomon which includes a canon made to shoot toilet plungers to ward off invaders.  Outside the castle, there is “the boat in the moat” which is a 60 foot replica of a 16^th Century Portuguese Galleon that Solomon has converted into a restaurant.  This is a site that you can not miss if you are heading south into Florida.

Everglades Wonder Garden – Bonita Springs, FL

If you have to see an alligator farm while you are in Florida, do not fall for the “Good-Looking Sign” Trap.  Many farms have great marketing techniques but there are no teeth to their bite.  They are all show and no tell.  This family owned gator farm has been around since 1936 and it is aged and rustic and just feels dangerous to be inside.  But isn’t that what you came to see – danger – up close and personal.  Founded by the Piper brothers after they retired from bootlegging, the place hasn’t changed in 70 years – from the wildlife exhibits to the creaking bridges that carry you over the gators at feeding time.  Enter at your own risk and enjoy a genuine piece of Americana.

Coral Castle – Homestead, FL

Okay, so it is not really a castle.  It is more like a structure of “WOW!”  You may say what is the big whoop about a compound made of rock.  The big whoop is…this structure was constructed of 2.2 million pounds of Coral Rock by one man.  One man excavated, carved and erected tons and tons of rock without a crane, sculpting tools or even architectural experience.  Around 1930, the super-secretive, aging Latvian immigrant, Ed Leedskavin had his heart broken by his sixteen year old sweetheart, a day before they were to be married.  So as the ultimate act of unrequited love, Ed made some tools out of wrecked cars and went to work building this lumpy work of art.  He worked by lantern light to shroud his techniques from prying eyes.  Taking twenty years to finish his ode to lost love, he died alone in 1951 and the Coral Castle became a tourist attraction in 1953.  To this day no one really knows how this uneducated, undersized man was able to complete this feat that often caused him to somehow move stones weighing as much as nine tons.  This is a rough and rocky love story that has to be felt and seen to be believed.           

Our next adventure takes us even deeper in Florida Lore as we head into the Panhandle with the conclusion of the oddities that the sunshine state has to offer along its roadsides.

Written by Derrick Bracey

Because there is plenty to see along the interstate if you just keep your eyes open.

As the trees wiz by, going seventy-five miles an hour on the interstate, do we ever stop to think, what is on the other side of those trees?  What is down those roads behind the exit signs?  Well, the phenomena of roadside attractions have been around since roads, perhaps even since cart paths.  So, it is no surprise that the bigger the road – the bigger the attractions and if not bigger, the more abundant.  On the east coast, I-95 is the big daddy of highways, but who would have known that there was so much to see off of I-95’s beaten path.  Come along with me as I lead you down the road less traveled with some of the coolest, silliest and just plain strangest sites that there are to see when you just make a right turn onto a few of the exits of 95 in Northern Florida.

Ruins of Bongoland – Port Orange, Fl

Named after Bongo the baboon that lived their when Bongoland was a functioning theme park.  Preceding Disney World, Bongoland was built between 1948 and 1952.  Now, the site has become Sugar Mill Gardens, a botanical garden.  12 acres of lush greenery but the remnants of day’s past still linger.  There are five lichen covered dinosaurs still standing.  Constructed of concrete on wire, the dinosaurs are a real oddity among the present tourist monsters that roam the lands of Florida.

Wat Florida Dhammaram

Located just outside the heart of commercialism, in Orlando, is a real temple and monastery, practicing Theravada Buddhism.  Statues and shrines adorn the facility and the monks welcome you to come and take tours.  You may soak up the culture as you learn from the monks.  You are even invited to attend chanting and meditation sessions.  Just remember to take your shoes off at the door.

Mount Dora Ghost Walk and Marionette Show – Mount Dora, Fl

Okay, what does a jail cell, a ventriloquist, a moonshine still and guys throwing fake bones at one another have in common?  You guessed it!  This tour!  It is possibly as weird as ghost tours get.  Leading you through the life of the deranged Dr. Nutter and his bone saws – you will visit the aforementioned jail cell, a theater, some bars and a hotel.  There are puppets and guys dressed in Victorian clothes, capped off with a bunch of tour guides have an old-fashioned sword fight with some leg bones.  You gotta see this.

Spook Hill – Lake Wales, Fl

There is a legend that involves Native Americans and an alligator and revenge curses and horses running out of breath while walking downhill.  Where whatever the convoluted myth is, the results are the same.  Gravity is defied on fifth street in Lake Wales.  You can put your car in neutral at the base of this legendary hill and something will pull it to the top.  Curse or not, it is amazing.    

Our next adventure takes us even further south as we head into Southern Florida and even more attractions that the sunshine state has to offer.

Written by Derrick Bracey

Because there is plenty to see along the interstate if you just keep your eyes open.

As the trees wiz by, going seventy-five miles an hour on the interstate, do we ever stop to think, what is on the other side of those trees?  What is down those roads behind the exit signs?  Well, the phenomena of roadside attractions have been around since roads, perhaps even since cart paths.  So, it is no surprise that the bigger the road – the bigger the attractions and if not bigger, the more abundant.  On the east coast, I-95 is the big daddy of highways, but who would have known that there was so much to see off of I-95’s beaten path.  Come along with me as I lead you down the road less traveled with some of the coolest, silliest and just plain strangest sites that there are to see when you just make a right turn onto a few of the exits of 95 in South Carolina and Georgia.

UFO Welcome Center – Bowman, SC

Yes, that is right!  A welcome center for the extra-terrestrial.  More like a galvanized fence with the words, “Welcome” spray-painted on the side and a towering re-creation of a space saucer made from aluminum.  It is cheesy and it is picture worthy.

Bee City – Cottageville, SC

Come see what the buzz is about.  It is real working beehives set up to look like a miniature town.  Complete with streets, stores, houses and a church.  Bee City also has a petting zoo for the kids.

Edventure, Eddie the World’s biggest Kid – Columbia, SC

Eddie may not be a real roadside attraction in that he is actually in a museum in Columbia, but he is an oddity all the same.  Eddie is 40 feet high and you are allowed to climb inside Eddie and take a trip through his brain, heart and stomach before sliding out on his intestines.  Where else in the world can you be lunch for a forty foot kid named Ed.

Kingdom of Oyotunji African Village – Sheldon, SC

We shouldn’t even call this one a South Carolina attraction, being that they call themselves a separate country with their own religion.  Founded in 1970, this 27 acre slab of land has statues and sculptures, made of crumbling concrete, paying homage to African Culture.  Tribal drums can be heard into the night, forcing them to move from their original location due to complaining neighbors.  But now, they have a palace, equipped with a courtyard that houses the tombs of some of their deceased founders.  It is a site to see, with its 4×8 plywood sign leading the way into this other world that may just look like the rest of the world with a few decrepit shacks, some people in dashikis and some overgrown, moss covered monuments.  But how are you ever going to discover your country if you don’t step outside of it sometimes.

Join us on our next adventure into the roadside attractions of Georgia in part two of our series.

Written by Derrick Bracey