Texas has plenty of beautiful destinations that are worth a road trip — beaches, winding rivers and scenic camping spots, for example. But, every so often, you want to experience something on the kookier side.

A hallmark of classic Americana is the kitschy roadside attraction, and there’s a bounty of those unique spots worth visiting in South and Central Texas.

From a plethora of objects that claim to be the “world’s largest” to recreations of famous historical sites including Stonehenge, these 24 roadside attractions in San Antonio and beyond are worth hopping in the car to check out.

Barbadilla, Buffalo Gap 3002 FM 89, Buffalo Gap, roadsideamerica.com Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas, has a 30-foot armadillo for a mascot, appropriately named Barabadilla. Photo via Instagram / periniranch
World’s Largest Cowboy Boots, San Antonio North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, roadsideamerica.com Native San Antonians might not pay any attention to the giant cowboy boots in front of North Star Mall, but there’s more to them than you’d think. Made by the larger-than-life artist Bob “Daddy-O” Wade, these boots were installed at North Star in 1979 and officially made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Cowboy Boots four decades later. Photo via Instagram / 2ten.exploration
Stonehenge II and Easter Island Heads, Ingram 120 Point Theatre Road S., Ingram, roadsideamerica.com They may not be the real deal, but these replicas of Stonehenge and the Easter Island Moai Statues in Ingram, Texas, are the next best thing to the storied ancient monuments. Photo via Instagram / kaitlen_breanna_1989
World’s Largest Shovel 3606 FM1327, Creedmoor This 40-foot tall shovel in Creedmoor was made from recycled materials. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
Giant Stag Made of Junk, Converse 4203 Loring Park, Converse, roadsideamerica.com Built from various rusted metal parts — fenders and typewriters included — this Florentino Narcis creation stands 40 feet tall in the midst of a neighborhood in Converse. Photo via Instagram / therefinedhomellc
Giant Steer Skull, Bandera, TX 200 Main St., Bandera, roadsideamerica.com This monolithic steer head is mounted on the rear of the building that houses Western Trail Antiques.. Photo via Google Street View
Mansplaining Statue, San Antonio 4301 Broadway, San Antonio Though unintended by the artist, the statue Classmates on UIW’s campus struck a chord, as it accidentally immortalizes the unique frustration of being mansplained to. The statue can be found near the college’s music building. Credit: Photo via Instagram / unitedstatuesofamerica
World’s Largest Strawberry, Poteet 530 Avenue H, Poteet, roadsideamerica.com The strawberries in Poteet are anything but petite, including the 7-foot tall statue of a strawberry located in front of the town’s fire station. While Poteet’s iconic annual Strawberry Festival takes place during the spring, the burg pays homage to its trademark crop year round with statues and artwork. Photo via Google Maps
Strawberry Water Tower, Poteet Junction of Betty Louise Drive and Pecan St., Poteet, roadsideamerica.com A towering 130-foot strawberry can be seen along Highway 16 as cars approach Poteet, giving everyone a berry sweet welcome to the town. Photo via Instagram / bryan_in_texas
Frank’s Hog Stand, San Antonio 801 S. Presa St., roadsideamerica.com A remnant of the classic 1920s chain of drive-in Pig Stand restaurants, Frank’s Hog Stand reopened in 2010 and served all-American fare. The restaurant has since closed, but the pig still stands as a quirky roadside attraction within city limits. Credit: Instagram / @goingwrong
Marathon, a.k.a. Robo-Cow, Johnson City, TX Junction of Flat Creek Road and E. US Hwy 290, Johnson City, roadsideamerica.com This steely steer, crafted by texan artist Bettye Hamblen Turner, looks like a creature straight out of a sci-fi movie. It stoically guards the entrance of the The Preserve at Walnut Springs. Photo via Instagram / jonesdan515
