10 Bizarre Roadside Attractions In Iowa That Will Make You Do A Double Take

Roadside attractions can provide entertainment and intrigue, as well as dubious bragging rights to your friends. Chances are, if you visit these sights, you’ll be one of the only ones at the party who has seen a cabbage patch museum AND a giant spider made from a VW Bug. Here are 10 of the most bizarre roadside attractions that Iowa has to offer.

1. The Volkswagen Beetle Spider, Avoca

This giant spider is built with an actual Volkswagen Beetle.

2. Large Rotating Ear of Corn, Coon Rapids

Coon Rapids welcomes you with a 10-foot-tall rotating ear of corn.

3. Smiley Face Tower, Adair

Adair’s smiley face water tower looks down on the town, reminding people to look on the bright side of life.

4. The Pyramid House, Clear Lake

This is the largest rental house in Clear Lake, with six bedrooms and three bathrooms.

5. Donna’s Cabbage Patch Fantasy Land Museum, Griswold

This museum contains a large collection of cabbage patch dolls. The museum doesn’t sell dolls, but it does sell t-shirts, in case you want something to commemorate your trip. You may want to call ahead before you visit, as the museum is a one woman show.

6. Gas Station Jesus, Dubuque

This Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was built by George Isaac, a gas station owner who wanted to thank the Lord for allowing him to build a gas station. The statue is spotlit so you can see it even at night.

7. Coffee Pot and Coffee Cup Water Towers, Stanton

The Swedish-style coffee pot holds 50,000 gallons, the equivalent of 800,000 cups of coffee. In 1996, Stanton built a 96-foot-tall coffee cup-and-saucer water tower that holds a whopping 150,000 gallons of water.

8. Castles of Ida Grove, Ida Grove

Byron LeRoy Godbersen, the most powerful man in Ida Grove, had his employees build these castles all over town.

9. Muffler Man & Longhorn Steer, Waukon

Check out this cowboy statue accompanied by a giant charging steer.

10. Amusement Park with Ancient Roller Coaster, Arnolds Park

The Arnolds Park Amusement Park was built in 1889 and is one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the world. It features a wooden roller coaster called The Legend that was first in operation in 1927. It’s the 13th oldest roller coaster in the world.

Check out some of Iowa’s other fascinating attractions here.