We Boomer kids spent a lot of time on the road. In our family, my grandparents lived 400 miles to the north and to the south, so we usually traveled every year to see them. Additionally, we managed to take some great vacations. In 1967, we drove up to Montreal for Expo 67, coming back home through upstate New York, where I saw Niagra Falls. And the next year, we drove down to Miami, Florida.
Dad would get on the interstate and drive 70 miles an hour to get to the grandparents' homes. But when we went on vacation, we would set out at a much more relaxed pace, stopping along the way to take pictures and check out big, funky roadside attractions. We never had reservations at hotels. Generally, towards the end of the day, we would pull in to a little motel with a vacancy sign turned on.
It was a great, relaxing way to travel.
The big objects were everywhere. A restaurant would put up a big tepee. A gas station would have a huge dinosaur. A motel would have a VW Bug on huge tires. And kids would eat it up.
Sometimes, an object would be so outrageous that my parents would have to stop and take a picture of me standing in front of it. That was good news for the restaurant owner, because we would usually go inside and get something to eat afterwards. Mission accomplished, in his book.
Giant Paul Bunyans were seen everywhere (and still are). They are known as "Muffler Men," because so many of them are in proximity to muffler shops. Many more of them are holding giant tires. I'll give you three guesses as to what sort of shop THEY are standing in front of.
Historic Route 66 still has many huge attractions along its route. Who hasn't passed by the giant blue whale which is built on a former swimming pond in Catoosa, Oklahoma and wasn't awed by its size and sheer blueness?
On that 1968 vacation, we took small highways all the way to Florida and up and down its length. We stayed in little motels in towns like St. Augustine, Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral. If the beach was nice, we might stay a couple of days before moving on. Then, a giant alligator would beckon us to stop and see what was in the cage alongside the gas station (and fill up the car, of course).
The wonderful thing about these giant objects is that they are probably still sitting right where they were when you saw them as a child. They are usually made of long-lasting stuff like steel, concrete, or fiberglass. Even though the establishment that erected the giant arrow, cowboy, tyrannosaurus, or whatever might be long out of business, the big customer attractor still stands there, dutifully getting people's attention.
So why not take a leisurely drive across the country and revisit the small towns you passed through as a child. Odds are that the giant Paul Bunyan you remember so well is still standing there next to a gas station that may or may not be open for business.
Comments (5)
The blue whale is still on Route 66. However, it is only to be looked at. It is not operated as it once was.
Posted by Doug Fletcher | May 10, 2007 4:23 PM
Posted on May 10, 2007 16:23
I fondly remember st. augustine, which outdrew orlando in tourism pre disney. It was much like wisconson
dells near chicago. Many silly things like
the oldest jail or house, with a park long forgotten with a wild
west theme. We still have pics of me bound
in shackles at the park.
One of those pilgrim stockade things. I remember it as a very quaint town, with spanish missions and old
cobblestone streets. I'll have to go back someday.
Posted by scott | July 13, 2007 3:52 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 15:52
Where was the picture of the big dinosaur taken? Is it along Rte. 66? Looks very familiar... If you know please email me at paloalto01@hotmail.com
Posted by Jim | August 21, 2007 2:15 PM
Posted on August 21, 2007 14:15
I haven't the pleasure of seeing Route 66 yet! Our cooridor was the I95 North and South on the East Coast! And of course all who travel to south remember South of the Border! It is located in Dillon South Carolina on the NC, SC border! South of the NC Border! A tourist trap rest stop that fashioned itself like old Mexico! Neon Lights, Giant Sambrero Hat tower, Carnival rides, food and many trinket shops! After traveling the long I95 with nothing to look at, SOB is a delight to see! For 200 milersd north or south, there is hundreds of these large billboards advertizing SOB! Colorfyl and oftern with hokey but fun sayings! Example! Pedro is the character on the signs and says things that sound like your in South of the Border! Some of these signs are dated! You are always a Weeeeeener at SOB! It will show a Weiner dog on the sign! Lots of Tacky to nice things to be bought in the trinket stores! Fireworks, the kind that go boom are their! You can even stay overnight in a little motel that looks like an adobe hut! The Hat Tower is very high and you can go up in the observation tower! SOB has a website you can checkout! The Pedro weather report! Hot Tomale! Chilly today at South of the Border!
Posted by Rivers End | January 3, 2009 10:13 AM
Posted on January 3, 2009 10:13
Maine has a few of those big characters. Paul Bunyan, an Indian Chief. We have a giant man walking on rt 302, which is not allowed to be turned on now since it causes so may accidents but it ran all the time in the 70s and maybe 80s. It was great.
Mass (MA) has some interesting restaurants with huge displays and themes. I love these sorts of things. they had character and got your notice.
To me, it represents a playful fun nature and also does well to get attention, which is often their main purpose. Its hard to see them as offensive. I hope they last and endure.
Posted by Scott I | July 19, 2010 12:40 AM
Posted on July 19, 2010 00:40