Every road trip with friends and family requires a quirky detour or two, and Wisconsin is home to some of the most memorable roadside attractions. Check out these quirky spots that will make you fall in love with the state even more.
1. The World’s Biggest Fish – Hayward
The largest building in the town of Hayward is a giant fiberglass musky that is part of the National Freshwater Fish Hall of Fame. The musky is four and a half stories tall and the same length as a Boeing 757. Enter through the tail of the musky and climb up to an observation deck at the fish’s open mouth, which seats up to 20 people. Taking a group selfie in front of this giant fish is a must for any visit to Hayward.
Bonus tip: You and your buddies can have extra fun by fishing in an 88,000 gallon pond stocked with muskies.
2. Goat on the Roof by Al Johnson – Sister Bay
Taking a road trip to Door County? The goats grazing on the grass roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay have been attracting attention for decades. They’ve become famous for their own online “goat cam” and “goat roofing” parade in June.
Bonus tip: order the restaurant’s Swedish pancakes, the second most famous dish at this authentic Scandinavian restaurant.
3. Pinky the Elephant – DeForest
Travelers needing gas on I-90/94 should exit at Highway V and look for Pinky the Pink Elephant at the Shell station near DeForest. This giant fiberglass sculpture, with his hipster-style black-rimmed glasses, is hard to miss. What started as a way to direct customers to the gas station has evolved into the perfect selfie spot.
Bonus tip: Try some seriously delicious pies at Norske Nook restaurant, just 5 miles away.
4. World’s Biggest Six Pack – Lacrosse
The world’s largest six-pack is actually a set of metal beer tanks built in 1969 by G. Heilman Brewing Company (the former Old Style brewery) for storing inventory. Now owned by City Breweries, it has been redesigned to look like a six-pack of La Crosse Lager and contains the equivalent of 7,340,796 cans of beer. Amazing!
Bonus tip: Take WI-35 south to the National Beer Museum in Potosi to see the world’s largest conical beer can, measuring over 40 feet tall.
5. Mars Cheese Castle – Kenosha
In a state where cheese is king, it makes sense to store it in a castle. Welcome to Mars Cheese Castle, conveniently located in Kenosha on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Stock up on bags of artisanal cheeses and cheese curds for your road trip on your way to or from Wisconsin.
Bonus tip: Pick up some crunchy fruit- and nut-filled Danish kringle, Wisconsin’s official state pastry, at O&H Danish Bakery in nearby Racine to share with pals on the road.
6. World’s Largest Talking Loon – Mercer
Her name is Claire de Lune, she has a great singing voice and a big stage presence (she’s 16 feet tall and weighs 2,000 pounds), and this adorable lady is the world’s largest talking loon, and although she only speaks loon sounds, she’s happy to oblige requests from tourists and paparazzi wanting to take her photo.
Bonus tip: Rent a canoe and float down the Turtle Flambeau River to see real loons.
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7. Sputnik Crash Site – Manitowoc
On September 6, 1962, a 20-pound piece of the Sputnik IV satellite crashed into the middle of Main Street, changing Manitowoc’s history forever. To commemorate this strange fate, the city preserved the crash site and kept an official replica of the space junk at the nearby Rahr West Art Museum, which also features works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Pablo Picasso.
Bonus tip: Visit in September for the annual SputnikFest, which commemorates the moment the universe collided with Manitowoc.
8. The World’s Largest Penny – Woodruff
The world’s largest penny, measuring 15 feet tall, 12 inches thick and weighing nearly nine tons, sits prominently in Little Woodruff. The concrete coin commemorates a 1953 fundraising drive organized by Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb, who asked local elementary school students to save their pennies to build a hospital. Word spread across the country, and 1.7 million pennies were ultimately raised. Who would have thought a hospital could be built with pennies?
Bonus tip: visit the nearby Dr. Kate Museum to find out what it’s all about.
9. World’s Largest M – Prattville
If you’ve ever wanted to stand next to the famous Hollywood sign above Los Angeles, you might consider a trip to Pratt Mound to see the world’s largest M. It’s called an “M” because it was made by students at the former Wisconsin School of Mines, now known as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. You can see the 241-foot by 214-foot lettering from nearly 30 miles away.
Bonus tip: Put on your hard hat and take an underground tour of the 1845 Bevans Lead Mine at the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum.
10. Dr. Evermore’s Forevertron – North Freedom
Behind this small community salvage business lies an otherworldly collection of artwork created by the late Dr. Evermore (yes, he was a real person). Old pieces and parts from the salvage business served as the inspiration for his magical sculpture garden, the centerpiece of which is the Forevertron, a 400-ton, 50-foot-tall scrap metal sculpture often called the largest in the world. You and your group can tour the grounds for free and are sure to find plenty of amazing sights.
Bonus tip: Hike to Devil’s Lake State Park in nearby Baraboo to take selfies with the natural rock carvings of the quartzite cliffs.
11. Ben Bikin, the World’s Greatest Cyclist – Sparta
To celebrate its status as the cycling capital of the United States, Sparta proudly displays the world’s largest bicycle, called “Ben Bikini,” aka “Big Ben,” at the town entrance. The 32-foot-tall Victorian-era bike has a speaker mounted on its base so “Ben” can narrate the history of Sparta.
Bonus tip: Grab your bike (and a friend!) and ride the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, the nation’s first rail-to-trail conversion.
12. Concrete Park – Phillips
Now retired in his 60s, Fred Smith decided to add another title to his name — artist — to commemorate his experiences as a lumberjack, tavern owner, farmer and dance hall musician.Without any training, Smith created Concrete Park, Phillips’ only folk art exhibit, comprised of about 200 hand-crafted sculptures made from a variety of materials.
Bonus tip: For a bird’s-eye view of the region from Tim’s Hill, the highest natural overlook in Wisconsin, head 30 miles south.
13. World’s Largest Hodag Statue – Rhinelander
What is a Hodag? This mysterious creature, a cross between a dog and a frog with horns and glowing eyes, began as a local legend and is now the hometown mascot of the Northwoods city of Rhinelander. This unique monster has even appeared in an episode of Scooby-Doo. Bring your buddies and stop by the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center to take a selfie in front of the famous monster.
Bonus tip: Visit the Hodag store and pick up some monster merchandise as a souvenir.
14. World’s Largest Potato Masher – Plover
Wisconsin is known for its dairy farming, but did you know it also ranks in the top three states for crop production, including cranberries, carrots, peas and potatoes? Snap a photo of the world’s largest potato masher and discover more fascinating facts about Wisconsin agriculture at the newly constructed Food+Farm Exploration Center. With exhibits for all ages, it’s a worthwhile stop on your next family trip.
Bonus tip: Make your trip even more enjoyable by stocking up on some delicious dairy products at Belt’s Soft Serve in Stevens Point.
Discover more must-see places that locals love with our top travel ideas for hidden gems in Wisconsin.
