25 Weird Ohio Roadside Attractions to Visit, From the World's Largest Basket of Apples to "Hug Me Jesus"

From the world's largest basket, drumsticks and horseshoe crab to a field of giant corn cobs and flying saucer houses, Ohio is full of bizarre roadside attractions that make you say, "Why?" But also, "Cool!" If you're looking for a road trip stop full of lasting (and weird) memories, these are the spots you won't want to miss to snap a memorable pic.

This slideshow was originally published by our sister paper Cleveland Scene and is republished here with permission.

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Photo: facebook.com/World's Largest Cuckoo Clock

World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock

100 N. Broadway St., Sugarcreek
In 2010, this 24-foot cuckoo clock was moved from its old home, Wilmot, to Sugarcreek, a Swiss-themed tourist town. Sugarcreek’s about 200 miles from Cincinnati, so what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking (get it?).

Photo: NTT72USA/Wikimedia Commons

“Hug Me Jesus”

903 Union Road, Monroe
After a lightning fire destroyed a giant Jesus statue known as "Touchdown Jesus" that brought national attention to the Solid Rock Church in Monroe in 2010, the church couldn’t go without and replaced the monument in 2012. The giant Lux Mundi statue designed by Tom Tsuchiya, affectionately nicknamed "Hug Me Jesus," is visible from I-75.

Photo: facebook.com/City of Dublin, Ohio

Giant Dancing Hares

6350 Woerner Temple Road, Dublin
In the Columbus suburb of Dublin, you’ll find the Ballantrae Giant Dancing Hares, which were made by English artist Sophie Ryder in 2001. The trio of rabbits is 24 feet tall.

Photo: Lisa Ann Remick/Facebook

Dave Grohl Alley, World’s Largest Drumsticks

Warren
Dave Grohl, drummer of Nirvana and frontman of the Foo Fighters, was born in Warren before moving to Virginia at a young age. In 2007, Warren resident Joe O’Grady convinced the city council to dedicate a dilapidated alley to the rocker, which now features murals of Grohl, along with the world’s largest drumsticks, carved by Warren-based artist Joel Eggert.

Photo: facebook.com/Hartman Rock Garden

Hartman Rock Garden

1905 Russell Ave., Springfield
Head to Springfield, just north of Dayton, and visit this really awesome rock garden. Built in 1932 during the Great Depression, this outdoor folk art installation contains mini-replicas of Philadelphia's Independence Hall, the White House, Mount Vernon and a large castle built with 20,000 stones.

Photo: facebook.com/Longaberger

The World’s Largest Basket

1500 E. Main St., Newark
This giant basket housed the Longaberger Company until 2014 when the company moved out and eventually shut down its business, which had been around for close to 100 years. Fear not, the basket is still there in Newark – between Columbus and Zanesville. The basket building was sold for $1.2 million to a developer at the end of 2017 and will be used for something soon.

Photo: instagram.com/@sneakypanda

World’s Largest Basket of Apples

5563 Raiders Road, Frazeysburg
Close to the World’s Largest Basket, but much lesser known, stands the World’s Largest Basket of Apples. Also once owned by the basket company Longaberger, the basket stands close to 20 feet tall.

Photo: Bob McGilvray/Flickr

Tower of VW Bugs

1938 East Second St., Defiance
Travel on I-80 to Defiance to see this stack of ‘60s Volkswagen Beetles. Five bugs are stacked on top of each other in the parking lot of Pack Rat’s Pawn Shop.

Photo: facebook.com/Ghost Town Findlay, Ohio

Faux Ghost Town

10630 Hancock County Road 40, Findlay
This replica town was created to resemble a ghost town of the Old West. At least this place helps Findlay be known for something besides Ben Roethlisberger.

Photo: facebook.com/David Dunn

World’s Largest Amish Buggy

7007 County Road 672, Berlin
Standing 10 feet tall and almost 14 feet wide and weighing 1,200 pounds, this buggy sits inside Wendell August Forge, a gift and souvenir store in the Amish tourist town of Berlin. Berlin is about 30 miles southwest of Canton.