Let's face it, Texans clock a lot of miles on the road. You've probably heard the one about how El Paso is closer to San Diego, Calif. than Houston, Texas. It's true. Whether you're cruisin' backroads or taking the highway, sometimes you're just in for a long ride. If you get restless, pull over and check out the 10 Weirdest Roadside Attractions in Texas.
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10. Hutto Hippos, Hutto
The town of Hutto pays major homage to the legend of a circus hippo that once escaped in the town. The are 100 concrete hippopotamus statues throughout the city. It makes for one heck-of-a scavenger hunt, I tell you what.
9. Deer Horn Tree, Junction
The hunters over in Junction got a little artsy in the off-season back in 1968. Rather than mount their thousands of antlers on the walls of their fair city, they decided to decorate an entire tree and make it the town's star attraction. It looks especially festive during Christmas season. Don't worry: No reindeer were harmed in the making of this tree. But, leave your pal Bambi at home.
8. Big Tex Randall, Canyon
Big Tex Randall has been standing (actually, sort of Captain Morgan-ing) proud and tall since 1959 over in Canyon. He was originally constructed to draw customers into the adjacent western store. The store has long-since closed, but Tex is still tougher than ever. He's been through a few changes, but seeing as he survived the "urban cowboy" makeover of the 80s we don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon.
7. Beer Can House, Houston
It's a rare man, indeed, that can combine passion and art...and aluminum. That's what John Milkovisch did in 1968, when he began combining his passion for beer with the art of decoupaging his home with aluminum cans. Some 39,000 beers later, and the house is now a Houston institution. God rest your soul, Mr. Milkovisch. Say hi to Hank for me.
6. The Glass Bathrooms, Sulphur Springs
No more feeling cramped when you need to cra... ahem, relieve yourself. Sulphur Springs is home to the world's first see-through bathroom. Here's how it works: You go inside and you can see out into the public square and not miss a thing, but from the outside, all folks see is their own reflection. It's like those two-way mirrors they use to interrogate criminals, but for whizzing! Genius.
5. Prada Marfa
If you drive up Hwy. 90 roughly 26 miles northwest of Marfa, you'll see an empty Prada storefront on the side of the road. The oddly-placed landmark was a design project created by architects Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello and reportedly cost $80,000 to make. The project has no official connection to the brand Prada. Its true purpose is left up to interpretation. Oh, there's also an empty Target shop along the highway in Marathon, Texas.
4. Dinosaur World, Glen Rose
Next door to Dinosaur State Park, is Dinosaur World, a walkable park with over 100 dinosaur statues. Taking a trip to Dinosaur World is a lot like going to Jurassic Park without getting eaten. Fun!
3. World's Largest Cowboy Boots
Over at North Star Mall in San Antonio, you can get a look at a 40-foot-tall pair of cowboy boots created in 1979 by Bob "Daddy-O" Wade. They kick-started North Star's popularity back in the day, and at one point even housed a homeless man who used the tall boots as a make-shift apartment -- complete with chimney!
2. Giant President Heads, Houston
Built for a pair of presidential theme parks that have since called it quits, the massive heads of our great leaders now sit in a storage lot and makeshift gallery in Houston. Built with expert craft and attention to detail, these heads-of-state are quite the sight to see. Now who wants to kidnap "W" and plant him on the Aggie 50-yard-line? Oh, and they also have statues of the Beatles and Charlie Chaplin.
1. Cadillac Ranch
One of the most popular roadside attractions in the US is located on I-40 near Amarillo. Here, 10 Caddies were buried, hood-first, in 1974 as a sort of avant-garde art installation and an ode to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin. The owners encourage folks to paint the cars and participate in the long-running story of the weirdest attraction in Texas.
