4 Unique Roadside attractions in New England
Offbeat venues perfect for photo-ops
The northeastern states offer a range of experiences and attractions if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary. For those seeking a bit more eccentricity in their lives, these four roadside attractions are sure to satisfy..jpg)
Vermontasaurus (Vermont)
Head to Thetford to witness a 122-foot long, 25-foot high dinosaur sculpture comprised of scrap wood. Brian Boland, an experimental balloon pilot, built Vermontasaurus back in 2010 to reuse discarded wood from his balloon manufacturing business. With the help of some volunteers, he nailed each plank together in a haphazard way to construct the spiked body of the dinosaur.
It was almost destroyed due to a zoning issue; however, the structure still remains. A portion of the underbelly collapsed in 2012, but volunteers repaired and slightly modified Vermontasaurus while adding a smaller baby version to keep the original one company.
Ponyhenge (Massachusetts)
Head about 15 miles west of Boston to witness the unique herd of plastic rocking horses and other toy horses that grace Old Sudbury Road in Lincoln. Though it’s a mystery how Ponyhenge got started, it keeps growing every year. As the owner of the property expressed to the Boston Globe in 2015, “There was something lovely about it being anonymous, and now every time we go away, another one appears.” The collection also gets rearranged every now and then — sometimes the horses are in rows, other times they’re in a circle.
Since the location is a bit tricky to locate via GPS, make sure to type in the following address when navigating to this destination: 39 Old Sudbury Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.
Frog Rock (Connecticut)
Frog Rock is a boulder in Eastford featuring paint designs that resemble a frog. Legend has it that the painting tradition started in the 1880s when Republican state legislature Thomas Thurber passed it on his daily commute from Putnam to Hartford and thought it resembled a frog. Locals have kept up the ritual ever since.
Today, if you visit the special boulder located near the intersection of Highway 198 and Highway 97, you’ll find a food stand, picnic tables, playground and antique shop. Live music and local events — such as the Connecticut Volkswagen Association’s Frog Rock Gathering — are often held here.
International Cryptozoology Museum (Maine)
Portland provides an unusual site claiming to be “the world’s only international cryptozoology museum.” It was founded by Loren Coleman, who accumulated specimens, artifacts and replicas of popular and arcane cryptids over the years. She established a public display to share cryptozoology with Maine inhabitants. As Coleman explained, cryptozoology is “the study of hidden or unknown animals.” Witness the eight-and-a-half-foot tall, 300-pound “Crookston Bigfoot,” a replica of P.T. Barnum’s Feejee Mermaid. You can also browse photos, hair samples and footprint casts of cryptids.
Whether you prefer dinosaurs, mermaids, frog rocks or ponies, you’re bound to have a gratifying adventure at one or more of these locations.
