Schreiman Orchards
Waverly, MO
Photo courtesy Jim & Judy Marshall

Located an hour east of Kansas City and an hour west of Columbia is the historic Schreiman Orchards roadside market, now celebrating its 75th anniversary. Check out a close-up of the roadside sign below as well as a closer up look of a 6th year of bumper crop peaches. 07-03

The orchard's roots go back to 1906, when the first fruit trees were planted on the property. Today, it's still family-owned and operated, carrying on a tradition that has made it a summertime stop for locals and road trippers alike.

The market offers much more than fresh peaches and apples. Shelves are filled with jams, local honey, baked goods, and other farm favorites, while the ice cream window serves peach milkshakes, sundaes, and other treats that are tough to resist on a hot Missouri afternoon.

One of the nicest things about places like this is that they haven't tried to become something they're not. It's a simple roadside market where the fruit is the main attraction, and that's more than enough.

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

The old market building has plenty of character and looks right at home along Highway 24. It's easy to imagine families pulling in every summer for a basket of peaches before continuing down the road.

Depending on the season, the bins and shelves are constantly changing. One visit might be all about peaches, while another brings apples, fresh vegetables, preserves, or other local specialties. That's part of the fun—you never know exactly what will be waiting.

Close up of sign
Shreiman Orchards est. 1928
Photo courtesy Jim & Judy Marshall

If you've got room in the car, it's worth taking home more than you planned. A bag of fresh fruit has a way of disappearing long before the trip is over.

Roadside fruit markets like this were once common throughout the Midwest, but every year there seem to be fewer of them. It's always nice to find one that's still family-run and welcoming travelers just as it has for decades.

UPDATE: Schreiman Orchards is still open seasonally and continues to welcome visitors each summer with fresh fruit, homemade treats, and its longtime roadside market. 07-26

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, IL. At first glance, it seems like an unusual thing to stumble across in a small central Illinois town. If you weren't expecting it, you'd probably stop just to figure out what you were looking at. 06-07

The memorial was created by local artist Bob Moomaw, who began building it in the early 1990s. Using scrap metal, old tools, and other salvaged materials, he assembled a 62-foot-long work of folk art unlike anything else around.

Despite its name, the monument isn't dedicated to a specific group of people. Instead, it's a reflection on Moomaw's own life and the events that shaped it. Each foot of the wall represents one year of his life, with different sections symbolizing different eras of American history.

The colorful middle section celebrates the spirit of the 1960s and the hippie movement, which Moomaw admired for encouraging free expression and independent thinking. Earlier sections are more subdued, while the final portion fades into rusted steel to reflect his views on later years.

Whether you agree with the message or not, it's hard not to appreciate the creativity behind it. It's the kind of unexpected roadside attraction that makes exploring back roads worthwhile.

The memorial sits beside the old railroad tracks near Arcola's historic depot, making it an easy stop while exploring the downtown area. It's certainly one of the most unusual monuments you'll find anywhere in the Midwest.

UPDATE: The Hippie Memorial is still on display in downtown Arcola and remains one of the town's most unusual roadside attractions. 07-26

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

Here is a place that is about to be demolished for lakeside development, although the timetable is not known for the project. Bledsoe's Beach came about in the 1940s, or maybe a little earlier, and was a big teen hangout in the '50s & '60s with its dance hall. Changing times brought on its eventual demise.

Here are photos of the old dance hall, the roadside sign and the lakeside sign. Bledsoe's was located on the western shore of Lake James, a few miles north of Angola, IN. By the time these photos were taken, the old resort had already seen its best days, and plans were in the works to replace it with new lakeside development. 07-07

Bledsoe's Beach got its start in 1919 as a lakeside dance pavilion and gradually grew into one of Indiana's favorite summer resorts. Over the years it added a swimming beach, cottages, a hotel, miniature golf, an arcade, a gift shop, and the popular Beachcomber lounge.

For many people, though, the dance hall was the real attraction. During the 1950s and '60s, it became a popular teen hangout, hosting dances and record hops that drew crowds from all over the region. If you grew up nearby, there's a good chance you spent at least one summer evening here.

Back then, places like this weren't just destinations—they were where summer happened. You'd spend the day at the lake, grab something to eat, and stick around until the music started. It must have been quite a scene on a warm Saturday night.

Bledsoe's Beach signage (Gone)
Lake James, IN
Photos and info courtesy Alan Culley

The old resort had just about everything you needed for a weekend getaway. Families could swim, rent a cottage, play a round of miniature golf, or simply relax by the water. It's easy to see why so many people came back year after year.

The resort also became home to the Hoosier Basketball Camp in the 1960s, bringing future players and coaches to Lake James each summer. It was the kind of place that mixed family vacations, summer recreation, and local traditions all in one spot.

A devastating fire in 1980 destroyed the dance hall and much of the resort, and things were never quite the same afterward. The property slowly declined before being sold at auction in 2011, with the remaining buildings eventually disappearing.

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

Walking around today, it takes a little imagination to picture everything that once stood here. Old resorts have a way of fading quietly, and before long it's hard to believe thousands of people once spent their summers at places like this.

It's a shame places like this are becoming harder to find. Resorts that once centered around dance halls, beaches, and summer evenings have largely given way to modern development, leaving only the memories—and a few old photographs.

UPDATE: The historic Bledsoe's Beach buildings and signs are gone. Part of the property has been redeveloped as a marina, while the remaining land is slated for residential development. 07-26