One of our absolute favorite things to do when we are out riding around is to find roadside oddities and attractions. We have been known to make many a U-turn while driving down the road. This page will be dedicated to any roadside attractions we have found in the state of Florida.
It will be a constant work in progress as we will add new oddities and attractions every time we find one. Make sure you check back often for new updates. Better Yet, subscribe to my site so you will be informed each time content is added. Don’t worry, no spam here. I only send out emails once a week, usually on Fridays. Subscribe Here
My wooden ornaments are ½” thick and approximately 4” tall. They include a string for hanging and a magnet on the back if you prefer to put it on the refrigerator. They are available in 6 different shapes!!!
Anchor In The Rock
Location: Just North Of 909 SE Country Club Rd
City: Lake City
Region of State Located: Northern
Google Maps Pin
The address given above is for a large church on the left-hand side of the road. If you go another 500 feet south you will see this random rock with an anchor in it. There is a small grassy/dirt area where you can park and grab a photo op.
Bat Houses
Location: 2664 Museum Rd
City: Gainesville
Region of State Located: Northern
Google Maps Pin
What could possibly be the largest occupied Bat Houses in North America, these houses are located near Florida State University. There is limited parking. There are fences around the Bat Houses so you can’t get underneath them. Not sure if you’d want to…lol.
Blue Angel On A Pole
Location: Santa Rosa Westbound Rest Area On I-10
City: East Milton
Region of State Located: Western Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
This replica of a Blue Angels Jet can be found in the rest area. There is plenty of parking which makes it easy to grab some pictures. If you Geocache, there are two of them in this rest area…just saying.
Big Gorilla
Location: 1960 US Highway 19
City: Crystal River
Region of State Located: Northwest Central
Google Maps Pin
After leaving the Crystal River Preserve State Park we passed this Gorilla statue and had to stop. There was a vacant building behind it
Cadwell Park
Location: 1 Cassaday St
City: Umatilla
Region of State Located: Central
Google Maps Pin
A cool little park with all sorts of wood carvings of animals that were made into damaged trees.
Check out our short YouTube slideshow of this park by using the link below
Video of Cadwell Park
Cross In The Dunes
Location: Fort Pickens Rd
City: Pensacola Beach
Region of State Located: Southwest Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
We found this 10-foot concrete cross in the sand dunes while out riding our Navarre Beach loop. It’s a slight detour off the loop itself but it was pretty cool to check out. The cross commemorates the first Christian mass held in the United States when the Spaniards arrived.
Earth Rock
Location: 3645 N. Merritt Pkwy
City: Merritt Island
Region of State Located: Central/East Coast
Google Maps Pin
Located on the front lawn of a business is Earth Rock. It’s a rock that has the earth painted on one side as it looks from space. The back part of the rock is black. It must be night time on that side of the earth.
Giant Wizard Head
Location: 5265 W. Irlo Bronson Highway
City: Kissimmee
Region of State Located: Central
Google Maps Pin
Driving through central Florida will not disappoint you when it comes to roadside oddities and attractions. After all, it’s the home of Disney!!! This giant wizard head can be found atop a gift shop. Although wizards are supposed to have great powers, this one has had it’s problems with past hurricanes and has had to be repaired a time or two.
Grave In The Road
Location: 200-298 Canova Dr
City: New Smyrna Beach
Region of State Located: Central/East Coast
Google Maps Pin
The Grave of Charles Dummett is literally in the middle of this road. According to the research I have found, he was accidentally shot in a hunting accident. He was 15 years old and hunting with a friend when his gun discharged and killed him. He was buried right where he was killed. This happened in 1860. Although I could find no concrete evidence of the truth of this story, almost everyone seems to be in agreement of this version.
Guitar Taco Sign
Location: 5795 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
City: Kissimmee
Region of State Located: Central
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A drive through central Florida can find you some weird stuff. Outside of this Mexican bar & grill is a large guitar. It’s pretty detailed. After too many tequila’s you might want to even go out and try and play it…lol.
Highest Elevation In Florida
Location: 21082-21542 US-331
City: Paxton
Region of State Located: Northwest Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
Another attraction we found by accident. We were out riding and just happened to see a sign on the road. Of course, we had to investigate. It turned out to be a monument located in a park called Lakeside Park.
