Category: Roadside Curiosities

Roadside Americana


Jan
2007

Oswald’s Bear Ranch, Newberry, MI

categories: Roadside Curiosities

Located in pretty much the middle of nowhere, Oswald’s Bear Ranch is the largest Bear Only Ranch in the U.S.! There are 30 live roaming bears (on the other side of a big ol’ fences) and you see them lounging about and doing what bears do. Including making the love. See here:

Sorry. Couldn’t resist. This is not something you see everyday! That said, this is only a tiny part of the attraction. There is a true preserve here and it’s pretty neat to see bears sleeping and eating and playing!
My favorite part of the visit were the baby bears. The Oswald’s keep the babies they are feeding and growing in a play area where they seem to have a lot of fun bathing and playing. They are absurdly cute! And the Oswald family walk in the cage and the little bears run up like puppies would do and let the man hold them! It’s crazy!

Anyway, if you make a trip to Michigan’s upper peninsula, Oswald’s Bear Ranch is well worth the trip!


Jan
2007

Big Boy, Rochester Hills, MI

categories: Roadside Curiosities
I consider Big Boy a real slice of American culture. And I don’t care who knows it. It’s about a chain restaurant with kitsch and what could be better than that? I heard a radio show a few years ago that asked callers if they every swiped something big–as a prank–and what happened to the item? At the time, I think huge Spongebob’s or some such character were being stolen from Wendy’s or Burger King. At any rate, one caller said she had a genuine Big Boy in a toolshed in her backyard! Her husband and his friend swiped it in college and then didn’t know what to do with it. So they hid it in the garage! And he moved it under cover of darkness to his toolshed, still unsure what to do with it 10 years later!
At any rate, Big Boy corporate called and offered them amnesty. They could return the Big Boy–no questions asked. The corporate rep noted that making Big Boys was very expensive and that often franchise owners did not want to pay to replace lost Big Boys so the iconic image was on the decline. Sad! I took this picture because we went to Big Boy all the time when I was a kid. And I haven’t seen a real Big Boy statue since I moved from Michigan. This one was near my apartment in Rochester Hills.


Jan
2007

Weinermobile, Henry Ford Museum, Detroit, MI

categories: Roadside Curiosities
At Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, MI there are lots of odd pop culture and roadside-esque attractions. I love the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile so, clearly, this was a fun thing to find at the museum. I’ve seen it tooling about Michigan (or at least I’ve seen one of the weinermobiles) but I’ve never been able to snap a picture before. So I had to score it in captivity. What can you do? It’s still a beauty!
I’m thinking hotdogs for lunch.


Dec
2006

Tire Man, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK!

categories: Roadside Curiosities


Deustch Marque BMW and Mercedes Specialist’s Service Center features a wonderful monster man made of tires! We went out of our way for this one–all the way to Scotland. Somehow we never got around to Loch Ness or its monster! Crazy, right?

I love him. His legs are about five feet tall!


Dec
2006

Christmas, MI

categories: Roadside Curiosities

In honor of the rare winter event, a snow day, an early present:A small town in Northern Michigan is called Christmas! And they are short on the quality souvenirs, in spite of what you see here! At any rate, the town takes its name seriously enough to have an adorable motel and a cute gift shop. They need more ornaments, is all I’m saying!

On the roof of the hotel! It’s Santa and his reindeer!

At the souvenir shop, Mrs. Claus welcomes you!

I LOVE this Santa. He’s such a fun party guy, isn’t he? He’s rockin’!

Nov
2006

Giant Cross, Effingham, IL

categories: Roadside Curiosities

Along I-57 in Effingham, IL is a fantasticly over the top monument to modern Christianity! Towering roughly 200 feet tall, the giant cross is on the edge of the expressway. I wouldn’t make a special trip but on the road between Chicago and Memphis, it’s one of only two sites.

Sadly, I missed my chance to snap a pic of the bizarro Abe Lincoln.

Nov
2006

Sun Studio, Memphis, TN

categories: Roadside Curiosities


Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn. is infamous and amazing! Legends have recorded at Sun Studio since the 1950s. Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, even U2!

The tour itself is not that fascinating unless you are a true devotee of the sound but the pure Rockabilly kitsch value is there for those who are only it for the sights. It’s a pretty great experience either way.


Oct
2006

Cermak Plaza Continued, Berwyn, IL

categories: Roadside Curiosities
Cars

on a

SPIKE!

Cars on a spike! The focal point of Cermak Plaza’s public art exhibit is The Spindle by Dustin Shuler, 1989. It’s spectacular. It makes me happy every time I drive past it. Sadly, it was overcast the day I took the photo. But I’ll be back to check this one out again! LOVE IT.


Oct
2006

Cermak Plaza, Berwyn, IL

categories: Roadside Curiosities

The Cermak Plaza is located on the corner of Cermak and Harlem in Berwyn, Ill. It’s just outside Chicago and it feels me with immeasurable joy! The owner of the plaza is a fan of modern art and public art. His bizarre retro plaza is a testament to both of his passions!

This is a beautiful mirrored mosaic called “The Embrace” by Gina Gilmore!

From the back, the light from the store signage reflects off of the mirrors.

A truly unusual windmill? It’s a series of cones–with colors painted inside of them–tilts in the wind and spins. Wish I had a movie of it. They’re quite magical!

It’s called Bee Tree by George Rhoads. I love it!

The real roadside Americana element is up next–Cermak Plaza’s cars on a spike!!