When you’re on holiday, museums and art galleries have their place. It’s just that sometimes that place is far, far away. Because every once in a while you just want to see weird, fun, kitschy stuff and not have to think too much. It’s what tourists are supposed to do, after all; drive somewhere, get out of the car, look at things, and then go away again. After the stress of work and day-to-day life, you deserve to drive through beautiful countryside, stopping occasionally to look at a giant head, or Fred Flintstone’s imaginary house. Welcome to the wacky world of weird roadside attractions in Arizona.
When old Route 66 was mothballed and bypassed (by the I-40 highway in Arizona), towns that once thrived had to innovate or die. And by golly, innovate they did. Tacky, quirky or just plain weird, there’s a roadside attraction out there for every taste:
The Giant Skull
Longhorn Bar & Grill (Amado) – The gimmick here is the giant, fake steer skull (with antlers), that forms the entrance to a restaurant, so you can combine slight weirdness with a nice lunch. This attraction will appeal to children because the giant skull is sufficiently striking and realistic looking to inspire all sorts of gruesome imaginings.
Stewart’s Petrified Wood (Holbrook) – When you spy the life-size animatronic dinosaurs outside the shop, you’ll know you’re in the right place. You can buy petrified wood souvenirs (fossilized trees), while simultaneously admiring the authenticity of the mannequin body parts clutched in the dinosaurs’ rapacious jaws. There’s also an ostrich farm on the premises and you’re encouraged to feed the birds. This attraction could very well be kid heaven: fossils, man-eating dinosaurs and giant birds. What more could you ask for?
Location: I-40 exit 303. Situated 13 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona.
The Giant Head
Giganticus Headicus (Kingman) – That’s “Gigantic Head”, for those of you who don’t speak fake Latin. A creation of artist Gregg Arnold, the giant green head is a 14-foot high Easter Island wannabe made of stucco, wood and metal. It adorns the entrance to the Kozy Korner trailer and RV park, so you can overnight with the Giganticus, should you feel the urge.
Location: Kingman, AZ at the junction of Route 66 and Antares Road.
Fred & Wilma’s House
Flintstone’s Bedrock City (Valle) – Where else in Arizona (or the world, for that matter) can you slide down a brontosaur’s tail just like Fred did in “The Flintstones”? Bedrock City offers a kiddie train that travels through a volcano, a cinema showing cartoons, and colorful replicas of Fred and Barney’s houses. There’s nothing very high tech about Bedrock City, but that’s part of the charm. The site is also a campground, so you can stay overnight and try Fred’s Diner for breakfast (where they serve brontoburgers and a 5 cent cup of coffee).
Location: Halfway between the Grand Canyon and Williams, Arizona at the junction of AZ 64 and US 180 in Valle, AZ.
Burros and Gunslingers
Oatman, Arizona is a ghost town with a population of about 200. It’s located on the now defunct and by-passed Route 66, but has survived the loss of highway through-traffic by emphasizing its Wild West street cred. Gunslingers from two rival gangs stage shoot-outs several times a day and wild burros roam the streets. It’s how the Wild West probably was; slightly dusty and disheveled with intermittent bursts of violence.
Location: From the I-40 take exit 44, and then follow the signs for Oatman, distance 23 miles.
Once you experience your first Arizona roadside attraction, you’ll be a devotee. And they’re all over the place. Keep your eyes peeled for signs pointing you to the two-headed stuffed lamb, the meteor crater, the space-age diner, the rock food, the giant teepee, and the world’s largest rosebush. Failing that, just look for signs that say “World’s Biggest [Insert Attraction Here]”. You can visit the art galleries and museums on your next holiday.
