Road trips take us past countless icons that catch our eye momentarily, and maybe even cause us to pull off the road and check them out. Turns out, one of those roadside attractions is for sale and you didn’t even know it.
World’s tallest thermometer
Built to note the hottest temperature on record, the attraction touted as the world’s tallest thermometer stands at 134 feet — the record-breaking temperature Death Valley recorded in 1913. Funded by Willis Herron, the structure was built in 1991.
Ahead of what could be one of the hottest summers, the Baker, California, icon is listed for sale at $1.85 million, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Here are some other cultural icons and attractions with uncertain futures.
Abandoned ‘SkyVue’ pillars
The giant “SkyVue” pillars and the lot they sit on, across from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, were recently sold to Eli Applebaum for $70 million. Previous construction was started in 2011 for a giant Ferris wheel, but construction was discontinued following the installation of the 200-plus-foot towers.
Applebaum plans to build a hotel-casino, Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Mystery Castle
Vowing to preserve the historic Phoenix landmark, the Harrell Family of Companies recently bought Mystery Castle, which is made primarily out of cement, stone and a wide array of miscellaneous items, for an undisclosed amount. The construction was finished nearly a century ago after Boyce Gulley was inspired by the sand castles he built with his daughter.
The structure was at risk of being demolished, but now it will be enjoyed for generations to come as a destination event venue, 12 News reports.
World’s largest chest of drawers
Known as the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World,” High Point, North Carolina, is home to the largest chest of drawers. The museum that currently owns the attraction says it no longer fits its long-term plans, and will hold onto it until a buyer comes around.
The 38-foot-tall roadside attraction is available to buy for $175,000, per WFMY News.
Mystery Hill roadside attraction
In Onsted, Michigan, the Mystery Hill roadside attraction has wowed visitors for 75 years with gravitational illusions where water and balls go uphill instead of down.
The attraction is listed at $299,000, M Live reports.
‘South of the Border’ attraction
A Mexican-themed roadside attraction called “South of the Border” featuring a 200-foot tall tower topped with a giant sombrero in Hamer, South Carolina, is selling part of its unused land, which includes a former casino, a convention center, a motel and former amusement space.
One can purchase the land for $2.85 million, per The Post and Courier.
Ben Moore Hotel
A historic hotel in Montgomery, Alabama, was bought toward the end of 2025 by the Conservation Fund to save it from demolition. Built in 1945, the Ben Moore Hotel housed multiple key figures in African American history, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy. The building became known as the “headquarters for power” in the African American community.
Eventually, the hope is that the building will be transitioned to a community stewardship, per The Conservation Fund.