Kansas isn’t just endless wheat fields and flat landscapes. Hidden throughout the Sunflower State are some truly bizarre roadside attractions that make perfect pit stops on your next road trip. These strange and wonderful sights showcase the quirky creativity of Kansans and their unique sense of humor. From giant artwork to peculiar collections, these eight oddball attractions prove that Kansas knows how to keep travelers entertained in the most unexpected ways.
1. Truckhenge: Where Old Trucks Stand Tall
Imagine walking through a field where massive trucks stick out of the ground like prehistoric monuments. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Truckhenge near Topeka, where artist Ron Lessman decided to fight local authorities by turning his collection of antique trucks into art.
When ordered to ‘pick up’ his trucks in 2000, Lessman took the instruction literally – hoisting them vertically and cementing them into the ground. The rebellious display now includes a ‘Beer Bottle City’ made from thousands of empties and has become an offbeat tourist destination.
2. World’s Largest Ball of Twine: A Tangled Tale
In the small town of Cawker City sits a monument to one man’s unusual persistence. Frank Stoeber began rolling this massive ball in 1953, and the community hasn’t stopped adding to it since his death.
Weighing over 20,000 pounds and containing more than 8 million feet of sisal twine, this mammoth sphere continues to grow each year during the annual ‘Twine-a-Thon.’ Visitors can even add their own piece of twine to this record-breaking attraction.
A small gazebo protects the twine ball from the elements, while a guest book collects signatures from travelers who’ve made the pilgrimage to this shrine of string.
3. Giant Van Gogh Painting: Sunflowers on a Massive Scale
Goodland takes Kansas’ sunflower heritage to spectacular heights with a 24-foot by 32-foot reproduction of Van Gogh’s ‘Three Sunflowers in a Vase.’ Perched on an enormous steel easel that towers over the surrounding landscape, this colossal artwork stops traffic along Interstate 70.
Canadian artist Cameron Cross created this masterpiece as part of his Big Easel Project, which aims to install giant Van Gogh sunflower paintings in seven countries. The painting’s vivid yellows and oranges pop dramatically against the vast Kansas sky.
4. World’s Largest Czech Egg: A Colorful Heritage Symbol
The tiny town of Wilson (population under 800) proudly declares itself the ‘Czech Capital of Kansas’ with a jaw-dropping 20-foot tall painted egg. This massive pysanka – a traditional Czech decorated egg – stands in the town center, brilliantly painted with geometric patterns and folk designs that honor the area’s Czech immigrants.
Local artists carefully maintain the egg’s vibrant colors, touching up the intricate designs regularly. The massive egg rests on a decorative base that includes information about Czech culture and the town’s heritage.
During Easter celebrations, the egg becomes the centerpiece of community festivities that draw visitors from across the state.
5. Garden of Eden: A Concrete Wonderland of Biblical Proportions
S.P. Dinsmoor, a Civil War veteran with an artistic vision, spent his retirement creating one of America’s strangest sculpture gardens. His limestone and concrete creations in Lucas depict biblical scenes, political statements, and bizarre figures that have puzzled visitors for over a century.
The most unsettling feature? Dinsmoor’s own mummified body, visible through a glass-topped coffin inside a mausoleum he built himself. He wanted to ensure visitors could watch him ‘return to dust.’
The 11-room concrete house features over 200 sculptures and has become the centerpiece of Lucas’s reputation as the ‘Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas.’
6. Muffler Man: A Giant Tire-Wielding Sentinel
Looming over traffic at Brown’s Tire and Custom Wheel Center in Wichita stands a 20-foot fiberglass giant clutching a tire in his massive hand. This red-shirted behemoth belongs to the ‘Muffler Man’ family of roadside giants that once advertised businesses across America in the 1960s and 70s.
Originally designed to hold mufflers, these giants were repurposed by various businesses. Wichita’s specimen sports classic blue jeans, a bright red shirt, and an unblinking stare that has watched over passing cars for decades.
Travelers regularly pull over for selfies with this towering figure, creating a quirky landmark for a simple tire shop.
7. World’s Largest Belt Buckle: Cowboy Bling Supersized
Abilene celebrates its Wild West heritage with a buckle big enough for Paul Bunyan. This gleaming 19-foot metal monument showcases Kansas pride with intricate details that include sunflowers, wheat, and buffalo emblazoned across its polished surface.
Visitors climb a special platform to position themselves behind the buckle for photos that make them appear to be wearing this massive piece of cowboy bling. The buckle’s design pays homage to Abilene’s cattle-driving history and its connection to figures like Wild Bill Hickok.
Installed in 2016, this shiny attraction has quickly become one of the state’s most photographed roadside oddities.
8. Big Brutus: The Mechanical Monster of Southeast Kansas
Near the tiny town of West Mineral looms a 16-story behemoth that once devoured the earth in search of coal. Big Brutus, the world’s second-largest electric shovel, now stands silent but imposing across the prairie landscape, visible for miles around.
This 11-million-pound mining machine could move 150 tons of earth in a single bite with its massive 90-cubic-yard bucket. Decommissioned in 1974 when strip mining became unprofitable, Brutus was preserved as a monument to the region’s mining history.
Visitors can climb inside this mechanical monster, exploring its control room and marveling at the engineering that created this industrial titan.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
