In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
Lost Springs, Wyoming (Was Population 1, now Population 4)
Visited Lost Springs, WY, Pop 1 in 2007. Went back in 2014 and it had grown 400% to Pop 4. And yes, I have a photo of that sign too!Lost Springs in 2014 – ironically I was wearing the same shirt 7 years later!!!Lost Springs Store and Post Office, Lost Springs, WY
Lake Andes, South Dakota
White Pelicans at Lake Andes in South Dakota
Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed Rolls – Sikeston, Missouri
Sumoflam and wife at Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed RollsLambert’s Cafe – Sikeston, Missouri – big placeThrowing Rolls at Lambert’s
Lima, Montana
Downtown Lima, Montana“Not the Hotel California” in Lima, Montana
Lexington Cemetery in Spring – Lexington, Kentucky
Spring Colors at Lexington Cemetery
Letchworth State Park – Castile, New York
Letchworth State Park, New York
Lindley Sign Post Forest – Danville, Illinois
Lindley Sign Post Forest SignLindley Sign Post Forest in Danville, IL
Lake Oswego Art Walk – Lake Oswego, Oregon
Large Skelephant, part of the Lake Oswego Art Walk
Lethbridge, Alberta
High Level Bridge in Lethbridge, Alberta was built in 1909. It is 5327 feet long and the largest of its type in the worldRic’s Grill – Restaurant in a Water Tower – Lethbridge, Alberta
Lawn Order – Nebraska City, Nebraska
Great Name for a Lawn Care Business – Lawn Order
Lincoln Mural – Lexington, Kentucky
Completed Painting on November 15, 2013
Lordsburg, New Mexico
Interstate 10 near Lordsburg, New Mexico
Leland, Mississippi – Birthplace of Kermit the Frog
Birthplace of Kermit the Frog, Leland, MSSumoflam at the “Birthplace of Kermit the Frog” in Leland, MS
Lake Wobegon Trail – Avon, Minnesota
Lake Wobegon Trail
Libby’s Pumpkin Factory – Morton, Illinois
Welcome to Morton, Illinois – Pumpkin Capital of the WorldWe missed the Morton Pumpkin Festival by only a few days.
Lookout, West Virginia
Lookout, WV Post Office
Log Cabin Motel – Ashton, Idaho
Log Cabin Motel – Ashton, Idaho
Lucy in Disguise Costumes – Austin, Texas
Lucy in Disguise, Austin, TX
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, KY as seen from across the Ohio River in IndianaLouisville BridgesDetail of Noah Church mural in Louisville. Not sure who all of these folks are…
Larry Vennard Iron Sculpture Park – Centralia, Missouri
Sumoflam and Larry Vennard at his Iron Sculpture Park in Centralia, MOLarry Vennard’s Highway “T” Rex near Centralia, MO“Dimetrodon” by Larry Vennard
Lostant, Illinois
Id the ant is lost, how do they know which direction it is?