Johnny Donutseed
Location: 2716 Gamble Rd #59
City: Monticello
Region of State Located: East/Central Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
We were exploring northern Florida when we first got here and stumbled upon this guy when we stopped at a truck stop for gas.
Orange Building
Location: 5395 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
City: Kissimmee
Region of State Located: Central
Google Maps Pin
When you think of Florida, do you think of fruit? Oranges maybe? Well, a drive through central Florida will lead you to the Big Orange Building. Inside you will find everything oranges. Fruit, candy, souvenirs, and anything to do with oranges.
Possum Monument
Location: Corner of FL-77 & Washington St
City: Wausau
Region of State Located: Central Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
Yes, it’s true. A monument dedicated to the Possum. What can you even say about this?…lol
Queen Snake Lookout
Location: Southbound I-75 Just Past Exit 384
Alachua County Rest Area
City: Gainesville
Region of State Located: Northern
Google Maps Pin
The walkway leading up to the overlook, makes this look like a big snake. If you look at the photo you can see the eyes and tongue of the queen. Once at the end, you are overlooking I-75 and almost seemingly never-ending swamplands. There is even a quick Geocache you can score here!!!
Ray Charles Statue
Location: 140 Broad St (Haffye Hays Park)
City: Greenville
Region of State Located: Eastern Panhandle
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As we rode through the town of Greenville we couldn’t help but notice this guy sitting in the middle of the park. You may know him, Ray Charles.
Shark Mouth Building Entry
Location: 8136 Navarre Parkway
City: Navarre
Region of State Located: Western Panhandle
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This used to be a souvenir store and shark museum that went out of business. It is now a gym. Good place for a photo op.
Shrimp In Top Hats
Location: 1475 Garden St
City: Titusville
Region of State Located: Central/East Coast
Google Maps Pin
Where would you find shrimp in top hats? Where else? A seafood restaurant of course!!! The Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant in Titusville has these shrimp in top hats located all around the outside of the building. There is even a cool alligator fountain that has water shooting from its mouth.
Space Shuttle Fuel Tank
Location: 4035 Reynolds Blvd
City: Green Cove Springs
Region of State Located: Northeast
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Apparently this is a full-scale model of the space shuttle’s external fuel tank. It is supposed to be heading to a museum but there are many problems with the move such as overhead wires. Looks like it’s not going anywhere for a while.
Spook Hill
Location: 321 DR JA Wiltshire Ave
City: Lake Wales
Region of State Located: Central
Google Maps Pin
Spook hill is the ultimate in optical illusions. You stop your car and it appears to roll up the hill!!!
St Annes Shrine
Location: 1240 St Anne Shrine Rd
City: Lake Wales
Region of State Located: North/Central
Google Maps Pin
When you head out to the neighborhood where St Annes Shrine is located, you will be treated to much more than a shrine. There are large rock monuments near Saint Anne Lake and a nice path that leads you to the Shrine. When we were there looking at a stone monument where a statue of Jesus Christ once stood by the lake, a local resident came over and gave us the complete history of the area. A must-do if you find yourself in Lake Wales.
The Big Rooster
Location: 17120 County Road 234
City: Micanopy
Region of State Located: North/Central
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Found this one as we were heading for I-75. Looks like there is or was a fireworks store behind it.
The Old Chimney
Location: 5500 Scenic Highway
Chimney Park
City: Pensacola
Region of State Located: Western Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
This chimney is located in Chimney Park. It stands about 50′ tall. It marks the spot of an old sawmill. The chimney and sawmill were built in 1850. There is a small parking lot where you can pull in to grab some pictures.
UFO House
Location: 1304 Panferio Dr
City: Pensacola Beach
Region of State Located: Western Panhandle
Google Maps Pin
The coolest thing about this house is if you look closely you will see they put pictures of aliens in the windows
Volkswagen Spider
Location: 222 N Highland St
City: Mount Dora
Region of State Located: Central
Google Maps Pin
Created by John Henns in early 2020. A VW-painted all-black mounted on a steel pole (spider legs) makes for a cool oddity unless, of course, you have arachnophobia!!!