Here in Ohio, we’ve got some pretty odd roadside attractions. When embarking on a road trip through Ohio, it’s easy to come across these places that offer the perfect opportunity to get out and stretch your legs. From giant objects you can see from the road to unusual backyard museums, we have it all here in the Buckeye State. The next time you are in the mood for something unusual or you’re wondering about some weird places in Ohio, here are 14 bizarre roadside attractions in Ohio that will likely make you do a double take.

  1. World’s largest rocking chair (Austinburg)

Pat Jarrett/Flickr Along State Route 45 outside of Country Cousins, a log-furniture company in Austinburg, you’ll find the world’s largest rocking chair. While it’s unknown who built the chair, the big seat has been sitting in Austinburg since the ’60s.

  1. 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.)

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. The Wall of Gum (Greenville)

Cindy Funk/Flickr Customers routinely discard chewed gum and stick it on the side of this Maid-Rite Drive-In in Greenville. Why? We’re really not sure! But it’s definitely one of those weird places in Ohio you just have to accept.

  1. World’s largest washboard (Logan)

macwagen/Flickr Columbus Washboard Company in Logan is home to the world’s largest washboard (and all kinds of vintage laundry products.) It is located at 14 Gallagher Ave., Logan, OH 43138.

  1. 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.

  1. World’s largest basket (Newark)

Adam Schweigert/Flickr The Longaberger Company’s former headquarters features the world’s largest basket. This seven-story basket building along State Route 16 in Newark is a novelty piece of architecture you have to see to believe. After the company shut down, the future of the basket remained in question. But it has since been purchased and there are plans to reuse the structure in a unique way.

  1. World’s largest basket of apples (Frazeysburg)

michaelgoodin/Flickr (Because the world’s largest basket wasn’t enough…) You can also find this giant basket of apples at the Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg.

  1. 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.

  1. Ghost Town (Findlay)

Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio/Facebook Created by the Galitza family, this unique roadside attraction in Findlay features a replica of an 1880s-era ghost town that was first open to the public in the 1950s. Today, the ghost town has been restored after a period of abandonment and even features arts and crafts vendors and antique and flea market vendors on select dates.

  1. World’s largest stamp (Cleveland)

Brook Ward/Flickr Cleveland is home to the world’s largest rubber stamp. Known as “The Free Stamp,” this large outdoor sculpture in Willard Park has been there since the early ’90s.

  1. 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.

  1. World’s largest pumpkin (Circleville)

Justin Masterson/Flickr The small city of Circleville in Pickaway County is home to the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show and its water tower is depicted as the world’s largest pumpkin, (of course).

How many of these roadside attractions in Ohio have you seen? Which one is your favorite stop along a road trip through Ohio? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments.

Pat Jarrett/Flickr

Along State Route 45 outside of Country Cousins, a log-furniture company in Austinburg, you’ll find the world’s largest rocking chair. While it’s unknown who built the chair, the big seat has been sitting in Austinburg since the ’60s.

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.

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

Customers routinely discard chewed gum and stick it on the side of this Maid-Rite Drive-In in Greenville. Why? We’re really not sure! But it’s definitely one of those weird places in Ohio you just have to accept.

macwagen/Flickr

Columbus Washboard Company in Logan is home to the world’s largest washboard (and all kinds of vintage laundry products.) It is located at 14 Gallagher Ave., Logan, OH 43138.

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.

Adam Schweigert/Flickr

The Longaberger Company’s former headquarters features the world’s largest basket. This seven-story basket building along State Route 16 in Newark is a novelty piece of architecture you have to see to believe. After the company shut down, the future of the basket remained in question. But it has since been purchased and there are plans to reuse the structure in a unique way.

michaelgoodin/Flickr

(Because the world’s largest basket wasn’t enough…) You can also find this giant basket of apples at the Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg.

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.

Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio/Facebook

Created by the Galitza family, this unique roadside attraction in Findlay features a replica of an 1880s-era ghost town that was first open to the public in the 1950s. Today, the ghost town has been restored after a period of abandonment and even features arts and crafts vendors and antique and flea market vendors on select dates.

Brook Ward/Flickr

Cleveland is home to the world’s largest rubber stamp. Known as “The Free Stamp,” this large outdoor sculpture in Willard Park has been there since the early ’90s.

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.

Justin Masterson/Flickr

The small city of Circleville in Pickaway County is home to the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show and its water tower is depicted as the world’s largest pumpkin, (of course).

For even more unusual places in Ohio to explore, check out one of our previous articles: The 15 Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go In Ohio.

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Address: Ohio, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

roadside attractions in ohio January 21, 2020 Andrea Limke What are the best road trips to take through Ohio? If you’re looking for a unique getaway, but do not want to venture far from home, a road trip through Ohio is a great option! Our state is filled with exciting things to do and see, as well as natural wonders, restaurants, sporting events, museums, zoos, and so much more. If you need a few suggestions of road trips and things to do in Ohio, check out these versions about castles, natural wonders, chocolate shops, small towns, haunted places, waterfalls, and a general list of some of the best. What bizarre trait is Ohio known for? We are proud of our bizarre traits here in Ohio, and there are quite a few. We spell out the name of our state with our arms (O-H…), we put chili on our spaghetti (we see you, Cincy), and we enjoy a cold pop (not soda) while telling others which high school we attended. There are many more, of course, and you can read about 12 weird things people from Ohio do in our previous article. What are some unique things to do in Ohio? In addition to all of the exciting road trips through Ohio mentioned above, there are many other unique things to do in Ohio. To help narrow it down, here are 15 of the best and most unique attractions in our state.

The OIYS Visitor Center

roadside attractions in ohio

January 21, 2020

Andrea Limke

What are the best road trips to take through Ohio? If you’re looking for a unique getaway, but do not want to venture far from home, a road trip through Ohio is a great option! Our state is filled with exciting things to do and see, as well as natural wonders, restaurants, sporting events, museums, zoos, and so much more. If you need a few suggestions of road trips and things to do in Ohio, check out these versions about castles, natural wonders, chocolate shops, small towns, haunted places, waterfalls, and a general list of some of the best. What bizarre trait is Ohio known for? We are proud of our bizarre traits here in Ohio, and there are quite a few. We spell out the name of our state with our arms (O-H…), we put chili on our spaghetti (we see you, Cincy), and we enjoy a cold pop (not soda) while telling others which high school we attended. There are many more, of course, and you can read about 12 weird things people from Ohio do in our previous article. What are some unique things to do in Ohio? In addition to all of the exciting road trips through Ohio mentioned above, there are many other unique things to do in Ohio. To help narrow it down, here are 15 of the best and most unique attractions in our state.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

If you’re looking for a unique getaway, but do not want to venture far from home, a road trip through Ohio is a great option! Our state is filled with exciting things to do and see, as well as natural wonders, restaurants, sporting events, museums, zoos, and so much more. If you need a few suggestions of road trips and things to do in Ohio, check out these versions about castles, natural wonders, chocolate shops, small towns, haunted places, waterfalls, and a general list of some of the best.

What bizarre trait is Ohio known for?

We are proud of our bizarre traits here in Ohio, and there are quite a few. We spell out the name of our state with our arms (O-H…), we put chili on our spaghetti (we see you, Cincy), and we enjoy a cold pop (not soda) while telling others which high school we attended. There are many more, of course, and you can read about 12 weird things people from Ohio do in our previous article.

What are some unique things to do in Ohio?

In addition to all of the exciting road trips through Ohio mentioned above, there are many other unique things to do in Ohio. To help narrow it down, here are 15 of the best and most unique attractions in our state.