Brennan Heating
Jacksonville, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

What was that? Oz never did nothing for the Tin Man? Well, it looks like he's found steady work holding a sign for Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning in Jacksonville, IL. So much for Toto.

Standing out front is a one-of-a-kind character built entirely from sheet metal, ductwork, and ventilation parts. It's the perfect mascot for a heating and air conditioning company, and a lot more creative than an ordinary sign.

Brennan Heating has been serving Jacksonville since 1947, growing from a one-man operation into a longtime family-owned business. Somewhere along the way, someone had the idea to turn leftover HVAC materials into a friendly roadside greeter, and thankfully they did.

Over the years, the metal man has even received a few makeovers, including a period when he sported green clothing and an Irish hat. Today he's back to his classic silver finish, looking much the way generations of motorists remember him.

It's always fun when a business shows a little personality. Anyone can put up a sign, but a smiling fellow made from heating ducts is a lot harder to forget.

UPDATE: Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning is still in business today, and the famous metal vent man continues greeting customers from the front lawn. 07-26

Clubhouse Mouse (Gone)
Kenosha, WI
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Back in the 70's, this place was a super-club on it's last legs. It then turned into "The Clubhouse" in the 90's when a dog track opened nearby. Now defunct, the large mouse still remains perched on the roof. Thanks for Jason Carlton for info.

The Clubhouse Mouse was one of those roadside sights that made you look twice. Long after the business had closed, the giant cartoon mouse still sat on the roof as if it were waiting to welcome the next customer. It's the kind of quirky landmark that made an ordinary drive a little more memorable.

The building itself had quite a history. It began as a popular supper club before becoming The Clubhouse in the 1990s, hoping to attract crowds from nearby Dairyland Greyhound Park. When the dog track eventually closed, the restaurant followed, leaving only the oversized mouse as a reminder of busier days.

One thing to note is that this mouse is often confused with the famous mouse from the nearby Mars Cheese Castle. They're two completely different roadside characters, each with its own story.

UPDATE: The building has been closed for years, and I'm not sure if the rooftop mouse is still hanging around. If you've driven by recently, let me know if this quirky landmark is still keeping watch over Kenosha. 07-26

Elvis Museum (Gone)
Foristell, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

Some people feel Elvis was larger than life. Well, at the Elvis Is Alive Museum, he really was. Out front stood a giant 16-foot-tall cutout of The King in his white jumpsuit, welcoming travelers off Interstate 70. It's the kind of roadside attraction that makes it almost impossible to just keep driving.

The museum opened in 1990 inside a former laundromat and was the creation of Reverend Bill Beeny. Its mission was simple: convince visitors that Elvis Presley had faked his death and was living under federal witness protection. Inside were all sorts of unusual exhibits, including a replica casket and tombstone, supposed FBI documents, an answering machine recording claimed to be Elvis's voice, and even a white 1974 Cadillac limousine parked outside. Whether anyone bought the story or not, the place definitely gave people something to talk about.

Of course, the real attention-getter was that giant Elvis sign. It probably talked more than a few curious motorists into pulling off the highway for a closer look.

UPDATE: The museum closed in 2007 when Reverend Beeny auctioned off the entire collection. It was moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where it reopened briefly before closing for good in 2008. Not sure if the big Elvis cutout is still around, but it would be nice to think he's still out there watching over some roadside somewhere. 07-26

Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken
Alton, IL
Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

Hungry for some good fried chicken? Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken has been tempting motorists for years, but the first thing most people notice isn't the menu—it's the giant chicken standing watch from the roof. Perched high above the little walk-up stand, the fiberglass bird makes sure you know you've found the right place.

The restaurant has been serving Alton since the 1970s, when it was opened by Eddie Sholar Sr. Long before he became known for Fast Eddie's Bon Air, he was selling crispy fried chicken from this small roadside stand. It's still a simple operation today, with customers ordering through walk-up windows and taking their food to go. Cash only, no dining room, just fresh fried chicken, burgers, shakes, and plenty of regulars who know exactly why they came.

Of course, the rooftop chicken has probably brought in its share of hungry travelers over the years. It's hard to drive by without at least wondering if the chicken is as good as the sign promises.

UPDATE: Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken is still serving customers, and the big rooftop chicken continues to welcome hungry visitors to Alton. Fortunately, this roadside mascot is still doing the job it was built to do. 07-26

Oscar Meyer Wienermobile
Kansas City, KS
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Here's a fun sight you don't see every day. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was taking a break outside a hotel in Kansas City when this photo was taken, proving that even giant hot dogs need to park somewhere. It's one of those roadside surprises that can turn an ordinary day into a memorable one.

The first Wienermobile hit the road in 1936 as a rolling advertisement for Oscar Mayer, and it's been making people smile ever since. Today's fleet includes six modern versions that travel all over the country, appearing at grocery stores, festivals, and community events. Each one is driven by recent college graduates known as "Hotdoggers," who hand out the famous Wiener Whistles and keep the big hot dog rolling from town to town.

The Wienermobile even survived a brief identity crisis in 2023 when it was temporarily renamed the "Frankmobile." The new name didn't last long, and before the year was over, the classic Wienermobile name was back where it belonged.

UPDATE: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is still touring the country and making appearances from coast to coast. You never know where it might show up next, so if you spot one parked nearby, it's worth pulling over for a closer look. 07-26

Santa Claus (Closed)
Christmas, MI
Photo courtesy Chibbqking

Travelers passing through the little town of Christmas are greeted by someone who always seems happy to see them. Santa's Workshop Santa Sign stands high above the gift shop, pointing skyward with a grin that's hard to miss from the road. It's the perfect roadside welcome for a town named Christmas. 05-09

The giant Santa has been drawing smiles for decades and has become one of the Upper Peninsula's best-known roadside attractions. While it's often described as a statue, it's actually a massive painted wooden cutout standing about 35 feet tall. Santa's Workshop has long embraced the town's year-round holiday spirit, with other whimsical displays tucked around the property for visitors to discover.

The town itself got its festive name in 1938, when a holiday gift factory opened here. The factory was short-lived, but the name remained, and Christmas has been celebrating the season ever since.

UPDATE: Santa's Workshop is now closed, and the giant Santa continues to watch over M-28 just as he has for years. The matching Mrs. Claus cutout was lost in a storm, but fortunately Santa is still standing and spreading a little Christmas cheer all year long. 07-26