Calling all fans of weird, local attractions! Did you know that we have many unusual roadside attractions right here in Ohio? From America’s largest outdoor chandelier to the world’s largest troll doll collection, you have quite the selection of roadside attractions in Ohio. Whether you are stopping by on your way to somewhere else or you want to make a scavenger hunt out of it, we’ve compiled a list for you.
America’s Largest Outdoor Chandelier (Cleveland)
Not only is the Playhouse Square chandelier unique, it is truly a beautiful sight to see! Day or night, you can view the 20-foot high light with more than 4,200 crystals that hangs in the center of Playhouse Square district in downtown Cleveland. The breathtaking chandelier shimmers bright at night and is a lovely backdrop to your photos before or after your theater show.
Location: E 14th St, Cleveland, OH 44115
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World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock (Sugarcrek)
Set in the heart of Amish country, you will find the world’s largest cuckoo clock. The structure is 23 feet wide and 24 feet tall. Not only is it a massive clock, but it is also quite intricate and beautiful. When the clock strikes the half hour mark, a cuckoo bird emerges from the clock. Then Swiss polka music begins, as a band plays and a couple dances. Be sure to stay for the half hour mark to see the entertainment.
Location: Corner of Main Street and Broadway in Sugarcreek
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World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab (Hillsboro)
Did you know you can find a 67 foot long, 28 foot wide, and 12 foot high horseshoe crab right here in landlocked Ohio? That’s right, the structure, affectionately known as “Crabbie,” was originally built in Baltimore’s inner harbor. Today, you can view the crab in Hillsboro. It was originally used as a teaching space, so it is actually open on the inside with room for groups of people.
Crabbie is owned by a private family. It is a roadside attraction, and the family is happy to invite people to come see it, but there is no public parking. Use caution parking on the shoulder of State Route 124.
Location: 7592 OH-124, Hillsboro, Ohio, 45133
World’s Largest Loaf of Bread (Urbana)
Located in Urbana is the world’s largest loaf of bread. Although it is not actually bread, it is made out of fiberglass and steel, it looks just like the real product. It’s origin is unknown, which makes it a bit of a mystery. There is visitor parking and a concrete slab in front of the structure, which is a great spot for photos.
Location: E Water St, Urbana, OH 43078
World’s Largest Basket Building (Newark)
The world’s largest bread basket is 192 feet long and 208 feet long at its longest point. It is modeled after the Longaberger medium bread basket. The structure is actually a building that was once used as the corporate headquarters for the Longaberger Company.
Location: 1500 E Main St, Newark, OH 43055
World’s Largest Pumpkin Water Tower (Circleville)
Circleville, Ohio is known for its annual Pumpkin Show Festival, dubbed “the greatest free show on Earth.” The Pumpkin Water Tower is displayed in town to represent the town’s heritage. It even dawns a stem on top for authenticity. It is a popular attraction to see during the festival, but it is located in Circleville year round.
Location: 440 Town St, Circleville, OH 43113
World’s Largest Apple Basket (Cass Township)
Not too far from the world’s largest basket building is the world’s largest apple basket. That’s right, a 20-foot tall basket filled with bright red, fake apples. It’s recently been repainted, so it really stands out. The basket sits inside Longaberger Village, which has been abandoned. However, the apple basket is freshly refurbished and visible on your visit.
Location: 5563 Raiders Rd, Frazeysburg, OH
World’s Largest Gavel (Columbus)
Located in the heart of the Supreme Court of Ohio is the world’s largest gavel. Set between two judiciary buildings of the Ohio Judicial Center is a giant, steel gavel in the middle of a reflecting pool. The gavel is 12 feet by 30 feet by 15 feet.
Location: 65 S Front St, Columbus, OH 43215
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World’s Largest Ping Pong Paddle (Columbus)
Located inside Pins Mechanical in downtown Columbus is the world’s largest ping pong paddle. This attraction is located inside of a building so be sure to check the restaurants operating hours before visiting. It is 7.8 feet by 6 feet by 7.8 feet and hangs on the wall by the ping pong table. It is made out of wood and rubber.
