The I-90 corridor in Ohio features many roadside attractions that celebrate historical figures and revere those lost to tragedy.
If you’re looking for unusual, thought-provoking, and downright spooky stops to make along the way, you’re in the right place.
Join us for a road trip to Ohio and Pennsylvania’s epic roadside stops on I-90.
Let’s hit it!
What Makes Ohio’s Roadside Attractions So Frightening?
I-90 stretches from Seattle to Boston, making it the longest interstate in the US. The portion spanning the Buckeye State runs along its northern border, paralleling the coast of Lake Erie.
Construction began in 1935 as part of the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway. Over the years, it slowly expanded to traverse the length of the state. When traveling today’s thoroughfare, it’s hard to imagine the quaint communities that once stood here. However, dozens of homes and small businesses were demolished in places like the West Boulevard neighborhood to make way for the road.
As you cruise the I-90 in Ohio and Pennsylvania, you’ll come across many roadside attractions that draw attention to the area’s historical significance. Some highlight tragic disasters, while others celebrate artists, heroes, and revered community members.
Buckle your seatbelt because we’re traveling west to east along the I-90 to bring you nine destinations you won’t find elsewhere!
#1 Art Tatum Celebration Column
Despite his impaired vision, Art Tatum defied the odds by teaching himself piano and becoming one of the greatest jazz musicians in the country. In fact, Fats Waller once introduced him to a raving crowd by stating, “I only play the piano, but tonight God is in the house.”
His skill, creativity, and passion live on today in both his music and the sculpture bearing his name.
The Art Tatum Celebration Column is a 26’ tall tower made of black and white panels. Blue LED lights illuminate the structure from within, offering an eerie glow in the wee hours.
Head to the plaza outside Toledo’s Huntington Center to see this memorable Ohio roadside attraction. This is one of the city’s most extensive entertainment venues, holding 8,000 seats. Many folks admire the shining centerpiece as they head to a live music show. We suggest planning your I-90 road trip to include an event here.
#2 Yorkie Doodle Dandy Memorial
When an American soldier serving in New Guinea in World War II found a defenseless pup in a foxhole, he assumed the canine belonged to a Japanese trooper. However, it soon became apparent that the dog didn’t understand commands in either language.
Corporal William Wynne of Cleveland adopted the Yorkie, named her Smoky, and brought her along on missions throughout the South Pacific. At one point, the heroic animal carried a telegraph line through a critical battle zone, which saved the efforts of 250 men and ensured communications for 40 fighter jets.
Smoky was a beloved member of the American forces, becoming the first “therapy dog” with regular hospital visits. Many credit her with improving morale during an otherwise harrowing time in history. She was honored with her own live TV show when she finally made it to the US.
Today, you can visit Smoky’s grave, which is marked by a bronze statue of Smoky in a GI helmet. On the surface, this Ohio roadside stop seems like nothing more than a sweet tribute to a beloved canine. However, you might feel a chill in the air when you consider the atrocities she must’ve witnessed during her time on the battlefield.
#3 The Sanctuary Museum
Lou McClung is a makeup artist, photographer, and collector of divine relics. When he heard that the Catholic diocese intended to shut down several Ohio churches, he convinced them to spare Saint Hedwig’s, which he repurposed as a museum for his ever-growing hoard of statues, effigies, and artifacts.
The Lakewood, Ohio, destination is more than a roadside attraction. In fact, their goal is to inspire faith through artworks such as ornate stained glass windows, paintings of religious figures, and life-size statues of biblical characters.
While many feel that a trip to the Sanctuary Museum, also called the Museum of Divine Statues, is a religious experience, others feel a sense of unease. After all, cherubs, martyrs, and priests watch over you from nearly every piece of art in the building. There’s even an image of Saint Lucy carrying her eyeballs on a platter.
Journeying beyond the Great Lakes? Here’s our I-90 Road Trip Guide to Idaho Destinations!
#4 Hillandale Bridge
If you happen to find yourself in Hillandale Park in Euclid, Ohio, you’ll come across an eerie roadside attraction that serves as a reminder of what might have been.
The Hillandale Bridge is an imposing concrete structure featuring numerous archways among a sprawling strand of trees. Developers built it as part of a housing project that never materialized. What’s left is an unsettling link between nothing and nowhere.
