11 of the Weirdest New York Roadside Attractions Worth Stopping For

Posted by Zachary 2 Min Read June 13, 2025
11 of the Weirdest New York Roadside Attractions Worth Stopping For

New York State is full of surprises, and some of the best are found along its roadsides. From giant statues to mysterious rocks, these quirky attractions make any road trip memorable. Here are 11 of the weirdest roadside stops in New York, each with its own unique charm.

1. The Big Duck

  • Location: Flanders, Long Island
  • What Makes It Weird: A huge duck-shaped building, originally a duck and egg shop, now a famous landmark and gift store.

2. The Circle Museum

  • Location: Hillsdale, near Austerlitz
  • What Makes It Weird: An open-air sculpture museum with wild, metal artworks made from car parts and more.

3. Nipper Dog

  • Location: Menands (Albany area)
  • What Makes It Weird: A giant statue of Nipper the dog (from the RCA logo) sitting on a warehouse roof.

4. Giant Garden Gnome

  • Location: Kerhonkson
  • What Makes It Weird: “Gnome Chomsky,” a 13.5-foot-tall concrete gnome, once the world’s largest.

5. World’s Smallest Church

  • Location: Oneida
  • What Makes It Weird: Cross Island Chapel is just 28 square feet and sits on a tiny island, accessible only by rowboat.

6. World’s Largest Pancake Griddle

  • Location: Penn Yan
  • What Makes It Weird: A massive griddle hangs off a mill, used to make the world’s largest pancake.

7. Shark Girl

  • Location: Canalside, Buffalo
  • What Makes It Weird: A half-girl, half-shark sculpture that’s a popular selfie spot.

8. Scary Lucy Statue

  • Location: Lucille Ball Memorial Park, Jamestown
  • What Makes It Weird: A famously awkward statue of Lucille Ball, now joined by a more realistic one.

9. Balanced Rock

  • Location: North Salem
  • What Makes It Weird: A 60-ton boulder balanced on much smaller rocks—no one knows exactly how it got there.

10. Giant Roll of Life Savers

  • Location: Gouverneur
  • What Makes It Weird: A huge sculpture of a Life Savers candy roll, honoring the inventor’s hometown.

11. Two-Story Brick Outhouse

  • Location: (Various, Upstate New York)
  • What Makes It Weird: A legendary two-story brick outhouse, with three holes on each level, is part of Upstate lore.

Sources:

  1. https://q1057.com/this-unusual-roadside-museum-is-hidden-in-new-york-state-take-a-look/
  2. https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/new-york-state
  3. https://cnynews.com/new-york-roadside-oddities/
  4. https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/unique-roadside-attractions-in-new-york-state/