Every Texan knows about the most popular places to visit that pretty much define our state, from the Big Bend out west to the swimming holes and rivers in the hill country to the Palo Duro Canyon in the panhandle. Although those are undeniably beautiful and should be visited at least once, the following lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path attractions are a little bit wacky, a little bit weird, and will have you seeing Texas in a totally different light.
- Beer Can House (Houston)
Cory Doctorow/Flickr Because vinyl siding is boring - everyone knows aluminum beer can siding is where it’s at.
- Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo)
Louis Vest/Flickr Because no visit to Texas is complete without seeing our very own collection of Cadillacs half-buried in the ground.
- Orange Show (Houston)
Shavawn/Flickr This menagerie of random objects somehow turned into a vibrant and quirky display of artistic expression attracts folk artists from all over the country.
- World’s Largest Can Of Oatmeal (Oatmeal)
Steven Polunsky/Flickr Where else would you find a water tank displayed as a can of oatmeal, anyways? I guess in this case, you would just add oatmeal…right?
- Original Texas Chainsaw Massacre House (Kingsland)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr This home was originally constructed in Round Rock and was featured in the 1973 horror film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” While it’s now been converted into a restaurant, it’s still worth visiting for its awesome history.
- Dr. Pepper Museum (Waco)
mlhradio/Flickr Because seeing the birthplace of our favorite soft drink is a very important part of being a Texan, wouldn’t you agree?
- World’s Largest Pecan (Seguin)
jimmywayne/Flickr This is the Pecan Capital of Texas, so of course you’ll find a 5 foot long pecan on display right in front of the county courthouse!
- The Munster Mansion (Waxahachie)
munstermansion.com Ever wanted to take a tour of the creepy mansion in “The Munsters” sitcom? Well, I’m here to tell you that your dreams have come true! This exact replica of the Munster Mansion was the creative idea and lifelong dream of the McKee family, and you can schedule a tour through their website.
- Toilet Seat Museum (San Antonio)
juliegomoll/Flickr It turns out toilet seats and lids serve another more exciting and displayable purpose: artwork!
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden (Austin)
HerLanieShip/Flickr A serene garden with 25 or so unique sculptures right in the heart of Austin. If you appreciate art coupled with nature, you will love this place!
- World’s Largest Cedar Rocking Chair (Lipan)
QuesterMark/Flickr Otherwise known as the “Star of Texas Rocker,” it is 25 ft. 10.5 inches tall, 12 ft. 7.375 inches wide, and weighs 5,672 pounds!
- Big Tex (Dallas)
Steven Martin/Flickr Every Texan knows that when you go to the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, this guy is always there to welcome you!
- Painted Churches Of Texas
Keith Ewing/Flickr There are more than 20 of these churches built by German and Czech immigrants throughout Texas. From the outside, they just look like ordinary country churches, but once you go in, the elaborate murals and bright paint on the walls will blow you away.
- Haunted Limo Tours (Austin)
http://hauntedatx.com Not only will you get to see some of the most haunted places in Austin, but you get to do it all in the comfort of a classic 1992 Cadillac Hearse! You can bring up to six additional guests to enjoy the spooks and haunts of the city with you, if they’re not too scared, that is.
- Jacob’s Well (Wimberley)
Patrick Lewis/Flickr This is one of the most beautiful places to swim (and dive, if you’re brave) in the hill country; the 200-ft deep cave system within Cypress Creek is something every Texan should see, in my opinion. Maybe not at this angle, but seeing it from above is equally breathtaking.
- Texas Renaissance Festival (Todd Mission)
Clinton & Charles Robertson/Wikipedia I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend in the fall than coming out to the Renaissance Festival and going back in time to the days of kings and queens, lords and ladies, knights, jousting, fairies, elves, and fun, interactive shows. If you haven’t been yet, definitely plan on going this fall; you won’t be disappointed!
I also covered some other unique roadside attractions in a previous article, but what other bizarre, unique, and one-of-a-kind attractions do you enjoy visiting in our wonderful state?
Cory Doctorow/Flickr
Because vinyl siding is boring - everyone knows aluminum beer can siding is where it’s at.
Louis Vest/Flickr
Because no visit to Texas is complete without seeing our very own collection of Cadillacs half-buried in the ground.
Shavawn/Flickr
This menagerie of random objects somehow turned into a vibrant and quirky display of artistic expression attracts folk artists from all over the country.
Steven Polunsky/Flickr
Where else would you find a water tank displayed as a can of oatmeal, anyways? I guess in this case, you would just add oatmeal…right?
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
This home was originally constructed in Round Rock and was featured in the 1973 horror film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” While it’s now been converted into a restaurant, it’s still worth visiting for its awesome history.
mlhradio/Flickr
Because seeing the birthplace of our favorite soft drink is a very important part of being a Texan, wouldn’t you agree?
jimmywayne/Flickr
This is the Pecan Capital of Texas, so of course you’ll find a 5 foot long pecan on display right in front of the county courthouse!
munstermansion.com
Ever wanted to take a tour of the creepy mansion in “The Munsters” sitcom? Well, I’m here to tell you that your dreams have come true! This exact replica of the Munster Mansion was the creative idea and lifelong dream of the McKee family, and you can schedule a tour through their website.
juliegomoll/Flickr
It turns out toilet seats and lids serve another more exciting and displayable purpose: artwork!
HerLanieShip/Flickr
A serene garden with 25 or so unique sculptures right in the heart of Austin. If you appreciate art coupled with nature, you will love this place!
QuesterMark/Flickr
Otherwise known as the “Star of Texas Rocker,” it is 25 ft. 10.5 inches tall, 12 ft. 7.375 inches wide, and weighs 5,672 pounds!
Steven Martin/Flickr
Every Texan knows that when you go to the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, this guy is always there to welcome you!
Keith Ewing/Flickr
There are more than 20 of these churches built by German and Czech immigrants throughout Texas. From the outside, they just look like ordinary country churches, but once you go in, the elaborate murals and bright paint on the walls will blow you away.
Not only will you get to see some of the most haunted places in Austin, but you get to do it all in the comfort of a classic 1992 Cadillac Hearse! You can bring up to six additional guests to enjoy the spooks and haunts of the city with you, if they’re not too scared, that is.
Patrick Lewis/Flickr
This is one of the most beautiful places to swim (and dive, if you’re brave) in the hill country; the 200-ft deep cave system within Cypress Creek is something every Texan should see, in my opinion. Maybe not at this angle, but seeing it from above is equally breathtaking.
Clinton & Charles Robertson/Wikipedia
I can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend in the fall than coming out to the Renaissance Festival and going back in time to the days of kings and queens, lords and ladies, knights, jousting, fairies, elves, and fun, interactive shows. If you haven’t been yet, definitely plan on going this fall; you won’t be disappointed!
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