From Kansas, our search for America’s weird and wonderful attractions takes us from the Great Plains to the Midwestern state of Missouri. With a little scratching beneath the surface, we discover that there’s much more to Missouri than the Gateway arch and the Blues. In fact, lush landscapes of spectacular oddities await the traveller around every corner; oddities much like these:
1. Glore Psychiatric Museum: St Joseph, Missouri
Located within the former State Lunatic Asylum, this ode to psychosis is an attraction you’d be crazy to miss. While you won’t have the pleasure of meeting nurse Ratchet, you will be exposed to a complete history of medical devices as loony as the people they were used on.
Begin your session with a run aboard the giant human hamster wheel then take a spin in O’Halloran’s Swing; you’ll be spun around at over 100RPM for the sake of your mental health. It’s a place so fascinating; you’ll be talking to yourself about it for days.
2. Predator World (Benson Interactive Zoo): Branson West, Missouri
The ominous concrete entrance to Predator World is but a sign to the terror that lies within. There are no playful otters, docile giraffes, or cuddly koalas here. No, every animal housed inside is a ferocious cold blooded killer.
Lions, lizards, snakes, scorpions, and sharks, are but a few of the more than 500 animal inmates calling this place home. Watch your step (and your limbs), or you just might end up on the wrong end of the food chain.
3. Mount Rushmore Celebrity Heads: Branson, Missouri
If the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt have not yet satisfied your desire for stoned faced nostalgia, Branson Missouri’s take on humanoid rock carving just might.
Any disappointment stemming from your Mt. Rushmore encounter will quickly dissipate as you are greeted by the chiseled faces of John Wayne, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Oliver Hardy, who all give new meaning to the term “getting stoned”.
4. Lambert’s Cafe: Sikeston, Missouri
From the outside, Lambert’s Cafe resembles your typical American roadside diner. Step inside however and normalcy quickly tumbles by the wayside.
The moment you take your seat, an aerial assault begins in your direction. No it’s not the military; it’s the cafe staff throwing fresh baked bread rolls at you from as far as 60 feet. Don’t worry though, any wounds you take in battle, will quickly be healed by the deliciousness of the bread.
Thankfully the aerial assault halts after the first course. As you can imagine, having hog jowl or chicken gizzards (both popular menu items) launched in your direction would do considerably more damage.
5. Crapduster Airplane: Carthage, MO
Some planes are born to fly, others engineered to save lives, and still others, like this Carthage Missouri aircraft, are built to seed the land in manure.
While flying a Crapduster may not carry the same prestige as piloting an F-15, its service to the country is invaluable, helping to grow the precious crops that feed us.
Though its engines might not roar with the ferocity of a passing B-52, the payload it drops is certainly just as potent.
-Sam
Sam Zivot is a blogger and Marketing Manager for Jurnii Car Rentals, America’s new travel focused online rental car company. He writes frequently for the Jurnii USA Car Rental, blog and enjoys travel in the U.S and abroad.
