The thought of a New England road trip conjures up images of long stretches of country roads covered with fallen leaves or serene mountainsides painted in autumn reds and oranges. It’s true . . . autumn drives through New England yield many beautiful sights. It’s hard to believe that some of the weirdest roadside attractions in America are hidden amongst the miles and miles of scenery. But, trust us, they’re there and they’re weird. So weird that you shouldn’t pass them up.
So, next time you find yourself on a New England road trip completely in awe of how majestic this part of the country is, take a little time to stop at one of our favorite odd sites. You’ll realize just how eccentric New England is, too.
America’s Stonehenge—Salem, New Hampshire
Located on the aptly named Mystery Hill, America’s Stonehenge houses a huge complex of stone walls, tunnels, and standing stones. Ok, stone walls aren’t so strange. But what’s weird is that these stones accurately plot astronomical events like solstices, equinoxes, and even ancient holidays. And carbon dating of the stones suggests that the structures could be more than 4,000 years old.
The carbon dating evidence, along with the inscriptions in ancient languages scattered around the complex leads to speculation. Were these formations the work of astronomically inclined Native Americans? Others guess that a migrant European population could’ve wandered through a few thousand years ago. Some even believe that this could be the remains of a monastery or simply the misinterpreted work of 18th-century farmers. While all these guesses shroud Mystery Hill in a delicious romanticism, many think landowner, William Goodwin, built the structure himself in the 1930s to make a pretty penny off tourists. Come decide for yourself whether the structure is a shrine to some ancient religion, evidence of early Christianity in the New World, or just an example of good old American capitalism. www.stonehengeusa.com
The Desert of Maine—Freeport, Maine
The last thing you’d expect to find on a New England road trip through the middle of verdant Maine is a 40-acre desert. Camels even roam it. They’re made out of metal, but still. The land was productive farmland for a long time until eventually, in the 1700s, sand started to mysteriously rise to the surface. Before long, the entire area was covered by what appeared to be a desert.
So, it’s not technically a desert. In scientific jargon, it’s a tract of exposed glacial silt rather than sand. For those of us who aren’t geology experts (read: basically everyone), that means that a glacier slid through the area more than 11,000 years ago, leaving behind a trail of a fine, sand-like substance. This silt was beneath the ground all along but didn’t rise to the surface until William Tuttle, the landowner, began farming it.
While it may not be an actual desert, it’s still surreal to stand in the middle of a sand dune only a few yards away from the forest. For only a few bucks ($10.00 admission with 5 and under free), you can do a lot more than just stand in the sand. The admission price gets you a 30-minute educational trolley tour of the “desert,” access to nature trails and picnic grounds, and a tour through the William Tuttle Farm House and Farm Museum. The little ones can even channel their inner Indiana Jones with a gemstone hunt in the sand. www.desertofmaine.com
The New England Carousel Museum—Bristol, Connecticut
Located halfway between New York City and Boston, the little Carousel Museum inhabits a restored hosiery factory. A short pit stop here will get you an exclusive look at the colorful history of the carousel.
Didn’t know that the carousel had much of a history or a very entertaining one at that? Well, you’re not alone, because neither did I. Carousels were first conceived as a way to train knights in horseback riding and sword fighting. Presumably, because knights realized that riding a carousel in circles was absolutely nothing like being in a fight to the death, carousels became the means of entertainment we know and love today.
The working carousel, which dates back to 1914, in the museum’s Bushnell Carousel Park is of the family-friendly variety and is quite the photo-op. Next door, you can watch artisans at work as they restore antique carousel horses from all over the country. The fun doesn’t stop with the carousels; the museum is also connected to the fire museum that features antique firefighting equipment and the small Museum of Greek Culture. www.thecarouselmuseum.org
Museum of Bad Art—Somerville, Massachusetts
Opened in 1994, MOBA is the world’s only museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition, and celebration of bad art in all its forms. The museum first began when founder Jerry Reilly found a painting in a garbage can that was so terrible it deserved to be put on display. Reilly and his co-founder Marie Jackson began collecting art that was “too bad to be ignored” and putting it on display in the basement of a private home. The art quickly accumulated such a following that it became necessary for it to be displayed more prominently. And the rest, as they say, is history.
From blatantly fake security cameras to hilariously ugly merchandise, the entire museum is dripping with poor taste. However, it’s not all fun and games at MOBA. Two paintings at the museum were stolen on separate occasions. Tensions ran high and the rewards for the paintings rose to a staggering $6.50. The art thieves are still at large, but thankfully the art was returned unharmed. Good thing too, we wouldn’t want to miss out on one piece of the priceless art at this place. www.museumofbadart.org
Queen Connie—Leicester, Vermont
As you make your way down Route 7 in Vermont, taking in the beautiful foliage, you’ll come across a huge metal statue of a giant gorilla holding a Volkswagen over her head. This is Queen Connie, Vermont’s sweetheart.
Making her first appearance in 1987 as the brainchild of sculptor TJ Neil, Queen Connie became an instant success. People began visiting Connie by the busload and even held marriage ceremonies at her feet. She found her way into the pages of numerous local papers and was featured in Car and Driver magazine.
Although she’s aged a little over the years, Queen Connie still is standing tall and loves posing for pictures. Pioneer Auto Sales, 2829 US Route 7, Leicester, VT
Gillette Castle—East Haddam, Connecticut
From the outside, the Gillette Castle may seem straight out of a fairy tale, but on the inside, it’s more like an old castle out of a Nancy Drew mystery novel. In 1914, William Gillette, an esteemed American actor famous for his onstage portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, wanted to build a sanctuary in the woods. Turns out his idea of a dream home was a medieval fortress with some truly odd features.
Gillette oversaw every single detail of the castle. And there were many. For starters, the door handles and locks are completely carved out of wood. They’re so large that they stretch along the entire door. He came up with other strange features like coaches built-in to the wall, tables on tracks, and even a system of hidden mirrors that allowed him to see into the public rooms from his bedroom. Why would he want to do this? It’s elementary, my dear Watson, he wanted to keep his eyes on curious guests.
You’ll want to add this to your New England road trip where a visit to the Gillette Castle includes a tour around the unique structure as well as the surrounding grounds, which include hiking trails leading to the beautiful Connecticut River, a goldfish pond, and a railroad station. www.ct.gov/deep/gillettecastle
Note: The castle is currently closed due to COVID, but the grounds are open for exploration. Visit the website for updates.