The Cartoon Saloon, Comfort 508 FM Hwy 473, Comfort, roadsideamerica.com This stand on the side of the highway is an old-west saloon which passersby can go into, but don’t go expecting to order a sasparilla —it serves no other function than photo-op stop. Photo via Instagram / mediadisdat
Easter Island Head, Victoria 291 McCright Drive, Victoria, roadsideamerica.com The 10-foot tall statue Moai is located near a golf course in Victoria. An inscription at the base of the statue indicates that it may have been made by A.T. Dincans Jr. in 1997. Photo via Google Maps
World’s Largest Peanut, Pearsall Junction of S. Treviño St. and Comal St., Pearsall, roadsideamerica.com The World’s Largest Peanut still stands proudly after over 25 years on the side of the road in Pearsall, TX. Photo via Instagram / redfangoo
Junk Yard Dog 1201 Somerset Road, San Antonio This canny canine is made by the same artist as the giant cowboy boots which sit outside of North Star Mall. Bob “Daddy-O” Wade, who passed away in late 2019, built the pup out of cars in his junk yard: a 1966 Plymouth Fury, a Volkswagen Beetle and the hood of a Cadillac. Credit: Photo via Instagram / richardjgarciacpa
Watermelon Water Tower, Luling 1798 E Pierce St., Luling, roadsideamerica.com Along Highway 183, another high-flying fruit can be spotted in the sky. This 154-foot tower contains some of the water that helps grow Luling’s 50 pound watermelons. Photo via Instagram / insearchofquirk
Lourdes Grotto Replica, La Grange 936 FM 2436, La Grange, roadsideamerica.com Transport yourself to the cobbled streets of Europe at this Texas version of the grotto at Lourdes, France. Photo via Instagram / georcuzzi
World’s Largest Virgin Mary Mosaic, San Antonio 1301 Guadalupe St., San Antonio, roadsideamerica.com San Antonio artist Jesse Treviño’s La Veladora is a large mosaic replica of a Catholic prayer candle in tribute to the Lady of Guadalupe. Photo via Instagram / dumasdaily
World’s Largest Pecan, Seguin 390 Cordova Road, Seguin The Pecan Capital of the world won the title not just for its fields of ofTexan pecan trees but also for the 16-foot long, 8-foot wide statue of a pecan which sits outside of the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center. The center is also home to the Pecan Museum of Texas, which houses Texan folk art and nutcrackers. Credit: Photo via Instagram / visitseguin
Home of the World’s Largest Pecan Historic Marker, Seguin 101 E. Court St., Seguin, roadsideamerica.com Seguin sits along the Guadalupe River, which was once known as the “River of Nuts.” A 1000 pound pecan statue outside of Seguin’s city hall is dedicated to Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca, who survived on a diet of local pecans while being held captive in the area. Photo via Instagram / cricketpfairy
World’s Second Largest Mobile Pecan, Seguin 5440 S. Hwy 123 Bypass, roadsideamerica.com To round out a pecan-themed Seguin tour, check out the 10-foot long fiberglass steel-framed pecan, which is technically mobile since it’s situated on a truck frame. This “Mobile Pecan” is parked outside of the Pape Pecan House, which offers all sorts of nutty snacks. Photo via Instagram / cbullockstuff
Smitty: World’s Largest Gingerbread Man, Smithville, TX Junction of 1st St. and Main St., Smithville, roadsideamerica.com From the world’s largest gingerbread mold came Smitty, the world’s largest gingerbread man, who towers at 20 feet. The actual cookie, which earned a Guinness World Record, was eaten by the town residents but a replica stands to commemorate the occasion. Photo via WIkimedia Commons / Larry D. Moore
Big Slice of Pie, Kyle 202 W. Center St., Kyle, roadsideamerica.com Sitting atop the Texas Pie Company’s roof, this hearty slice of cherry pie will cause pupils to dilate as soon as the peepers get a sight of its oozing filling. Photo via Instagram / im_archie4
Big Peanut for The Peanut King, Floresville, TX 1420 3rd St., Floresville, roadsideamerica.com A giant peanut statue dons the Floresville courthouse’s lawn in honor of Joe T. Sheehy, AKA “The Peanut King.” This oversized legume is believed to be “the oldest of America’s big civic peanuts.” Photo via Wikimedia Commons / Billy Hathorn

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