Leif Erikson Statues – Cleveland, Ohio and Duluth, Minnesota
Statue of Leif Erikson in Cleveland, IllinoisLeif Erikson Statue in Duluth, Minnesota
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Welcome to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Abraham Lincoln Statue – Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Sumoflam and Lincoln in Jackson Hole
Leaning Tree Cafe – Babb, Montana
Leaning Tree Cafe, Babb, MontanaKade and Charlie, with their Dad Aaron at Leaning Tree Cafe in Babb, MT at the base of Glacier National Park – March 2013
Laboratory, Pennsylvania
Community Honor Roll for Veterans in Laboratory, PA
Large Wooden Trolls – Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
One of dozens of HUGE trolls in Mt. Horeb, WisconsinAhhh..trolls
Welcome to Louisiana
Welcome to Louisiana on US Hwy 61
Laughing Ladies Cafe – Salida, Colorado
Laughing Ladies Cafe – Salida, Colorado – love the name and the sign
Langdon Wind Energy Center – Langdon, North Dakota
Langdon Wind Farm Info Center near Langdon, NDSilo and Wind Turbine near Nekoma, ND
Little Big Horn National Monument – Crow Agency, Montana
Grave markers of the US Calvary Soldiers that died at the Battle of Little Big Horn in Little Big Horn National Monument in Montana
Lizard Lick, North Carolina
Lizard Lick, North CarolinaLizard Lick Towing mural on sign outside of towing placeLizard Lick lizard on top of gas station
Lucille Ball Birthplace – Jamestown, New York
Lucille Ball BirthplaceJamestown Banner advertising Lucille Ball Festival
Landry and Lombardi – NFL Coaching Icons – Dallas, Texas and Green Bay, Wisconsin
Legendary Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry (At Cowboys Stadium)Legendary Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi (At Lambeau Field)
Longaberger Baskets – Newark, Ohio
Amaree, Solomon and Seth at Longaberger Basket HQ in Newark, OH Fall 1999
Lynn’s Paradise Cafe – Louisville, Kentucky
Unfortunately, this place closed down around 2010 or so.
Sumoflam at Lynn’s Paradise CafeLegs on walls at Lynn’s Paradise Cafe
Lovesick Falls – Ontario, Canada
Lovesick Falls in Ontario
Little Italy – Cleveland, Ohio
Little Italy Historic District in ClevelandMayfield Road and Random Road, by the little park in Little Italy
Lopatapillar – Butterfly House – Chesterfield, Missouri
Grandkids play on the 30 foot long “Lopatapillar”, created by artist Bob Cassilly at the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri
Logan’s Shoe Shop Neon Sign – Denton, Texas
Logan’s Shoe Shop Neon, Denton, TX
Lusk, Wyoming
US 20 East out of Lusk, WYOld Lusk Drive-In Theatre MarqueeCovered Wagon Motel in Lusk, Wyoming
Little River Cafe – Oregonia, Ohio
The Little River Cafe in Oregonia, OH is most easily reached by bike. It is literally on the side of the trail. The road to Oregonia is way out of the way.
Troy Landry – Swamp People icon – Pierre Part, Louisiana
Sumoflam and Troy Landry from Swamp People
LSA Burger Company – Denton, Texas
LSA Burger Company Neon, Denton, TXTexas Instruments, a unique sculpture at the LSA Burger Co., in DentonAlbum Counter at LSA Burger Co.
Lewistown, Montana
Golden Statue of Liberty in Lewistown, MontanaDeer grazing in the snow in Lewistown, MontanaEagle I saw when driving by Lewistown, Montana (my very first Bald Eagle sighting/photo)
Lund Theatre – Viborg, South Dakota
Lund Theatre – Viborg, South Dakota
If you like what you see, you may want to check out my book: Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names, available on Amazon. My second book, Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions, will be available in late April or early May 2018. Click on the photo below for more details or to get a copy of the book.
One of the more interesting things I look for on roadtrips as I pass through small communities on back roads is yard art. Funky art and decorations in people’s yards, on their fences, on their houses. People have ingenuity. Some people have junk. But, as the saying goes, “One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure.”
Unique Yard Art in Parker, Idaho
For me, Yard Art is anything unique and unusual. It could be chain saw art – wood carvings made with chain saws. It could be art made from scrap metal. It could be, like the photo above, a hodge podge of signs, junk or other things. Following are some selections of yard art I have taken over the years. Don’t judge…some of these people love their “collections.” I just love my collection of photos of theirs… Enjoy the virtual ride.
