Schreiman Orchards
Waverly, MO
Photo courtesy Jim & Judy Marshall

An old roadside market and a bumper crop of peaches make Schreiman Orchards in Waverly, Missouri, worth pulling over for. Located along Highway 24 between Kansas City and Columbia, it's a welcome stop on a summer drive. 07-03

The orchard's roots date to 1906, when the first fruit trees were planted on the property. The family-owned business has kept that growing tradition going for generations.

Peaches are a big summertime attraction, with apples taking their turn as the season changes. Fresh vegetables and other seasonal produce give visitors more reasons to check the bins before heading out.

Inside, the market offers preserves, local honey, baked goods, and other farm favorites. It's easy to stop for a few peaches and come back to the car carrying considerably more.

Schreiman Orchards Front
Waverly, MO
Photo courtesy Jim & Judy Marshall

The ice cream window adds another temptation, especially when peach milkshakes and sundaes are involved. On a hot Missouri afternoon, the rest of the road trip can probably wait a few minutes.

UPDATE: Schreiman Orchards continues to operate seasonally with fresh fruit, sweet treats, and its longtime roadside market. The selection follows the harvest, making another visit worthwhile when the next crop comes in. 07-26

Close up of sign Shreiman Orchards est. 1928 Photo courtesy Jim & Judy Marshall	The peaches Waverly, MO Photo courtesy Jim & Judy Marshall

Hippie Memorial
Arcola, IL
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's the World's One and Only Hippie Memorial in Arcola, Illinois. This unusual collection of colorful metal shapes isn't what you'd expect beside a small-town railroad depot, which makes it all the more worth stopping to investigate. 06-07

Local artist Bob Moomaw began assembling the memorial in the early 1990s using scrap metal, old tools, and other salvaged materials. The finished work stretches 62 feet, with each foot representing a year of his life.

Hippie Memorial
Arcola, IL
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Its changing colors and shapes reflect Moomaw's experiences and views of American history. The bright middle section celebrates the freedom and independent thinking he associated with the 1960s, while darker, rusted sections convey his feelings about other periods.

UPDATE: The Hippie Memorial remains on display near Arcola's historic depot. It's still one of downtown's most unexpected sights—a personal statement turned roadside landmark, built from things most people would have thrown away. 07-26

Bledsoe's Beach (Gone)
Lake James, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's Bledsoe's Beach on the western shore of Lake James, a few miles north of Angola, Indiana. By the time these views were taken, the old resort had seen better days, and lakeside redevelopment was already being discussed. 07-07

Dating to 1919, Bledsoe's began as a lakeside dance pavilion. Over the years, it grew into a summer destination with a swimming beach, cottages, a hotel, and plenty of activities.

Bledsoe's Beach signage (Gone)
Lake James, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Families could spend the day swimming, playing miniature golf, or visiting the arcade. The gift shop and Beachcomber lounge helped round out a place where visitors could settle in for the weekend.

For many local teenagers, the dance hall was the main attraction. Dances and record hops drew crowds during the 1950s and '60s, while the Hoosier Basketball Camp brought another summer tradition to the property beginning in the 1960s.

Bledsoe's Beach Dance Hall (Gone)
Lake James, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

A major fire in 1980 dealt the resort a serious blow. The remaining operation gradually declined, and the property was sold at auction in 2011, bringing another chapter of its long lakeside history to a close.

UPDATE: The historic Bledsoe's Beach buildings and signs are gone. Part of the property has become a marina, with other land designated for residential development. The old summer gathering place has given way to a different scene along Lake James. 07-26