10 quirky Alabama attractions worth a trip

If you’ve got an itch to see something out of the ordinary, there are plenty of quirky attractions throughout the state that are worth a visit.

From the Tinglewood trail in Montevallo, where you can take in some carved works of art while getting in a walk; to the (fictional) town of Spectre in Millbrook, home to the remaining set of Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” as well as the Ave Marie Grotto, which attracts visitors from across the country every year, and so many more, there are so plenty of one-of-a-kind attractions in Alabama.

In fact, the hardest part might be deciding which one to visit first. So with that in mind, here’s a look at 10 quirky Alabama attractions you need to see.

Roadside Alabama — Dinosaurs in the woods at Barber Marina. (Photo by Wil Elrick)

Dinosaurs in the Woods

You can expect to find plenty of creatures living in Alabama’s woods, but in Elberta, Ala., you can also expect to find dinosaurs hidden among the trees thanks to a quirky (and free) attraction that’s proven to be a prehistoric hit with visitors of all ages. Dinosaurs in the Woods consists of a life-size Brontosaurus, T. Rex, Stegosaurus and Triceratops, made from fiberglass by artist Mark Cline. Located along the road leading to the Barber Marina, the dinosaurs can be tricky to spot despite their size, making finding them half the fun.

Movie-Set Town of Spectre — These fake trees, created by director Tim Burton, are the only ones to remain on Jackson Lake Island, Alabama. They were built along with the set of a small town for the 2003 film "Big Fish."Kelly Kazek

The (fictional) Town of Spectre

For movie buffs and fans of Tim Burton’s film “Big Fish,” a visit to the fictional town of Spectre on Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook, Ala., is a must. The one-of-a-kind attraction, which costs $3 per person, allows visitors to walk around several parts of the “Big Fish” set, including different houses, large cement trees and even a chapel -- which is now home to a herd of friendly goats that live on the island -- that were left behind after filming was complete.

Dozens of coon dogs have been buried in the Key Underwood Memorial Coon Dog Graveyard since the first dog, Troop, was buried at the site of what was a popular hunting camp in 1937. The cemetery, located west of Tuscumbia in northwest Alabama, bills itself as the only cemetery of its kind in the world.Stan Diel/AL.com

The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

If you’re a fan of visiting cemeteries, The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard in Tuscumbia, which bills itself as the only cemetery in the world dedicated to the burial of purebred coon dogs, is one to see. The first dog, Troop, was buried in the graveyard that was formerly a popular hunting camp in 1937. Today, it’s home to more than 300 graves for coon dogs from all over the country.

5 Alabama roadside attractions — Why cross the Atlantic Ocean when you can see a replica of Stonehenge close to home in Elberta, Alabama?Kelly Kazek

Bamahenge

Located in Elberta, Ala., Bamahenge is a full-size replica of Stonehenge (yes, the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England) made from fiberglass by artist Mark Cline. Bamahenge has been around since 2012, and it’s become a popular stop despite being a little out of the way for most folks. The good news? It’s located along the same road as Dinosaurs in the Woods, also made by Cline, so it’s like you’re getting a two-for-one deal on free, one-of-a-kind attractions.

READ MORE: How Bamahenge was built

Unclaimed Baggage

Since 1970, more than a million people from all over the country have visited Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro each year. The 50,000-square-foot facility purchases orphaned suitcases from major airlines and sells the contents found within, which can be ordinary items like clothing and electronics or more unexpected finds like emeralds and other collectibles. That means you never know what you’ll find on its shelves. (But chances are high, you’ll get a good deal whatever it is.)

The Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder

When it comes to quirky Alabama attractions, The Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder, located off Highway 431 in Seale, Ala., is the first thing that comes to mind for many folks, and for good reason. Created by nationally-renowned folk artist Butch Anthony in 2014, the museum, which is mostly housed in shipping containers with viewing windows so visitors can see the displays without ever having to leave their vehicles, showcases a wide range of Butch’s work in addition to antiques and some one-of-a-kind curiosities.

Enterprise boll weevil statue — The city of Enterprise is home to more than 25 boll weevil statues.Erin Grantham

The Boll Weevil statues of Enterprise

If you’re a fan of oddball statues, or maybe just a fan of boll weevils, then a trip down Weevil Way in Enterprise could be a good match for you. The quirky attraction, inspired by the boll weevil’s role in inadvertently helping to create the town’s peanut industry, features more than 25 weevil statues tied into local businesses, including a McDonald’s weevil, known as Ronald McWeevil, a statue by the local funeral home known as the “Angel of Light” and many more.

Ave Maria Grotto

Located in the old quarry grounds at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ave Maria Grotto is a landscaped hillside that showcases more 125 miniature reproductions, made of stone, cement and other found materials, of some of the world’s most well-known religious structures, including St. Peter’s Basilica, scenes from ancient Jerusalem and the Tower of Babel along a two-block pathway. The one-of-a-kind attraction is on the National Register of Historic Places and attracts visitors from across the country each year.

Tinglewood in Orr Park — The Tinglewood walking trail in Montevallo's Orr Park displays one-of-a-kind works of art crafted from more than 50 trees by local artist Tim Tingle.This is Alabama

Tinglewood Trail

Within Orr Park in Montevallo, you’ll find the Tinglewood walking trail, which features more than 50 trees with whimsical and creative carvings by local artist Tim Tingle along a paved, half-mile pathway. Tingle started the trail in 1993 and has been carving faces, animals, mystical creatures and more into the dead portions of mature, living cedar trees ever since, making the park a fun place for visitors of all ages to get in some steps while enjoying one-of-a-kind works of art.

Rock Zoo

When it comes to quirky attractions in Alabama, you can’t leave out The Alabama Rock Zoo in Fackler in northeast Alabama. Started in the 1970s, the Rock Zoo features a collection of animal sculptures made out of (you guessed it) rocks. The painted stone sculptures range from the original bull-- created by the original zookeeper Leonard Dawson in 1970s using two large boulders left by a road crew -- to turtles, an elephant, sea creatures, a bear and many more, making it a fun and inexpensive place for families to spend an afternoon.