Location: 141 N. 4th St., Columbus, OH
World’s Largest Rubber Stamp (Cleveland)
Cleveland is home to the world’s largest rubber stamp, a 49-foot red stamp. It was originally created to be on the campus of Standard Oil of Ohio, aka “Sohio.” The word FREE is on the stamp, honoring the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument across the street from this location. However, once Sohio changed ownership, the stamp was no longer wanted on the property. It sat for six years in a warehouse before it made its way to Cleveland’s Willard Park, just blocks from its originally proposed location.
Location: 601 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
ASM International, World’s largest open-air Geodesic Dome (Novelty)
A fusion of art and science can be found in Russell Township at the ASM International Headquarters. The 50,000 square foot dome is the largest open-air geodesic dome in the world. It is 274-feet in diameter and was designed in 1958 without using any internal supports. Inside is a mineral garden.
Location: 9639 Kinsman Rd, Novelty, OH 44072
Big Muskie Bucket (McConnelsville)
The 220-cubic-yard, 240-ton bucket, makes Big Muskie the biggest dragline ever built. It sits inside Jesse Owens State Park. Visitors can actually stand inside the bucket of the machine that operated from 1969 and 1991. When the mining operation shut down in 1991, Big Muskie was taken apart and recycled, but the bucket remained.
Location: 4470 OH-78, McConnelsville, OH 43756
The Slingshot (Columbus)
The Franklinton Slingshot is 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide. It looks just like a giant slingshot, and was designed as a playful way to represent…“momentum as a community.” Viewers can also interact with the sculpture, placing themselves in the spot where the ball belongs. The slingshot is located along the Scioto River.
Location: 388 Trestle View St, Columbus, OH 43215
Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can (Napoleon)
Outside the Campbell’s Soup Plant in Napoleon sits a giant version of the iconic Campbell’s Tomato Soup can. It is 33 feet wide and 33 feet tall, painted to look just like the real thing. Fun fact: it would take 2,178,645 cans of Campbell’s Tomato Soup to fill the tank. There is a gravel spot located near the can for visitors to stop and take photos.
Location: 12772 State Route 110, Napoleon, OH
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The BIG Rocking Chair (Austinburg)
At 20 feet tall, it is not the largest rocking chair in the world, but it sure is big! There is parking, so you can get out and take photos. Visitors mention that they were able to climb up on it, but it is a bit unstable, so use caution. It is free to visit and open year round.
Location: 1933 Hwy 45, Austinburg, OH
Judy’s Hand (Cleveland)
Judy’s Hand is a giant sculpture of a hand located east of the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA) on the plaza. It is 21-feet high and 7 tons. It is designed with the hand in the air and the fingers touching the ground, so you have the opportunity to walk beneath the hand and around the fingers. The artist, Tony Tasset, designed the sculpture from a cast of his wife’s hand.
Location: 11440 Uptown Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106
The Wall of Whales (Cleveland)
Bet you didn’t imagine seeing whales on the side of a building in Cleveland, but that’s exactly what you’ll find on the Cleveland Public Power Plant. The mural, titled: Song of the Whales, extends three sides of the power plant. The artwork is actually number 75 in a series of 100 done by the marine artist, Wyland. There are eight murals total throughout the Great Lake region.
Location: 5251 N Marginal Rd, Cleveland, OH 44114
Troll Hole Museum World’s Largest Troll Doll Collection (Alliance)
The Guinness World Record of the largest troll doll collection can be found inside the Troll Hole Museum. The 14-room museum offers guided tours, where you can view all of the trolls, as well as learn about the history and folklore of the dolls. The museum also has a gift shop and cafe onsite.
Location: 228 E Main St, Alliance, OH 44601
Umbrella Alley (Louisville)
This new attraction in downtown Louisville welcomes visitors to an alley of more than 200 umbrellas. This colorful display hangs high on the brick walls, allowing you to walk down the alley beneath the umbrellas. Benches are located down the alley as well so visitors can sit and enjoy. The attraction is open 24/7 and is free to attend.
