Comments on: If You Build It, Tourists Will Come

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:32:02 +0000

It’s logically impossible to prove that
something can’t be done. Ergo traveling
faster than light.

By: Pstone

Pstone — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:18:04 +0000

In addition to the Mystery Tree Paul Bunyan, there’s also a terrible tourist trap of a giant statue of Paul Bunyan in Fargo, ND. (I think)

There’s also a town called Vulcan somewhere in Canada that a bunch of trekkers go to.

By: everyday09

everyday09 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:02:16 +0000

south of the border has gone down hill. i visited last year and everything was closed and rundown. all of the amusement park was shut down and none of the restaurants were opened. the only thing that was opened were a few of the stores, and none of them had anything really worth buying. just lots and lots of junk.

By: shannon

shannon — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:50:06 +0000

Wall Drug is one of the great places in America. LOVED IT.

What abou the Corn Palace? Its a theater they have covered the outside of building in corn. They redo it every year, if memory serves.

By: sw

sw — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:27:40 +0000

it is not possible to drive coast to coast in the US without stopping at wall drug. i love cheesy roadside attractions: the giant ball of twine, the corn palace, graceland. it’s what makes our nation great. or not. but i lik ethem.

By: Erin Z

Erin Z — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:46:33 +0000

YAY! I live about an hour from Wall Drug and when friends from out of state come visit we go here. Nothing better than getting a pink cowboy hat with your name embroidered on it and having your picture taken on top of the worlds largest jackalope! CHEESY? BRING IT ON! (But really, stay away from the free water in the courtyard… it’s gross)

By: JenDiggity

JenDiggity — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:40:20 +0000

I have dug Wall Drug! It was the most awesome tourist trap I’ve ever seen. There is a plethora of things to take your picture in front (or atop of) and all kinds of things to explore. The mechanical figures in little cabins that act out scenes was probably my favorite (they’e kind of creepy!). The shops were awesome even if there was a lot of junk to sort through. It’s all cheesey, of course, but Wall Drug is the best of the cheese. They have an employment program that brings in people from all over the world, too.

By: streetattack

streetattack — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:19:07 +0000

South of the Border was one of the most depressing road stops I have ever been to.

By: twodollars

twodollars — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:14:57 +0000

I have great memories from Trees of Mystery

By: Notorious M.O.L.

Notorious M.O.L. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:05:31 +0000

I love tourist traps. I think they’re fun and hokey and make for great pictures for the family album (“Here’s Jimmy in front of the lower 48 state’s largest frying pan!”)

With that said, I can say that South Of the Border is falling into disrepair. It was never great but every time I’ve been there in the last 10 years, most everything is closed except for 1 gift shop and 1 restaurant. Unlike Gerry, I’d like to see it brought back (although, it’s pretty bad when it comes to Mexican stereotypes).

I have to say though, as much as I love tourist traps, I don’t think you could pay me enough to stay in the “300-room motel”.

By: gerry rosser

gerry rosser — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:16:52 +0000

South of the Border appears to be dying. I have been by many times, and the amount of business being done looks to be less than enough to pay for one of the ugly billboards this joint inflicts on innocent travelers.

It’s a dump, an eyesore, and can’t disappear soon enough to suit me.

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:11:18 +0000

Trees of Mystery is fun because they pay an employee to talk to passersby as Paul Bunyan’s booming voice through a loudspeaker (using CCTV or perhaps someone in the crowd). There’s a hokey museum and plenty to look at for free.

Last year Babe’s several-ton-head fell off after rainwater caused some rot, but he was restored before the start of the summer tourist season this year.

By: PancakeMan

PancakeMan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:57:53 +0000

I hate South of the Border. The signs start far in advance of the actual place, so having to look at them for an hour makes travelling on a pretty boring stretch of road even worse.

By: DoorFrame

DoorFrame — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:27:52 +0000

I'm a fan of The Thing? myself.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:19:54 +0000

Yikes! Typo fixed – thanks Andy Yang!

By: Andy Yang

Andy Yang — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:15:53 +0000

“Since 988, the Bathroom Reader Institute has published …”

Wow… That’s one long lasting institution…