Sometimes, it’s the lesser-known quirky spots that make the most memorable road trips. Here in the Buckeye State, we have several roadside attractions that are downright fun to discover. From the world’s largest collection of trolls to backyard temples, you never know what you’ll stumble upon here in Ohio. The following are 10 quirky roadside attractions to visit when you think you’ve seen it all.
- Miner’s Memorial Park (McConnelsville)
kgilbert78/Trip Advisor Miner’s Memorial Park in McConnelsville, Ohio is home to remnants of the largest single-bucket digging machine ever made. The Big Muskie Bucket is a manmade marvel you have to see to believe, telling the story of Ohio’s past coal mining days. Witnessing the size of this 230-ton empty bucket firsthand is worth the trip alone.
- The Temple of Tolerance (Wapakoneta)
Stephen/Flickr Jim Bowsher’s home in the small town of Wapakoneta features an impressive museum of artifacts from the America you don’t typically read about in history books, and a truly tranquil temple complex in his backyard. The central monument of the temple complex is dedicated to tolerance, and Bowsher continues to add to his unique creation to this day.
- Hartman’s Rock Garden (Springfield)
Cindy Funk/Flickr Observe a mixture of history, religion, and Depression-era pop culture via this unique garden, built by Harry “Ben” Hartman between1932 through 1939. The garden can be seen today at the corner of McCain and Russell streets in Springfield.
- Alpha-Dog Pet Wash (Amherst)
Alpha-Dog Pet Center/Facebook The Alpha-Dog Pet Center and Wash in Amherst is the perfect road trip stop when you’re traveling with a dog or other furry friend in the Buckeye State. Both a pet supply shop and a 24-hour pet wash, it’s the perfect place to take care of all your pet’s needs in one place.
- The Lucky Cat Museum (Cincinnati)
Lucky Cat Museum/Facebook This quirky museum is dedicated to Japan’s famous Beckoning Lucky Cats, also known as “Maneki-Neko.” It’s home to the largest collection of Lucky Cats in North America.
- Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum (Logan)
Porthos7/TripAdvisor This one-of-a-kind museum is home to the largest collection of pencil sharpeners in the country. Inside this whimsical little museum, you’ll find more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners. It’s a quirky collection that’s fascinating to see. It’s located right next to the Hocking Hills Welcome Center.
- Cornhenge (Dublin)
Miguel Castaneda/Flickr Ohio has its own version of Stonehenge, thanks to Dublin’s Field of Corn, also known as “Cornhenge.” (But I highly doubt foreigners would speculate that we use it as a calendar.)
- Vasehenge (Zanesville)
Tricia J./Flickr What was once the pottery capital of the United States is now home to yet another homage to Stonehenge. This collaborative effort of local artists can be found at the foot of the Y-Bridge.
- The Troll Hole (Alliance)
The Troll Hole Museum/Facebook In Alliance, you’ll find a truly unique collection on display that will likely take you down memory lane—and transport you to a whole other world. The Troll Hole is a little-known museum and art gallery that features the world’s largest collection of trolls.
- Healing Chapel (Coolville)
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr Visit Ohio’s (and one of America’s) smallest chapels in Coolville. This tiny chapel is 10 ft. by 14 ft. and holds four short pews.
Have you ever explored any of these roadside attractions before? What others would you add to this list? Share your photos and experiences with us!
kgilbert78/Trip Advisor
Miner’s Memorial Park in McConnelsville, Ohio is home to remnants of the largest single-bucket digging machine ever made. The Big Muskie Bucket is a manmade marvel you have to see to believe, telling the story of Ohio’s past coal mining days. Witnessing the size of this 230-ton empty bucket firsthand is worth the trip alone.
Stephen/Flickr
Jim Bowsher’s home in the small town of Wapakoneta features an impressive museum of artifacts from the America you don’t typically read about in history books, and a truly tranquil temple complex in his backyard. The central monument of the temple complex is dedicated to tolerance, and Bowsher continues to add to his unique creation to this day.
Cindy Funk/Flickr
Observe a mixture of history, religion, and Depression-era pop culture via this unique garden, built by Harry “Ben” Hartman between1932 through 1939. The garden can be seen today at the corner of McCain and Russell streets in Springfield.
Alpha-Dog Pet Center/Facebook
The Alpha-Dog Pet Center and Wash in Amherst is the perfect road trip stop when you’re traveling with a dog or other furry friend in the Buckeye State. Both a pet supply shop and a 24-hour pet wash, it’s the perfect place to take care of all your pet’s needs in one place.
Lucky Cat Museum/Facebook
This quirky museum is dedicated to Japan’s famous Beckoning Lucky Cats, also known as “Maneki-Neko.” It’s home to the largest collection of Lucky Cats in North America.
Porthos7/TripAdvisor
This one-of-a-kind museum is home to the largest collection of pencil sharpeners in the country. Inside this whimsical little museum, you’ll find more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners. It’s a quirky collection that’s fascinating to see. It’s located right next to the Hocking Hills Welcome Center.
Miguel Castaneda/Flickr
Ohio has its own version of Stonehenge, thanks to Dublin’s Field of Corn, also known as “Cornhenge.” (But I highly doubt foreigners would speculate that we use it as a calendar.)
Tricia J./Flickr
What was once the pottery capital of the United States is now home to yet another homage to Stonehenge. This collaborative effort of local artists can be found at the foot of the Y-Bridge.
The Troll Hole Museum/Facebook
In Alliance, you’ll find a truly unique collection on display that will likely take you down memory lane—and transport you to a whole other world. The Troll Hole is a little-known museum and art gallery that features the world’s largest collection of trolls.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Visit Ohio’s (and one of America’s) smallest chapels in Coolville. This tiny chapel is 10 ft. by 14 ft. and holds four short pews.
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Address: Big Muskie Bucket, 4470 OH-78, McConnelsville, OH 43756, USAAddress: The Temple Of Tolerance, 203 S Wood St, Wapakoneta, OH 45895, USAAddress: 1905 Russell Ave, Springfield, OH 45506, USAAddress: Alpha-Dog Pet Centers, L.L.C., 46370 Middle Ridge Rd, Amherst, OH 44001, USAAddress: Ohio’s Lucky Cat Museum, 2511 Essex Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45206, USAAddress: Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum, 13178 OH-664, Logan, OH 43138, USAAddress: Field of Corn, 4995 Rings Rd, Dublin, OH 43017, USAAddress: Y-Bridge Overlook, 781 Muskingum Ave, Zanesville, OH 43701, USAAddress: The Troll Hole Museum, 228 E Main St, Alliance, OH 44601, USAAddress: The Healing Chapel, James A. Rhodes Appalachian Hwy, Coolville, OH 45723, USA
