Tat’s Bizarre Travels

Uniontown, PA - I’m really beginning to dig the muffler men. They’re an easy attraction to spot, which is just fantastic. All you have to do is turn a bend that there they are, larger than life and with a steely grin. This time the muffler man I sought stood guard at a tire store. Seems kinka apropos…too bad they weren’t a muffler shop.

The Paul Bunyan style giant hangs out in front of Import Export Tire and is dressed in a burly red and blue. It doesn’t appear to phase the tire guys that there’s somebody outside snapping pictures, they just continue on with their work. I don’t think they’re rude, just used to it. I imagine they get that everyday.

The best part of the tire shop is the sign above the office door:

The Men Who Know Tires Best

I’m fairly certain that the muffler man knows tires best of all.

Bentleyville, PA - Big Jim is a giant brown statue of a cowboy with guns a blazin’ and crazy bulging eyes. He’s long and lean and standing guard at the entrance to the Best Western in Bentlyville. They should seriously think about making him the mascot. Seriously, he’s the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen at a chain motel. He also has a great view of the highway. The plaque on the statue tells you a bit more about him, and it reads:

Big Jim
The Cowboy
Gosai Park, Bentleyville, PA
Standing just shy of 20 feet tall and weighing 3.5 tons “Big Jim,” crafted in stunning detail out of recycled and antique steel parts, was erected in 1978 by artist/welder James Kurtz Sr. to recognise the cowboys of the old west and their contributions to American history. The statue stood guard in Twiglight Buro until 2007.
Restord and rededicated by Dr. Kamlesh Gosai
Best Western Inn June 9, 2007

Linesville, PA - The Pymatuning Spillway was probably my favorite stop this weekend. I can’t exactly explain why, but there is something so absolutely revolting, but utterly fascinating about it at the same time.

To get to the spillway I needed to ask directions, which made me come to the following revelation. If you need directions to any offbeat attraction, just stop at the nearest convenience store and ask the teenager behind the counter. They know where all of the strange stuff is. In my head I pictured the teens of Linesville parking their cars at the spillway and making out on Friday nights. This is a disturbing thought. And let me tell you why.

(more…)