Roadside Attraction T-Shirts

Second in a series of designs inspired by my favorite attractions and vintage travel souvenirs

Cadillac Ranch Texas

Roadside Attraction You Are On Design. Can be applied to design banners, flyers, posters, t-shirts, jackets and all other materials

After WWII had come to an end, wartime rationing and conservation were over, and Americans were ready to hit the road and see the sights. Travel stickers became a popular souvenir of the places people visited and could be found at most service stations, landmarks, motels, and restaurants along America's highways. Whether they were stuck on luggage, into albums, or right on the family car, these stickers were a ubiquitous sight for years to come. This one is based on a design celebrating Oklahoma's 39 Tribal Nations and features a Native American dancing in front of a teepee.

In 1984, this pink toe truck’s iconic status was cemented in history when Mr. Lincoln decided to put the truck on his building’s roof at the company’s Fairview Avenue and Mercer Street location. It was now on display for millions of drivers that came off the Mercer Street exit from I-5 and became a fixture for decades to come. of course, long gone is the old towing yard at the end of the Mercer Street exit, but this bubblegum pink tow truck with five toes on top can still be found, though you'll need to visit the Museum of History and Industry to catch a look.

Sarasota is a city on the southwestern coast of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is at the southern end of the Tampa Bay Area, north of Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. In 1927 Sarasota became the winter quarters for the animals of the Ringling Brothers Circus and after nearly a century of calling the area home, you can find many landmarks in Sarasota are named after the Ringlings.

Vintage Continental Hyatt House Hotel West Hollywood colloquially known as the "Riot House" by its legendary Rock and Roll clientele

Flagstaff, Arizona's The Museum Club first opened as a taxidermy shop and showcase and had evolved into a nightclub by 1936. Housed inside what was once claimed to be the world's largest log cabin, The Museum Club was a dance hall, live music venue, and rowdy cowboy bar that served generations of patrons in Flagstaff. After more than 80-years, this roadside attraction had become an icon along the historic Route 66 Highway, attracting tourists and locals alike who were drawn in by its history as well as karaoke and dime beer nights. Known by locals as "The Zoo," the venue played host to live country music and line dancing, all of which took place under the watchful eyes of wildlife mounts. most of which have been there since day one.

If you traveled through Pennsylvania Dutch country anytime from the 50s until the late 90s, you likely noticed signs advertising Zinn's Diner and their authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. If you followed the signs and got off the turnpike, you probably recall the larger than life figure of Amos, a stereotypical Pennsylvania Dutchman standing near the entrance to welcome you inside for some Wunderful Gudt food or maybe to keep you company while you waited outside for a table. While Zinn's is nothing but a memory today, you can still enjoy many of their signature dishes at the Park Place Diner and if you want to catch up with Amos, he was last seen standing around at Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn.

The La Brea Tar Pits are a group of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed in urban Los Angeles. Natural asphalt (or tar brea in Spanish) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with dust, leaves, or water, which made it a natural trap for animals of all kinds, including humans. Over many centuries, the tar preserved the bones of animals that became trapped. La Brea Tar Pits is a registered National Natural Landmark and the on-site museum is dedicated to researching the tar pits and displaying specimens found there.

155 is the year that REALLY put Asteroid City on the map!

If you've traveled down the I40 through Amarillo you've probably seen the signs for The big Texan Steak Ranch. I wish more places had quirky signs like it, that and giant steaks to eat.

It's what gave Asteroid City its name!

Artist illustration of a watercolor I painted depicts the iconic Cadillac Ranch on Route 66 near Amarillo Texas. Rows of rainbow-colored Cadillacs stand partially buried, their gleaming fins pointing skyward. A bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds provides a striking backdrop to the playful and whimsical scene. The loose brushstrokes and soft washes of color capture the dreamlike quality of this unique roadside attraction.

If you've driven Interstate 29 through Missouri some time in the past 45 years, you probably recall an unmistakable landmark at the Faucett exit - a tractor trailer floating high above the ground. This semi turned sign marks the location of the Farris Truck Stop. First opened in 1976, the traditional mom-and-pop truck stop was a favorite with locals and truckers alike and was a fixture in the small town of just over 800 people.

If you've traveled down the I40 through Amarillo you've probably seen the signs for The big Texan Steak Ranch. I wish more places had quirky signs like it, that and giant steaks to eat.

In 1925, Howard Deering Johnson borrowed $2,000 to buy and operate a small corner pharmacy in Wollaston, a neighborhood in Quincy, Massachusetts. Throughout the summers of the late 1920s, Johnson opened concession stands on the beachfront property along the coast of Massachusetts. The stands sold soft drinks, hot dogs, and ice cream. Each stand was successful. With his success becoming more noticeable every year, Johnson convinced local bankers to lend him funds to operate a family-style restaurant. Negotiations were made and, toward the end of the decade, the first Howard Johnson's restaurant opened in Quincy. It featured fried clams, baked beans, chicken pot pies, frankfurters, ice cream, and soft drinks.

Established by a travelling showman, Mack McClung, in 1967, Snake Farm was a roadside tourist attraction of snakes, reptiles, and other exotic animals, located off of Interstate 35 in New Braunfels, Texas. The operation would later be sold off, expanded, and renamed, remaining in operation to this very day.

