Here are 11 of the weirdest and most interesting roadside attractions worth stopping for in Virginia:
1. Dinosaur Land — White Post
A quirky prehistoric park featuring around 37 towering fiberglass dinosaurs and giant insects. Perfect for memorable photos in a kitschy setting.
2. The Giant Pencil — Wytheville
A massive pencil hanging over a downtown sidewalk, symbolizing the town’s uniqueness and small-town charm.
3. Giant Roller Skate — Bealeton
A giant roller skate sculpture sitting in a gravel parking lot, both mysterious and fascinating for picture takers.
4. Optimus Prime Statue — Roanoke
A towering homemade statue of Optimus Prime made from scrap metal, guarding a pizza restaurant with a heroic vibe.
5. The Big Chair — Martinsville
An 8.5-foot tall wooden chair celebrating the local furniture-making heritage, large and proud in the heart of Martinsville.
6. Dinosaur Kingdom II — Lexington
An immersive 10-acre wooded adventure park with crazy characters, interactive dinosaur encounters, and a time tunnel visiting a mining town.
7. Luray Caverns — Luray
Home to the world’s largest musical instrument—a stalacpipe organ that plays sounds by tapping the stalactites—offering a unique blend of natural beauty and music.
8. Military Aviation Museum — Virginia Beach
A must-visit museum featuring an impressive collection of vintage military aircraft, many still operational and occasionally taking flight.
9. Virginia Safari Park — Natural Bridge
A drive-through safari where you can feed elk, deer, llamas, and other exotic animals from your vehicle, combining wildlife with roadside fun.
10. The Enchanted Highway (near Virginia regions)
Though not fully within Virginia, similar large metal sculpture attractions inspired by this concept exist nearby, showcasing oversized metal art.
11. The World’s Largest Ball of Twine (Nearby influence)
While technically in Kansas, the quirky appeal of oversized roadside attractions like this has inspired similar oddities in Virginia.
These roadside stops range from kitschy to interactive and make for perfect quirky photo ops and nostalgic family memories when traveling through Virginia.
Sources
(https://virginiabreeze.drpt.virginia.gov/discover-hidden-gems-virginias-kitsch-iest-roadside-attractions/)
(https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/americas-weirdest-roadside-attractions/)
(https://www.virginia.org/things-to-do/attractions/museums-and-exhibits/one-of-a-kind/)
(https://www.fiftygrande.com/50-weirdest-roadside-attractions/)
(https://www.reddit.com/r/Virginia/comments/1mcefwn/the_best_and_worst_roadside_attractions_tourist/)