Location: 218 E Main St, Louisville, OH 44641
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Giant Amish Horse and Buggy (Greenwich)
The world’s largest horse and buggy made of 2x4s is proportional to a real life horse and buggy. It is 32 feet long and 14 feet high made of 2,300 board feet of lumber. It is located across the street from End of the Commons General Store, which has been in operation since 1840.
Location: 570 US-250, Greenwich, OH 44837
World’s Largest Paddleball (Cleveland)
In Gordon Square in Cleveland, you will find the world’s largest paddleball! The 14-foot structure includes a giant white string attached to a large red ball. After the sculpture was finished, the town attempted to break a world record for more people paddleballing in one location. They didn’t break the world record, but they did break a record for the state of Ohio. You can gather below the structure for a photo.
Location: 743 Lake Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102
Lakeview Easter Basket (Lorain)
Built in 1937, the Lakeview Easter basket has been a local treasure for many years. The basket is made of concrete. The design inside the basket has changed over the years with Easter eggs and candy on Easter. It is located in Lakeview Park and is an easy photo opportunity spot.
Location: 1526 W Erie Ave, Lorain, OH 44052
Field of Corn (Dublin)
In Dublin, you will find a unique art installation of giant ears of corn. The display includes 109 concrete ears of corn built into rows in a grassy field. These human-sized (6 ft. 3) ears of corn pay tribute to the community’s farming legacy. There are also two rows of Osage Orange Trees on the property, one that was there before the installation and one planted after the project was complete.
Location: 4995 Rings Road, Dublin, OH 43016
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Chief Leatherlips Monument (Dublin)
The Chief Leatherlips Monument is a 12-foot high depiction of the great Wyandot Indian chief. It is made from native limestone slabs and forms a face. You can walk up the backside of the grassy area behind the monument, which allows you to stand at the top of the head. The structure is located in Scioto Park with restrooms, benches and easy accessibility to the monument.
Location: 7377 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH 43017
David Grohl Alley, World’s Largest Drumsticks (Warren)
Did you know that Foo Fighters and Nirvana drummer, David Grohl, was born in Warren, Ohio? There is an art installation in Dave Grohl Alley that includes the world’s largest drumsticks. They each weigh more than 900 pounds and are 23 feet long. There is parking located nearby for easy accessibility to the alley.
Location: Defiance Building, 141 W Market St Exd, Warren, OH 44481
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The World’s Largest Washboard (Logan)
Outside the Columbus Washboard Company is one of the world’s largest versions of their namesake product: the washboard. It is a 24-foot tall replica located outside of the building. The attraction receives extra attention each June during the town’s Washboard Music Festival.
Location: 4 E Main St, Logan, OH 43138
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World’s Largest Bobblehead (Bellville)
The “twin of giant handed Jacque,” is the world’s largest bobblehead, located in Bellville. It stands 32-feet tall, and has cheeseburgers for hands. His head is attached to his body with a huge spring, making him a bobblehead. He looks down on the Buckeye Express Diner located nearby, which is a nice spot for a meal while viewing him.
Location: 810 OH-97, Bellville, OH 44904
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World’s Largest Basket by Longaberger (Dresden)
Imagine the giant sized Lonaberger market basket, but actually giant. The world’s largest basket is in downtown Dresden and it is 48 feet long, 11 feet wide and 23 feet high. It also includes the two swinging handles of the original basket design. It is made from 10 hardwood Maple trees.
Location: E 5th St &, Main St, Dresden, OH 43821
The Gilboa Bull / Big Beef Cow (Gilboa)
The 16-foot tall Gilboa Bull is originally from Toledo, but moved to Gilboa in the 1970s. It’s a fixture in the area and remains in good shape. There is a grassy area to stop and take photos.
Location: the corner of State Route 224 and Pearl Street, Gilboa 45875
