Roadside OdditiesJoel Fletcher Photography

I have a fascination with bizarre and unusual architecture, signage, and statues. Over the years I have snapped photos of numerous eccentric attractions, presented here for your amusement. Is it art or is it kitsch? It's all in the eye of the beholder. Click on any thumbnail image for a larger view, in its normal proportions.

  • Trader Nicks polynesian tiki restaurant.

    TRADER NICK'S, Pismo Beach, CA, 1991

  • Huge reclining woman statue.

    GIANT WOMAN, Greenbrae, CA, 1993, statue by Dennis Patton

  • Trader Morts store with tiki.

    TRADER MORT'S, San Diego, CA, 1988

  • Colossal octopus sign.

    OCTOPUS CAR WASH SIGN, Madison, WI, 1994

  • Tattoo Museum storefront.

    NATIONAL TATTOO MUSEUM, Wellington, New Zealand, 2005

  • Giant cow sign roadside attraction.

    HECKEL'S COW, Eau Claire, WI, 2001

  • Whimsical leaning building.

    LEANING TOWER OF WANAKA, New Zealand, 2005

  • Eerie ancient graveyard scene.

    KARORI CEMETERY, Wellington, New Zealand, 2005

  • Gigantic cartoony man and mouse sign.

    WESTERN EXTERMINATOR, Long Beach, CA 2012

  • Cowboy sculpture.

    McLINTOCK'S STATUE, Pismo Beach, CA, 1991

  • Building made of sticks.

    CAMP SKAGWAY, Alaska, 2003

  • Giant Joor Muffler Man.

    JOOR MUFFLER MAN, Escondido, CA, 1992

  • Sailor sculpture.

    SPYGLASS INN STATUE, Pismo Beach, CA 1991

  • Colossal barrel building roadside attraction.

    BARREL HOUSE LIQUOR, Washington, DC, 2008

  • Angel statue with gravestones.

    KARORI GRAVESTONES, Wellington, New Zealand, 2005

  • Enormous Muffler Man with goofy head.

    KEN'S MUFFLER MAN, Dallas, TX, 2012

  • Giant pig building vernacular architecture.

    PIG STAND, San Antonio, TX, 2009

  • Tiki statue in a garden.

    ROYAL HAWAIIAN TIKI (now demolished), Honolulu, 2008

Photo information: (1) TRADER NICK'S, Pismo Beach, CA, 1991. (2) GIANT WOMAN, Greenbrae, CA, 1993, statue by Dennis Patton. (3) TRADER MORT'S, San Diego, CA, 1988. (4) OCTOPUS CAR WASH SIGN, Madison, WI, 1994. (5) NATIONAL TATTOO MUSEUM, Wellington, New Zealand, 2005. (6) HECKEL'S COW, Eau Claire, WI, 2001 (7) LEANING TOWER OF WANAKA, New Zealand, 2005. (8) KARORI CEMETERY, Wellington, New Zealand, 2005. (9) WESTERN EXTERMINATOR SIGN, Long Beach, CA 2012 (10) McLINTOCK'S STATUE, Pismo Beach, CA, 1991. (11) CAMP SKAGWAY, Alaska, 2003. (12) JOOR MUFFLER MAN, Escondido, CA, 1992. (13) SPYGLASS INN STATUE, Pismo Beach, CA 1991. (14) BARREL HOUSE LIQUOR, Washington, DC, 2008. (15) KARORI GRAVESTONES, Wellington, New Zealand, 2005 (16) KEN'S MUFFLER MAN, Dallas, TX, 2012. (17) PIG STAND, San Antonio, TX, 2009. (18) ROYAL HAWAIIAN TIKI (now demolished), Honolulu, 2008.

© 2006-2020 Joel Fletcher
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