The 25 Best Roadside Attractions in Virginia
Ranked by Roadtrippi users — the people who've actually been there. Updated June 2026. Roadtrippi catalogs 322 roadside attractions in Virginia.
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1. Rubble from 9-11
Lynchburg, VA
A chunk of the Pentagon, mounted on a pedestal, surrounded by a pentagon-shaped sidewalk.
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2. Apple Basket Water Tower
Mount Jackson, VA
Apple rich region shows its pride with a municipal water tower sphere painted to resemble a basket of apples (otherwise, it's a standard spheroid tank).
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3. Big Peanut
Wakefield, VA
Four feet tall, on a pedestal. Probably built in the 1980s. Not a civic symbol, but instead a kind of mascot for a peanut store.
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4. Virginia City - Old West Town (Closed)
Wytheville, VA
An Old West town only a few miles from the Atlantic seaboard.
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5. Wayward Rhino Mom and Baby
Bedford, VA
Why are they here? A custom-made life-size rhino mom and baby stand next to a highway. Built by Foamhenge creator Mark Cline.
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6. George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Alexandria, VA
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7. Yogi Bear Statue
Natural Bridge Station, VA
Fiberglass Yogi Bear strikes a friendly pose with a pilfered picnic basket.
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8. Building Shaped Like a Coffee Pot
Lexington, VA
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9. Giant Beach Ball Statues (Gone)
Virginia Beach, VA
The boardwalk in Virginia Beach is improved by a series of giant beach ball statues, and a large yellow smiley face ball.
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10. Mill Mountain Star
Roanoke, VA
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11. Oldest Metal Bridge in Virginia
Elliston, VA
Built in 1878, in use until 1971. Now a pedestrian-only novelty at a freeway rest area.
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12. Muffler Man - Bunyan
Roanoke, VA
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13. Glow-A-Rama: Time Travel Mini-Golf (Closed)
Buchanan, VA
Another 18-hole blacklight Mini-Golf. This one claims to be "time travel"-themed, and somehow that incorporates superheroes and a haunted house.
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14. Doumar's: World's Oldest Waffle Cone Machine
Norfolk, VA
Eat a 100-year-old ice cream cone made on a waffle cone machine invented by the man who invented the ice cream cone.
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15. Professor Cline's Haunted Monster Museum & Dark Maze (Gone)
VA
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16. James Madison Museum
Orange, VA
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17. Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine
Pocahontas, VA
There was a time when tourists were able to drive their cars through the mine, but today's walking tour is probably better for everyone concerned.
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18. George Washington's Initials and Light Show
Natural Bridge, VA
The Father of Our Country tagged Natural Bridge with a hammer and chisel. See the vandalism by day, then be dazzled at night with the "Drama of Creation" light show -- which, due to separation of church and state, can only be shown after business hours.
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19. Shot Tower
Austinville, VA
Built in the early 1800s. Balls for bullets were made by pouring hot lead from the top of the tower. Shorter than other surviving shot towers, because half of its length is underground.
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20. Defiant POW Capt. Rocky Versace Memorial
Alexandria, VA
Bronze statue at Alexandria Vietnam Veterans Memorial depicts Versace with two Vietnamese children playing ball. Captured just two weeks before going home, Versace was tortured and paraded through villages. He told the Viet Cong to "go to hell" in three languages.
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21. Staff Sgt. Reckless, Marine Hero Horse
Quantico, VA
A hero horse helped Marines fend off the Chinese and move U.S. artillery and munitions during the Korean War. Honored in 2013 with a life-size bronze statue by artist Jocelyn Russell.
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22. Atlas Shrugging
Richmond, VA
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23. Victim of Jack the Giant Killer (Gone)
Daleville, VA
Giant hands poke up over a ridge, a truck nearby with a giant ax is from Jack's Giant Killers. 2011 Mark Cline prank.
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24. Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Transportation Museum
Pulaski, VA
Dr. Milton Brockmeyer's model trains layout depicts 1955 Pulaski. Recently moved into an expanded museum facility.
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25. Ductwork Tin Man
Fairfax, VA
A tin man made of ductwork stands on the roof of a sheet metal business.
Browse all 322 attractions in Virginia on Roadtrippi.