Scrap Metal Art in Oil Springs, OntarioHubcap Barn – Central KentuckyA Chain Saw Art Santa at Santa’s Candy Castle in Santa Claus, IndianaBuried parts of airplanes at the Flying Tiger Museum in Toco, TXYet another junk collector along US Route 2 at the Blueberry Antique Store in Blueberry, WIScrap metal bison in someone’s front yard in Rudyard, Montana“Not the Hotel California” in Lima, MontanaHodge Podge Water Garden at home in Orlando, KentuckyScrap Metal Dinosaur – work done by Wally Keller – near Mt. Horeb, WisconsinBethel Saloon in Port Orchard, WAScrap Metal Horse at Woodford Reserve near Versailles, KentuckyThe Shack Playground, The Shack Burger Resort, Cypress, TXScrap Metal Guy Mailbox at Frontier Steakhouse – Dunkirk, MontanaFront of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, ILCar Advertising in Commerce, OklahomaGiant scrap metal chopper and rider at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, SDP’MAWS Bait Shack in Pierre Part, LA (Notice it is SWAMP spelled backwards)Scrap Metal Alligator – Harrietsville, OntarioBlue Banana Espesso Bar in Lostine, OregonGotta add some wood carvings – these from Nebraska City, NEScrap Metal and wire Man and Dog at entrance to Gates of the Mountains in Montana, south of HelenaWhimsical Sculpture at Winter Wheat in Sparta, OntarioA “Flower Bed” in What Cheer, IowaWooden sculpture in a yard across from Daffin’s in Sharon, PARoad Sign Art in Meadville, PAA menagerie of oddball and offbeat things all over the roof, side of the house and the yard – Hamtramck Disneyland in Hamtramck, MIMetal Bird – Idaho Falls, Idaho“Javelin Man” by Larry Vennard in Centralia, MissouriFlower Man House – Houston, TexasScene from Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill in Woodstock, OntarioGreedy Attorney – Jurustic Park – Marshfield, WisconsinHand made dinos at Wells Dinosaur Haven in Uncasville, CTNice carved eagle in Redcliff, ColoradoHillbilly Hot Dogs long view – Lesage, WVHillbilly Hot Dogs near Lesage, WVGiant Armadillo – Texas Pipe Company – Houston, TexasA Scrap Metal Sculpture in Bemidji, MNArt Car at Third Street Stuff – Lexington, KentuckySpider Volkswagen in someone’s backyard – Wolf Creek, OregonA hodge podge of scrap metal art at Porter’s Sculpture Park in Montrose, SDChainsaw Forest near Medford, WISmall Metal Sculpture in Gladstone, NDBuck Samuelson sculptures on a hillside in Glasgow, MontanaChainsaw Carved Bear Mailbox, Ontario, CanadaSumoflam and Justin Howland at Grizz Works in Maple, WI. Giant Grizzly is amazing! He makes yard artA view of Boudreau’s Antiques and Collectibles on US Hwy 2 east of Ashland, WIBig Indian – Blackwater, MissouriWood carved things in front of Fat Smitty’s in Discovery Bay, WAThe Mattress Ranch “pasture” in Port Orchard, WALooks like Humpty Dumpty is alive and well in Eureka Springs, ArkansasGasoline Pump Art Sculpture in Story, IN
People are enthralled by dinosaurs and dragons. Maybe it is because humans have never really seen one alive. All we have are fossil evidences and legends.
A roadtrip on the back roads of America will almost always present a dinosaur or a dragon. I have seen hundreds in my travels.
Dragon Biting my head off – Jurustic Park – Marshfield, Wisconsin
In this post I hope to share some of the photos and fun of dinosaurs, dragons and other monster thingies as seen on the road.
Autumn and “Grampz” with the Hodag of Rhinelander, WI
Let’s look at a couple of strange monsters first. First there is the Hodag, a unique monster found in Rhinelander, WI. According to an 1893 newspaper article it was “the fiercest, strangest, most frightening monster ever to set razor sharp claws on the earth. It became extinct after its main food source, all white bulldogs, became scarce in the area.”
A giant monster sculpture greets you at the Mount Horeb Welcome Center. Created by Wally Keller
Wisconsin really seems to be the monster capital of the country. In Mt. Horeb, there is another cool looking monster statue in front of the visitor center. Created by Wally Keller, an artist from nearby.