Roadside America attraction right before it was renovated,Shartlesville PA

Vintage Continental Hyatt House Hotel West Hollywood colloquially known as the "Riot House" by its legendary Rock and Roll clientele

In 1929, Cañon City, Colorado authorized the construction of the Royal Gorge Bridge which took a crew of 80 hardy men to build in just seven months' time. Their story is one of American ingenuity, hard work, and solid engineering that resulted in a masterpiece that would last for generations to come. These men worked at daredevil heights beginning on June 5, 1929, completing the bridge in time for a dedication ceremony on December 8, 1929. At 955 feet above the river, the Royal Gorge Bridge held the record of the highest bridge in the world from 1929 to 2001. Today, the bridge is the centerpiece of Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, an amusement park with rides and attractions on both sides of the gorge that attracts visitors from around the worl

Recreated from an old billboard near Vernal, Utah.

Roadside Attraction. Can be applied to design banners, flyers, posters, t-shirts, jackets and all other materials

Noel Au Chateau, a year round Christmas shop located in Riviere du Loup, Quebec. Kitschy roadside tourist attraction.Who does not like Christmas year round? Rivière-du-Loup is a small city on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. Copyright Robert Alsop images, #Noel #Christmas

Somewhere near, or possibly in, Murfreesboro, Arkansas, USA

Ed Harvey opened his boat building business, Harvey Marine, in Aloha, Oregon back in 1954, but it really didn't get much attention from until 1974, when a 26' tall rabbit took up residence. As the story goes, a big storm damaged a fiberglass Texaco 'Big Friend' statue at a local service station and the owner brought it to Ed for fiberglass repair. Ed fixed it, but the owner never returned, so the statue lay abandoned in the boat yard for years until Ed decided to decapitate Big Friend and replace his noggin with a rabbit head of his own design. It quickly became a local landmark that became known far beyond Aloha and remains a popular roadside attraction to this very day.

Established by a travelling showman, Mack McClung, in 1967, Snake Farm was a roadside tourist attraction of snakes, reptiles, and other exotic animals, located off of Interstate 35 in New Braunfels, Texas. The operation would later be sold off, expanded, and renamed, remaining in operation to this very day.

Huskie the Muskie is the mascot of Kenora, Ontario, where Rita's late father was raised. Kenora is on the tip of Lake of the Woods and is world-famous for its fishing.

Like antiques? From weathervanes to antique model trains, this shop seems to have it all. I discovered this roadside antique shop in Quebec during a road trip. I was traveling through several small farming communities along the south shore of the St Lawrence River when I found this. It was full of antique metal art, toy trains, weathervanes and porcelain signs. This included old petrol signs popular with collectors of garage art. Of course, I couldn't pass this scene up to make a collection of photos. What's your favourite sign from yesteryear in this collection? Would this look good as wall art for your office or home décor? Support my art. Add this to your favourites and share with your friends. Thanks for visiting my gallery.

Like antiques? From weathervanes to antique model trains, this shop seems to have it all. I discovered this roadside antique shop in Quebec during a road trip. I was traveling through several small farming communities along the south shore of the St Lawrence River when I found this. It was full of antique metal art, toy trains, weathervanes and porcelain signs. This included old petrol signs popular with collectors of garage art. Of course, I couldn't pass this scene up to make a collection of photos. What's your favourite sign from yesteryear in this collection? Would this look good as wall art for your office or home décor? Support my art. Add this to your favourites and share with your friends. Thanks for visiting my gallery.

Vintage Continental Hyatt House Hotel West Hollywood colloquially known as the "Riot House" by its legendary Rock and Roll clientele

Pops 66 Station by Debra Martz Travel along route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma and you will find a 66 foot tall soda structure weighing in at 4 tons. The stop includes over 600 varieties of soda displayed on a glass wall, a restaurant, gas station and curio shop. This image is a partial section of the glass wall where the sodas are displayed as seen from the outside. Maybe some day I will pass by when it is lit at night in multi-colored neon. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20200602-DSC_0552-Edit-Enhanced.dng

Sanibel Island, Florida is located along the Gulf of Mexico, just a short drive from Fort Myers. While this tropical paradise justly famed for its sunsets, lighthouse, resorts, and sea shelling (it is known as the 'Seashell Capital of the World'), for about 30 years, there was another, slightly more unique attraction -The Sanibel Island Hippo Gardens. What started as a private estate with a couple of pet hippos in the '50s, ended up being somewhat of a roadside attraction with a dozen hippopotamus in the '60s. As the story goes, when the owners passed away, they left their estate to their only son, who eventually began operating somewhat of a private zoo amidst the property's extensive tropical gardens.

Truck advertising "Live Baby Gators" on a roadside in Central Florida.

Pops 66 Station by Debra Martz Travel along route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma and you will find a 66 foot tall soda structure weighing in at 4 tons. The stop includes over 600 varieties of soda displayed on a glass wall, restaurant, gas station and curio shop. Maybe some day I will pass by when it is lit at night in multi-colored neon. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection "Oklahoma" 20200602-DSC_0531

While driving through North Dakota you can see this Holstein Cow for miles before you arrive. The weather on this day wasn't great. But it was definitely cool to see.