Roadside attraction

The modern tourist-oriented highway attraction originated as a U.S. and Canadian phenomenon in the 1940s to 1960s,[1] and subsequently caught on in Australia.

[4][5] Many of the buildings were attractions in themselves in the form of novelty architecture, depicting everyday objects of enormous size, typically relating to the items sold there.

[6] Some other types of roadside attractions include monuments and fictionalized-paranormal/illusionary amusements such as the Mystery Spot near Santa Cruz, California,[7] or curiosities such as The Thing?

[12] Examples include Big Tom, a 22-foot-tall turkey in Frazee, MN; a collection of giant items including a wind chime, mailbox, golf tee, and pitchfork, in Casey, IL; and a giant sugar beet in Halstad, MN.

[12] Other Minnesota supersized attractions include a giant loon, otter, prairie chicken, crow, pelican, and three Paul Bunyans.