Paul Bunyan
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

“Munch a Bunch” was an invitation worth considering at Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty in Wisconsin Dells. This colorful billboard promised a lumberjack-sized meal and made sure hungry motorists knew where to find it. Apparently, a modest helping wasn't part of the advertising plan. 03-01

Opened in 1958, the restaurant carries its logging-camp theme inside with substantial log beams and family-style dining. Its lumberjack breakfasts and fresh homemade doughnuts became vacation traditions, bringing families back long after their first visit to the Dells.

UPDATE: Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty remains open, continuing its long tradition of hearty meals. The status of this particular “Munch a Bunch” billboard hasn't been confirmed, but the restaurant behind the promise is still feeding hungry travelers. 07-26

Lost Canyon
Lake Delton, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's a billboard promising something beyond the usual Wisconsin Dells attractions. Lost Canyon offered travelers a chance to discover what was hiding between those sandstone walls. The name alone probably persuaded a few curious motorists to make the turn. 03-01

Horse-drawn tours began in 1956, making Lost Canyon one of the area's longstanding attractions. Visitors ride through roughly a mile of cliff-walled passages in carriages carrying about 15 passengers. Instead of watching the scenery through a windshield, you get the steady pace of a team of horses leading the way.

UPDATE: The original billboard is gone, but Lost Canyon continues offering seasonal horse-drawn tours. Seventy years after the attraction began, the sandstone passages still provide a memorable change of pace from the Dells' busier commercial strips. 07-26