20 foot tall Jurustic Park dragon in Marshfield, WIClyde Wynia, the creator of Jurustic Park and the artist behind all of the work
Of course, the premier “dragon” stop in Wisconsin is Jurustic Park in Marshfield, WI. Created by artist (and former attorney) Clyde Wynia, this large property has well over 1000 pieces of welded scrap metal art, including a few dragons.
Clyde has a number of stories about his “artwork fossils” and makes it a fun place to visit. Note that it really is off the beaten path, but well worth a visit!
Big Dragon – Jurustic Park – Marshfield, WisconsinWelcome to Jurustic Park
And the afore mentioned Wally Keller, who passed away a few years ago, also had a nice menagerie in his front yard.
Hungry Dinosaur – Wally Keller collection near Mt. Horeb, WisconsinScrap Metal Dinosaur – work done by Wally Keller – near Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
There is another scrap metal artist in Centralia, MO who also has created a number of similar dinosaurs.
Sumoflam and Larry Vennard at his Iron Sculpture Park in Centralia, MOLarry Vennard’s Highway “T” Rex near Centralia, MOSumoflam and the Fire Breathing Dragon of Kaskaskia in Vandalia, IL
One of the most interesting dragons out there is the Kaskaskia Fire breathing dragon in Vandalia, IL
This monster was the brainchild of Kaskaskia Supply owner Walt Barenfanger. The 35 foot long beast is not only a nice piece of metal art, it is also FIRE BREATHING! Yes, go across the street to the Liquor Store or over to the Kaskaskia Hardware store and get a token for One Dollar, stick it into the self-service coin box and this guy’s eyes light up red and he breathes REAL fire for about 10 seconds!!
A closeup of the fire!Kaskaskia Fire Breathing Dragon
There are, of course, many other dragons out there.
“Horn Dragon” by Diego Harris. Currently on display at Real Goods Store in Hopland, CADragon with Cowboy Boots at Big Texan Steak House in Amarillo, TXMetal Dragon on a Building – Clayton, New MexicoGuitar Playing Scrap Metal Dragon – Harrietsville, OntarioDragon head – Salida, ColoradoImpressive Dragon mural on a Chinese Restaurant in Oak Creek, ColoradoDragon Mural in Broken Bow, OK
But, its the dinosaurs that impress. Many have been built to the presumed size and shape of the various monsters. In fact, there are a number of T Rex statues out there.
Skeleton Walking Dinosaur near Murdo, South DakotaHead of the T-Rex at Wells Dinosaur Haven in ConnecticutA T-Rex at a miniature golf course in Ocean City, MDA 15 foot dinosaur overlooks Carhenge in Alliance, NebraskaThe Old Trail Museum in Choteau Museum has scary dinosaurs – located in Choteau, Montana on the “Dinosaur Trail”Big dino in Bynum, MontanaLarge Sign about the Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, WyomingGiant T-Rex statue in Cave City, KY
Most impressive of all is the great escape of dinosaurs from the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. Life size and REALLY REAL looking.
Dinos break out of Indianapolis Children’s MuseumAbout to be squished by a giant dino!!!Dinosaurs peek into the Children’s Museum
And here are a few more dinosaur shots from around the country
A Dinosaur Sighting outside the Cleveland Museum of Natural historyOne of over 35 life-size dinosaur creations at Wells Dinosaur Haven in Uncasville, CTDinos at Wells Dinosaur Haven in Uncasville, CTAn outdoor dinosaur at the Old Trail Museum in Choteau, MontanaColorful Dinosaur near Carnegie Museum, originally part of DinoMite Days in 2003Scrap Metal Dinosaur chasing a ram – Glasgow, MontanaRudyard Dinosaur, Rudyard, MTDinosaur Statue – Clayton, NMGrazing Dinosaur – Harrietsville, OntarioGiant 80 foot tall Wall Drug Dino, in Wall, SD
and finally, who can forget that cute little Sinclair Gas dinosaur?
In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
