Road tripping soon? Check out these weird roadside attractions in New York, from giant ducks to tiny churches, that will make your drive unforgettable.
Whether you’re planning a full road trip or just want a fun day out of the house, New York has plenty to see and do. The Empire State is home to some extremely scenic drives, whether you head to the Hudson Valley for fall foliage or up into the mountains for up-close snowy winter scenes.
What makes these trips even more memorable? You guessed it: zany roadside attractions. We’re talking giant ducks, tiny churches on docks, and even a giant fork, among other mysterious, intriguing, and Instagram-worthy stops along your journey.
Let’s jump into eight of the wildest roadside attractions in New York that’ll make you glad you pressed pause on your trip (and favorite playlist) and relished the weirder things in life.
1. The Big Duck
Location: 1012 NY-24, Flanders
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Big Duck is exactly what it sounds like. This is one of the cutest and weirdest roadside attractions in New York because seeing it in person feels like stepping into an old-school nursery rhyme where giant ducks sit streetside, greeting passersby with pleasant honks.
Located along Route 24 in Flanders on Long Island, The Big Duck operates as a store that provides visitors with travel information, if needed, and the chance to purchase ultra-cute duck-themed merchandise. With the shop’s door located on the duck’s chest, it really feels like you’re entering a portal to a whole new world. The best part? The Big Duck has been offering this heightened level of whimsy for almost 100 years, having been erected in 1931.
2. Fork in the Road
Location: NY 199 and NY 308, Red Hook
According to Merriam-Webster, the phrase “fork in the road” has been used to describe two diverging paths since the 1770s, making it a fairly old metaphor. But it wasn’t until 2000 that a giant fork in the road actually stood tall in Milan, N.Y. The fork stands along Route 199, and it’s special because the state didn’t approve the art installation, according to Atlas Obscura.
Local artist Stephen Schreiber brought the fork to life in all of its gray glory, and over two decades later, it remains a highlight for anyone driving through the area. Whether you stop for a selfie or simply snap pictures while passing by, the Fork in the Road installation is a must-see. If you need more reasons to visit it, just know that other giant installations, like a wildly large Prozac pill, are situated nearby.
3. Cross Island Chapel
Location: Mason’s Pond (near Sconondoa Road), Oneida
When it comes to weird roadside attractions in New York, nothing beats the Cross Island Chapel, also known as the “World’s Smallest Church” (via Roadside America). Located on the northern edge of Oneida, the Cross Island Chapel sits on a dock on Mason’s Pond, and it’s truly tiny.
According to Atlas Obscura, it’s been around since 1989 and is less than 30 square feet, so it’s certainly not hosting regular church services. Instead, people have used it for weddings over the years—small ones, but weddings nonetheless. The tiny church reportedly holds only three people: the two folks getting married and the officiant. Combine that with the fact that you’re on a pond, and you’ve got a fascinating wedding story that will intrigue anyone you tell.
4. Barthman’s Sidewalk Clock
Location: Broadway & Maiden Ln, New York
Times have changed, and so has New York City. But one thing that has remained is Barthman’s Sidewalk Clock, a literal clock that William Barthman installed in the sidewalk in the middle of the city’s jewelry and watchmaking district. The year? 1899.
Over 125 years later, the clock remains firmly planted in the concrete on the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane. It’s something you have to see to believe—a reason to go for a walk through the city or stop your taxi for a quick picture. (Why would they care if you run up your timer, right?)
This isn’t to say the clock hasn’t faced wear and tear. It’s in one of the most populated and most visited cities in the world, after all. The clock has worn down at times, but according to the William Barthman website, the jeweler’s later owners kept it running, including a Cartier-assisted restoration in 1983.
5. Shark Girl
Location: 44 Prime St, Buffalo
Since 2014, visitors to Canalside have been able to meet a unique girl with an animal head. Of course, we’re talking about Shark Girl, whose outfit resembles Alice from “Alice in Wonderland,” except for one key difference: She has a shark head. Artist Casey Riordan created Shark Girl in 2013, and the Albright-Knox brought her to Buffalo the next year as part of its public art program.
Shark Girl is located right off I-190, and people from across the country have stopped to see her while passing through Buffalo. “I am almost thinking of moving to Buffalo after being so inspired,” one visitor previously wrote in a Google review. Even if their response was fueled by sarcasm, we believe this is one of the quirkiest roadside attractions in New York, and certainly worthy of a visit.
6. Prophet Isaiah’s Second Coming House
Location: 1308 Ontario Ave, Niagara Falls
Hours: Saturday: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
What would you do if you felt called by a higher power? For Isaiah Robertson, there was one clear answer: ready a home for God’s return to Earth. Born in Jamaica, Robertson emigrated to Canada and eventually made Niagara Falls his home, where he slowly created Prophet Isaiah’s Second Coming House. This building is like a cartoon come to life, exploding in vibrant colors and Christ-like iconography.
Let us be clear: You don’t have to be religious to visit Robertson’s house. It’s an artistic masterpiece that’s thorough on so many levels. Robertson was a carpenter by trade, but when his art overtook him, he showed just how multifaceted he was. The Kohler Foundation restored the house after Robertson’s death in 2020, and it’s open one day a week for guests. If you can’t make it that day, we still highly recommend driving past it on Ontario Avenue to snap a picture.
7. Secret Caverns
Location: 671 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sometimes, the weirdest roadside attractions in New York are quirky statues or houses that look like coloring books. In other cases, they’re underground escapes. Get off I-88, head to Caverns Road, and bam—you’ve found the not-so-secret Secret Caverns. These caverns are secret in the sense that you wouldn’t expect to find them there, less so in the sense that folks don’t know about them now.
The Secret Caverns is a fun escape if you want to get on your feet and break up the monotony of a long road trip. Tours start every hour, so you have flexibility with your stop, and tickets only cost $20 for adults and $10 for children, so it’s not an expensive stop, either. If you stop here, you may just find yourself encountering an underground waterfall.
8. Fabulous Furniture
Location: 3930 NY-28, Boiceville
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Situated on Route 28 in Boiceville is one of the most striking roadside attractions in New York: Fabulous Furniture. At first glance, you may not suspect much. The shop’s owner, Steve Heller, has been woodworking for decades, and he takes great pride in his work, which includes logging his own wood. But peek behind the curtains, and you’ll find that there’s more to Fabulous Furniture than you thought.
Okay, well, it’s less a peek behind the curtain à la Dorothy Gale and more a peek ahead at Heller’s outdoor menagerie of sculptures. And we don’t mean artsy sculptures in the traditional sense. No, these are out-of-this-world sculptures, including UFOs, dinosaurs, rockets, and more, that are pure testaments to Heller’s imagination. You can’t drive past these without wanting to stop and take a picture (or 10).
