20 Weird-Ass St. Louis-Area Roadside Attractions You Must Visit

By Riverfront Times Staff on Fri, Aug 10, 2018 at 3:38 pm

St. Louis is weird. Proudly weird. But sometimes something stands out as extra weird. And there are all kinds of crazy, oddball, creepy and record-setting spots to visit in (and near) the Lou. These are the places that make you pull over to go check out. They're also the places that you'll point your car toward one weekend afternoon because you just have to go see them with your own eyes. St. Louis: Come for the toasted raviolis, stay for the weird-ass attractions.

St. Louis is weird. Proudly weird. But sometimes something stands out as extra weird. And there are all kinds of crazy, oddball, creepy and record-setting spots to visit in (and near) the Lou.

These are the places that make you pull over to go check out. They're also the places that you'll point your car toward one weekend afternoon because you just have to go see them with your own eyes.

St. Louis: Come for the toasted raviolis, stay for the weird-ass attractions.

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Museum of Transportation

2933 Barrett Station Rd., St. Louis, MO
If you're looking for planes, trains and automobiles, look to the Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood. It's insane how much cool stuff they have there. You'll like it -- but your kids will love it.

Photo courtesy of hobos_adventures / Flickr

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Giant Vess Soda Bottle

N. 6th St., St. Louis, MO
This bottle has traveled around the St. Louis area for years, finally finding a permanent home right near Interstate 70. You ask why. We ask why not?

Photo courtesy of marykatelasiter / Instagram

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World's Largest Chess Piece

4652 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO
The World Chess Hall of Fame lives right in our own Central West End neighborhood. This world-class attraction is a pilgrimage site for chess addicts, who all stop to take their photo by this, the World's Largest Chess Piece.

Photo courtesy of itsjustclay / Instagram

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World's Largest Catsup Bottle

800 S. Morrison Ave., Collinsville, IL
The World's Largest Catsup Bottle has had many owners, and it has survived through the decades because of their dedication. Check it out just off of I-55 in Collinsville, Illinois.

Photo courtesy of kore_mary / Instagram

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World's Largest Amoco Sign

981 S. Skinker Blvd., Skinker, MO
The Amoco brand hasn't been a real player for a decade, but they still rep the World's Largest Amoco Sign at this BP off Skinker in University City.

Photo courtesy of the_fotographer / Instagram

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Big Pink Elephant

2599 Missouri 141, Fenton, MO
Want to have a weird photo shoot? Stop off the highway in Fenton and pose with the big pink elephant. She'll give your selfies a surreal quality.

Photo courtesy of jenmariesboutique / Instagram

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Black Madonna Shrine and Grottoes

100 St Joseph Hill Rd., Pacific, MO
Built by Brother Bronislaus, a Franciscan friar and native of Poland, this special spot is a replica of the Black Madonna of Cz?stochowa site in his Bronislaus' country of birth

Photo courtesy of midnight_river / Instagram

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Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum

12 Hancock Ave., St. Louis, MO
Explore the history of the telephone and check out the many different telephone designs over the years. This place is calling you to it. (Get it?)

Photo courtesy of scottgoehring / Instagram

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Gateway Geyser

185 W. Trendley Ave, East St Louis, IL
Located in Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park in East St. Louis, the Gateway Geyser shoots water 630 feet, the exact same height of the Arch just across the river. It's the Arch's little brother and it would love for you to visit.

Photo courtesy of herrehrenreich / Instagram

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Rootwad Park

001 O'Fallon St, St. Louis, MO
One of the many creations of the late local genius Bob Cassilly, Rootwad Park is a spot just north of downtown on the Mississippi River where you can hang out, climb the sculptures and catch a nice view of the river.

Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman / Flickr

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The Awakening - Buried Giant

16150 Park Circle, Chesterfield, MO
This sculpture by J. Seward Johnson is supposed to be of a giant crawling out of the ground. It lives right behind Chesterfield Mall and it's huge, weirdly stressful and tons of fun to climb on.

Photo courtesy of jkinzy / Instagram

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Wreckage Of The USS Inaugural

Rutger St., St. Louis, MO
This mine sweeper was a museum ship in St. Louis until the flood of '93, when it was swept downriver. It's now stuck to the side of the river in south city and you can visit it when the water level is low.

Photo courtesy of bigb80 / Instagram

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Whispering Arch

1820 Market St., St. Louis, MO
The Whispering Arch is nuts. Due to some weird acoustical anomaly, if you stand at one side of this arch at Union Station and whisper, your friend standing at the other end of the arch can hear you loud and clear. Crazy.

Photo courtesy of nalgene74 / Instagram

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15-Foot-Tall Bowling Pin

6045 W. Outer Rd., Imperial, MO
Have a bowler in your family? This is the photo opportunity that they've been waiting for! Head down to Imperial Bowl and "strike" a pose.

Photo courtesy of redhindy / Instagram

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Dan's Emerald Forest

8851 Windom Ave., Overland, MO
People who think Overland isn't a beautiful place have never stopped by Dan's Emerald Forest. Landscaper Dan Schmidt has gone all-out in his yard, creating a magical land that seems to change with each season. You'll want to take your time here, so there is a bench installed just for you to hang out on while you gaze with wonder at Dan's art.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Monster Truck

2286 Rose Ln., Pacific, MO
Want to see a real-life monster truck? Sure you do. Drive on down to Pacific to check out this one, then swallow your shame as you climb back into your puny car and drive home, loser.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Terminator Cube

98 N. Brentwood Blvd., Clayton, MO
Sculptor Ernest Trova made this art as a commentary on the faceless drudgery of business life, but everyone we know just calls it the "Terminator Cube" because the liquid-looking silver appears to be straight out of the 1984 movie.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Big Shoe

662 W Main St., Belleville, IL
It's a massive high heel. Get up next to it and feel fancy. Just don't bring Al Bundy here.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Robert Wadlow Statue

2810 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
The tallest person in recorded history, Robert Pershing Wadlow, was from Alton and the Metro East city is proud of its giant native son. Here you can visit a height-accurate statue of ol' Bob and see what 8 feet and 11.1 inches looks like in real live.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame and Museum

100 Bluestem Way, Wentzville, MO
It seems like everything has a museum, and horseshoes are no exception. Visit this nondescript building in Wentzville and meet some people with a true passion for the sport.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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