Embarking on a cross-country road trip with the family? Interested in discovering something new within your own community? Whatever your summer plans may hold, our TDS communities have a lot to offer in terms of roadside entertainment. Take a look at some of the unique attractions along the way.
World’s Largest Pistachio – Alamogordo, New Mexico
The World’s Largest Pistachio stands over 30-feet-tall at McGinn’s PistachioLand in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It was built using over 5 yards of concrete and 35 gallons of paint to create its strangely realistic look. The sculpture was constructed in 2008 and was built as a tribute to Tom McGinn, whose vision was to grow pistachios in the New Mexico desert. Today the farm is still operated by the McGinn family, where they grow pistachios from 12,300 trees as well as package and sell pistachio candy and other pistachio products.
Paisano Pete: Giant Roadrunner – Fort Stockton, Texas
Paisano Pete was built in 1979 and stood as the World’s Largest Roadrunner and town mascot in Fort Stockton, Texas. At 22 feet long and 11 feet tall, he is now the second largest roadrunner behind a New Mexico community. As the bird is a common sight in the area, the fiberglass statue was the mayor’s idea to drive visitors to the community. Fun fact: The statue was purchased from a Wisconsin company and its name was decided by a city-wide contest!
World’s Largest Bicyclist – Sparta, Wisconsin
Dubbed the Bicycling Capital of America, Sparta, Wisconsin is home to the World’s Largest Bicyclist. Known colloquially as Ben Bikin, the fiberglass statue stands 32 feet high atop an 1890s-era Penny Farthing bicycle. It was created by a local company and represents the bike trail where an old, abandoned railroad bed used to be. A speaker box installed inside gives visitors an audio history of Sparta and the statue since its creation in 1995.
Muffler Man – Phoenix, Arizona
The Paul Bunyan Muffler Man towers amid a suburban neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona. Adorning a double-bladed ax and his typical beard and flannel, he is surrounded by other statues ranging from a life-size elk to Humpty Dumpty. Vietnam-vet and avid collector Don Parks bought the Muffler Man from a gas station in San Francisco in 1969. Though it was sold to numerous stores since then, it eventually ended up back in Don’s possession. If you’re curious about his backyard museum, you can check out the yard from the street or call ahead for a little tour.
Cold War Horse – Arvada, Colorado
Adorning a red hazmat suit, black rubber boots, and a gas mask, the life-size “Cold War Horse” in Arvada, Colorado stands in place of the former site of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. The plant was one of the largest in the U.S. and produced over 70,000 plutonium triggers for nuclear bombs between 1951 and 1959. Artist Jeff Gripe, whose father worked at the plant for 20 years, created the sculpture in 2015 as a memorial to the people who worked and lived in the Rocky Flats community and warns of possible contamination still present in the area.
Fishing Bobber Water Tower – Pequot Lakes, Minnesota
Nobody in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota knew an off-the-cuff idea to revamp the city’s water tower 35 years ago would remain their trademark today. The world’s largest fishing bobber, also known as “Paul Bunyan’s fishing bobber” sits 125 feet in the air in downtown Bobber Park. A contest was held back in 1987 to create the design for the water tower – which was won by an elementary student! Though it’s no longer a working water tower, the bobber remains an iconic symbol.
Maytag Washer Woman – Boise, Idaho
As one of Idaho’s most recognizable sights, the Maytag Washer Woman stands atop a laundromat-turned restaurant. In Boise, Idaho, this giant motorized statue can actually “wash” clothes and festively changes her outfits to fit the seasons and holidays. First erected in the 1950s, Betty has become a town staple and has been saved numerous times by her community. When the new restaurant owners wanted to take her down, the community fought to save the historic landmark. Similarly, when her motor broke years ago, the Boise community got her fixed and back to working order.
Devil’s Throat – Bunkerville, Nevada
Unexpected in a desert landscape, the Devil’s Throat sinkhole in Bunkerville, Nevada stands as a surprise to visitors and community members alike. The large sinkhole formed in 1908 when working cowboys were startled by a roar and plume of dust. It’s believed this was caused by a dissolution of gypsum in the subsurface. For non-geology experts, this means that moving groundwater carried out out enough gypsum mineral over time to form a void which eventually collapsed. Devil’s Throat now lies within Gold Butte National Monument and is still actively expanding, so explore with extreme caution.
By Celia Reid, TDS Communications Intern
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