The 1970s were a heyday for roadside attractions, with quirky stops along America’s highways luring travelers eager to stretch their legs or snap a photo. These attractions were often a mix of kitschy charm and unsettling oddities, blending over-the-top Americana with an almost eerie quality. While some became fondly remembered icons, others felt like something out of a fever dream—or a low-budget horror movie. Let’s revisit 12 roadside attractions from the ’70s that captured the imagination with their peculiar, sometimes creepy vibe.
1. The Mystery Spot – Santa Cruz, California
The Mystery Spot claimed to defy the laws of physics, drawing tourists to its tilted shack in the redwoods. Visitors marveled at balls rolling uphill, people appearing to grow or shrink, and a general feeling of disorientation. While the attraction marketed itself as a gravitational anomaly, skeptics dismissed it as clever optical illusions.
What made it creepy was the way it played with your senses, leaving you wondering if something supernatural was at work. The surrounding forest only added to the otherworldly vibe. Decades later, it’s still a popular stop, though its 1970s heyday had a uniquely surreal charm that’s hard to replicate today.
2. Gatorland – Orlando, Florida
Before theme parks dominated Florida, Gatorland was the place to be for an offbeat adventure. Dubbed the “Alligator Capital of the World,” it featured hundreds of gators lounging, snapping, and occasionally performing tricks. Visitors could walk a precarious boardwalk over pools teeming with reptiles and even witness gator-wrestling shows.
The unsettling part? Being so close to these prehistoric-looking creatures without modern safety measures. Add in the swampy setting and the slightly worn-down charm of the ’70s, and Gatorland had an undeniable creepy factor. Today, it’s more polished, but those who visited in its earlier years remember it as equal parts thrilling and unnerving.
3. The Thing – Arizona
“The Thing” was a mysterious roadside attraction advertised with a barrage of billboards along I-10 in Arizona. The buildup was intense, but the payoff? Visitors who paid the small admission fee found a dusty museum with oddities like old cars, bizarre sculptures, and the titular “Thing”—a mummified figure of questionable authenticity.
The whole experience felt like stepping into a Twilight Zone episode. Was it a real artifact? A hoax? The eerie vibe and the dimly lit exhibit space only heightened the mystery. While its true origins remain dubious, “The Thing” became an unforgettable piece of roadside Americana.
4. Casa Bonita – Lakewood, Colorado
Casa Bonita wasn’t just a Mexican restaurant—it was a sprawling entertainment complex featuring cliff divers, puppet shows, and an indoor waterfall. Its quirky design, with winding caves and themed rooms, made it feel like a cross between a funhouse and a fever dream. But while it charmed diners, it also had an unmistakable creepiness.
The dim lighting and echoing sounds added to the uncanny vibe, as did the sometimes over-the-top performances. Whether you loved it or found it unsettling, Casa Bonita was a must-see roadside stop for ’70s travelers in Colorado.
5. Foamhenge – Various Locations
Foamhenge was a Styrofoam replica of England’s famous Stonehenge, often popping up in unexpected places across the U.S. in the ’70s. While it was meant to be humorous, there was something undeniably eerie about these faux stones looming on the horizon, especially if you stumbled upon them by accident.
Their lightweight, weathered appearance made them seem like relics from another world—or a forgotten sci-fi set. Though often dismissed as a kitschy roadside gag, Foamhenge had a creepiness that lingered long after the novelty wore off.
6. The Enchanted Forest – Turner, Oregon
The Enchanted Forest was a fairy-tale-themed park that blended whimsy with an eerie edge. Its dark, twisting paths led visitors past oversized storybook characters and sculptures, many of which looked more menacing than magical. A walk through the Alice in Wonderland maze could feel like stepping into a surreal dream—or a nightmare.
The attraction’s handmade quality gave it a raw charm but also added to the unsettling vibe. In the ’70s, it was a beloved roadside stop for families, but its creepy undertones made it unforgettable for kids and adults alike.
7. World’s Largest Ball of Twine – Cawker City, Kansas
The World’s Largest Ball of Twine was a quintessential roadside oddity, celebrated for its sheer absurdity. While the idea of a massive twine ball might seem harmless, there was something strangely ominous about its looming presence. The twine’s worn, weathered texture and the sheer pointlessness of its existence gave it an unsettling aura.
Visitors couldn’t help but wonder about the person who devoted their life to creating such a bizarre monument. Was it dedication—or madness? Either way, this quirky landmark became a symbol of small-town eccentricity with just a touch of creepiness.
8. South of the Border – Dillon, South Carolina
South of the Border was a garish, sprawling roadside complex that blended Mexican-themed kitsch with carnival-style attractions. Giant sombreros, neon signs, and cartoonish statues of “Pedro” the mascot created a surreal, over-the-top aesthetic. While it aimed to be fun, its deserted corners and faded charm often felt eerie.
At night, the brightly lit signs against the dark highway added a ghostly vibe, as if the place had sprung up out of nowhere. South of the Border remains a quirky stop, but in the ’70s, its combination of whimsy and eeriness was unforgettable.
9. Reptile Gardens – Rapid City, South Dakota
Reptile Gardens boasted an impressive collection of snakes, lizards, and other slithery creatures. The main draw was the snake shows, where handlers would perform daring tricks with venomous reptiles. While fascinating, there was always a sense of danger hanging in the air.
The dimly lit enclosures and the occasional escaped critter added to the unsettling atmosphere. Visitors in the ’70s often left with a mix of awe and unease, making Reptile Gardens a memorable—if slightly creepy—roadside attraction.
10. The Dinosaur Park – Rapid City, South Dakota
The Dinosaur Park featured massive, brightly colored dinosaur sculptures perched on a hill overlooking the city. While it was meant to be educational, the oversized, cartoonish dinosaurs felt more surreal than scientific. Their painted-on expressions and slightly deteriorated condition in the ’70s gave the park a creepy vibe, especially after dark.
Kids loved climbing on the dinosaurs, but the looming figures and quiet setting could feel eerie, especially on an overcast day. Today, it’s a nostalgic throwback, but for ’70s travelers, it was both quirky and unsettling.
11. The House on the Rock – Spring Green, Wisconsin
The House on the Rock was a sprawling architectural oddity filled with bizarre collections, from doll displays to the world’s largest indoor carousel. Its dark, maze-like corridors and eclectic exhibits made it feel like stepping into another dimension. Visitors marveled at the sheer strangeness but couldn’t shake the eerie vibe.
In the ’70s, its dim lighting and overwhelming clutter added to the mystery. The attraction remains a fascinating roadside stop, but its quirky-meets-creepy charm was at its peak during its early years.
12. The UFO Watchtower – Hooper, Colorado
In the ’70s, UFO mania was in full swing, and the UFO Watchtower capitalized on this fascination. Located in the remote Colorado desert, it offered a platform for spotting extraterrestrial activity and a quirky garden filled with alien-themed sculptures. Visitors loved the novelty, but the isolation and odd decor added an eerie edge.
The Watchtower’s atmosphere made it easy to imagine something otherworldly happening, especially at night. For those who visited, it was a mix of fun and fear, leaving a lasting impression of the era’s fascination with the unknown.
The roadside attractions of the 1970s were a mix of whimsy, wonder, and just a dash of the uncanny. They captured the imagination of travelers and offered a break from the mundane, even if some left you with a chill down your spine. Looking back, these quirky stops remind us of a time when the journey was just as memorable as the destination.
