As two of Texas' biggest and most-distinctive cities, San Antonio and Austin boast landmarks that command the attention of locals and tourists alike.
As two of Texas' biggest and most-distinctive cities, San Antonio and Austin boast landmarks that command the attention of locals and tourists alike. But sometimes it's more intriguing to go off the beaten path — and what's more quintessentially American than the tradition of visiting roadside attractions? From giant sculptures and natural wonders to kooky art and oddities, there are plenty of attractions worthy of a detour — including a recreation of the ancient Stonehenge monument.
With that in mind, we rounded up 20 roadside attractions in the Alamo City, Austin and the Hill Country that are worth visiting at least once.A remnant of the classic 1920s chain of drive-in Pig Stand restaurants, Frank’s Hog Stand reopened in 2010 and served all-American eats. The restaurant has since closed, but the building remains the last pig standing — even when man has left.Also called"Jeremiah the Innocent," Daniel Johnston's iconic 1993 mural was originally painted on the side of Austin's Sound Exchange music store. In 2023, developers demolished the building on which the mural was painted, but left it standing andThis modern tribute to an ancient monument in Ingram requires a detour into the Hill Country, but it's well worth inclusion on this list. Created by Al Shepperd and Doug Hill, Stonehenge II originally stood on Shepperd's property in Hunt, before being moved to the grounds of theafter his death. Around two-thirds of the size of its namesake, the sculpture is accompanied by two replicas of Easter Island heads.Berdoll Pecan Candy in Cedar Creek pays honor to its mascot, Ms. Pearl, with a 14-foot statue in front of the store, which they claim is the tallest squirrel statue in the world.Located on the northwest side of Ft. Sam Houston near the Westfort neighborhood is a single, large grave, where the beloved Pat the Horse is buried. Pat was a cavalry horse in the U.S. Army in the early 1900s. When the army decommissioned its cavalry, Pat was in his 20s and was set to be euthanized, but the soldiers at Ft. Sam Houston lobbied Washington for him to be spared. The request was approved and Pat spent his retirement at the fort. When Pat died at the ripe old age of 45 he was honored with a grave with his portrait on the headstone.Vince Hannemann started building his Cathedral of Junk in his South Austin backyard in the late '80s. The massive sculpture lives up to its name, reaching three stories high and continuing to evolve over the years. In 2019,Native San Antonians might not pay any attention to the giant cowboy boots in front of North Star Mall, but there's more to them than you'd think. Made by the larger-than-life artist Bob"Daddy-O" Wade, these boots were installed at North Star in 1979 and officially made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Cowboy Boots four decades later.’s roof, this hearty — not to mention gigantic — slice of cherry pie with oozing filling serves as a preview of the desserts on offer inside.. About 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats live at Bracken Cave from March to October, making it one of the world’s largest concentrations of mammals. So many bats are found here because the cave is a maternity site for the species, so females gather here to give birth and rear their young.This 16'x30' multicolored sea serpent sits in Austin's Mueller Lake Park across from the Thinkery. The glass and ceramic mosaic monster was created by artist Dixie Friend Gay in collaboration with Blue Genie.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Greg HarmanSan Antonio’s Greg Harman has been writing about natural Texas since the late 1990s.
Read more »
Traffic on SH 130 between Austin and San Antonio increases 10% in 2023, report saysPassenger and heavy truck traffic along the southern section of State Highway 130 grew by 10% in 2023, according to a report by SH 130 Concession Company.The pr
Read more »
Three new books by San Antonio authors delve into race, politics and life in TexasNew non-fiction and poetry books by Cary Clack, Juan Tejeda and Jenny Browne capture life in Texas past and present.
Read more »
Medical cannabis firm Texas Original opens its first permanent pickup spot in San AntonioTexas Original Compassionate Cultivation, one of the state's three approved medical cannabis suppliers, has opened its first permanent prescription pickup location in San Antonio, officials said Friday. Located near Alamo Heights, the new storefront at 1464 Austin Highway, Suite 104, will operate 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Read more »
TxDOT seeks public input for enhancing Austin-San Antonio linkage: open houses announcedAUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) -- The Texas Department of Transportation is asking for the public’s input when it comes to ways of better linking Austin to San Antonio.Tx
Read more »
UT San Antonio freshman surprised with new car at Sunday Austin MarathonAustin Angels (National Angels’ local chapter) and City Limits Subaru surprised a University of Texas San Antonio student at the Austin Marathon Sunday morning
Read more »