Our adventures in America’s west have eventually brought us to the state of Wyoming: home to the famous Yellowstone National Park and a whole lot of weird and wacky roadside attractions.

So come along, enjoy the ride and discover Wyoming’s oddest tourist attractions.

1. Shoes made from Big Nose George:  Rawlins’s Museum

A pair of shoes made from the skin off the nose of one of America’s most notorious horse thieves’ and train robbers may not seem so appealing to many, but its position in the Rawlins’s local museum is a popular one.

Accompanied with Big Nose George’s skull, the exhibit invites shrieks from school students and the intrigue of nosey tourists from across the world.

These are a pair of shoes everyone who is anyone “nose” about.

2. Old West Wax Museum: Thermopolis

Wax is a material that can be molded like no other, giving it the uncanny ability to bring the past into the present, and characters to life.

The Old West Wax Museum is a sticky example of this, portraying the harshness of life through somewhat creepy, realistic dioramas that depict such things as Teddy Roosevelt, past hangings, and Mountain Man Jim Bridger.

This house of wax will fire up your imaginative streak and open your eyes to America’s past in an entirely different light.

3. Ames Brothers Pyramid: Laramie

If you aren’t in the mood for a trek to Egypt, the Ames Brothers Pyramid is the next best thing. Standing a symmetrical 60 feet square and 60 feet tall, this monolithic structure stands proud on a treeless, windswept plateau of nothingness essentially.

Steeped in history, along with the carved out faces of the brothers, this pink granite structure is a standout of Wyoming’s roadside attractions: literally.

4. World’s Largest Jackalope Statue: Douglas

Wyoming’s “Official Mythical Creature”, the Jackalope, is largely celebrated by the town of Douglas, evident through their 8-feet statue of the animal in central downtown.

Claiming to be the “world’s largest jackalope statue”, the locals can’t get enough of this furry freak, with plans to expand the creature’s size to a whopping eighty feet in the near future.

With tributes to the jackalope continuing throughout the town, it’s safe to say that this town is well and truly obsessed.

5. Fossil Cabin:  Medicine Bow

What do you get when you combine 26,000 dinosaur bones in one big clump, with a hollow inside? A Fossil Cabin of course!

Affectionately known as the “Oldest Cabin in the World”, this dinosaur boned structure makes for an interesting photo opportunity and a unique walk through.

Browse the pre-historic collections of fossils and discover what it is like to be in a casing of dinosaur bones.

-Chrissy

Discovered anymore of Wyoming’s weirdest attractions in your travels? Leave a comment and tell us about them.

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The quest across the west continues with a stop in Montana: home to some of the weirdest and wackiest attractions around. So come join the Jurnii and prepare yourself for some of the quirkiest things around.

1. Montana Testicle Festival: Rock Creek Lodge, Montana

Tantalize your taste buds at the Montana Testicle Festival: home to the tastiest testicles in town. The annual event attracts a titillating 10,000 people, all seeking to sample the world’s finest bull testicles in a testy festy fashion.

You’ll be sure to leave saying “I had a ball at the Montana Testicle Festival”.

2. Steer Montana: Baker, Montana

Once famous for being the “world’s largest steer”, Steer Montana has been reduced to skin and bones, literally.

Lost for several years, he was steered back to fame (at a cost of $5000) to the local historical museum, where he now permanently resides in a glass case.

3. Two-Story Outhouse: Nevada City, Montana

Known to the locals as “Big John”, Nevada City’s two-story outhouse proudly sits behind a hotel, reveling in all its former glory (and who knows what else).

This “skys-crapper” of a structure is sure to impress.

4. Merry Widow Health Mine: Basin, Montana

Never has there been such a congregation of arthritis-ridden, coughing, sneezing, diabetic people in the same room before (if you don’t count a retirement home that is).

Famous for providing relief to those suffering from asthma, hay fever, migraines and eczema, the mine works its “wonders” through its “magical” water: in fact, so magical you have to pay for it!

5. Cut Bank Penguin: Cut Bank, Montana

The local ambassador of Cut Bank, the Cut Bank Penguin claims that this is in fact the “coldest place in the nation”: now that’s a pretty tough call from a penguin.

However, it should come as no surprise that he holds authority; he is after all 27 feet tall and weighs 10,000 lbs.

So listen to the talking penguin and be sure to rug up.

- Chrissy

Have you come across any other weird and wonderful in your Montana travels? If so, let us know in the comments below.

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The discovery of America’s strange but wacky attractions continued as we headed into the state of North Dakota. Home to the weirdly wonderful Enchanted Highway and the ancient Turtle Mountains, this adventure was one to remember, introducing us to some truly bizarre places to visit. So be prepared to encounter some “big things” as you take the Jurnii into one of the most deserted state’s there is!

1. Tommy Turtle: Bottineau, North Dakota

The small town of Bottineau may be situated on a flatness that extends for as far as the eye can see, but there is one thing about it that never fails to stand out (or up): Tommy Turtle.

This monolithic, though oddly unrealistic, turtle is the tallest in the world, standing (yes folks you read it right, standing) at a whopping 30 feet tall.

Straddled against the world’s largest snowmobile, Tommy guards the entrance to the local tennis courts, doing a fine job with his protective gear and friendly smile.

2.  The W’eel Turtle:  Dunseith,  North Dakota

North Dakota sure does like its turtle monuments, with the town of Dunseith even going to the somewhat extreme lengths of constructing a man-made turtle, “turtley” out of wheel rims.

2,000 steel wheels have gone into making this “novelty” attraction: that’s either an incredibly innovative way to recycle, or the locals simply enjoy the whole “slow and steady wins the race” process.

3.  The World’s Largest Grasshopper – The Enchanted Highway:  Regent, North Dakota

Gary Greff’s original idea for the Enchanted Highway has soared and the grasshopper has a lot to do with this.

For all those acridophobians out there, don’t let its size fool you though; unlike real grasshoppers, this one is completely harmless.

4. Tin Family – The Enchanted Highway:  Regent, North Dakota

The local tin family offers a popular stop-off point along the Enchanted Highway, visually depicting a larger than life impression of farming life.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the tin sculptures is the mother’s hair, which if you look closely enough will notice is made of barbed wire.

Original, to say the least.

5. Paul Broste Rock Museum:  Parshall, North Dakota

Rocks seem to be a popular feature of many of North Dakota’s more mainstream attractions, but none incorporate their clever use more so than the Paul Broste Rock Museum (and we’re talking the natural resource, not the style of music).

Every aspect of this establishment is comprised of rocks, which may at first glance appear boring and unattractive, but will eventually leave you a-stone-ished.

- Chrissy

Visited any other weird and wacky, or just plain big attractions in North Dakota? Let us know about them and we’ll give them a squizz.

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