Today, angsty teenagers have tagged most of the structure with spray paint. The parts not decorated in graffiti are primarily covered with moss, lichen, and creeping ivy. Doorways lead to empty rooms, and bits of rubble have collected near the columns, toppling from above.
Technically, you can explore this unusual sight from the forest floor or stroll along the top, but we wouldn’t suggest it. After all, it isn’t necessarily up to code. Be especially careful when approaching the structure or walking across its canopy.
#5 Squire’s Castle
Squire’s Castle is another nod to unreached potential. In fact, its name is a bit misleading. The structure we see today was actually the gatehouse for a castle that never got off the ground.
According to legend, Feargus Squire began constructing the compound to honor his homeland, England. However, while he and his wife were living in the gatehouse, she tragically died after investigating unusual noises coming from the trophy room. Many claim that she toppled down the stairs to her death. Heartbroken, Feargus couldn’t stand to live there without her.
Of course, we now know that’s likely a wild rumor that got out of hand. It turns out the owner simply lost interest in the property. And no, his wife didn’t die there. That said, the story makes for a spooky roadside attraction in the Chagrin Valley of Ohio.
#6 South River Vineyard
If one repurposed church with a great backstory isn’t enough for you, you’re in luck!
Wine enthusiast Gene Sigel made a roadside stop outside Shalersville, Ohio, to take pictures of an abandoned Methodist church. When he asked a nearby woman if it was ok to photograph the structure, she told him he could have the whole thing if he’d move it himself. In less than a week, he’d begun dismantling the building and hauling it, piece by piece, to nearby Geneva.
Today, it’s the highlight of South River Vineyard. It retains many historical features, including original pews and stained-glass windows.
When you visit, wander the beaten path next door to the Red Eagle Distillery. Both facilities operate under the same management and make for an unusual stop along your I-90 road trip.
Not finished exploring Ohio? Check out 7 Secret Waterfalls in the Buckeye State!
#7 Ashtabula Bridge Disaster Monument
Our next spooky roadside stop is a tribute to one of Ohio’s most tragic accidents. In 1876, a train carrying 159 passengers and crew struggled to navigate through a heavy snowstorm. As the engine crossed the Ashtabula Bridge, those aboard heard an ear-splitting crack. The railway collapsed, derailing all cars except for the lead locomotive.
Nearly 100 people perished in the fiery crash. Of those, 48 were either unrecognizable or fully consumed by the roiling flames.
About 20 years after the event, the city unveiled a monument to the unidentified victims of the Ashtabula Bridge Disaster. The obelisk and plaque are located in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery. Interestingly, it’s not far from the grave of Charles Collins, who worked for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway.
Collins had vocalized his concerns about the bridge’s integrity but was dismissed. He passed about one year after the accident. While some assert that he died of natural causes, others claim it was suicide. Many believe his ghost still wanders the cemetery, mourning those lost during the horrific incident.
#8 Schaefer’s Auto Art
As you continue across the state line into Pennsylvania, you’ll come across a quirky roadside attraction that’s sure to lighten the mood. Schaefer’s Auto Art is an outdoor installation featuring larger-than-life insects, dinosaurs, and rockets made entirely from car parts.
These whimsical creations are the work of Richard Schaefer, who began using his welding skills to construct artwork in the 1980s.
While you can see each piece from the road, we suggest hopping out of the car to admire the works up close. Trying to discern the precise materials used to make each structure can be a fun, creative exercise. Before you leave, you can drop suggestions for future works or a few kind words for the artist in the Buzz Box.
#9 USS Niagara
The USS Niagara can trace its origins back to the War of 1812. However, it’s been refurbished so often that it’s practically an entirely new vessel. Of course, they say human cells completely regenerate every seven years, so who among us is really an original, anyway?
Regardless of your feelings on this ship’s authenticity, it’s hard to argue about its role in the Battle of Lake Erie. After being built, sunk, and resurrected within Presque Isle Bay, the vessel still sails the same waters it’s guarded throughout its life.
Today, you can see the impressive USS Niagara at the Erie Maritime Museum. However, as of publication, onboard tours are currently unavailable.
Want more weird fun in the Buckeye State? Grab a copy of Ghosthunting Ohio: On the Road Again!
Are Ohio’s Roadside Attractions Spooky Enough?
Ohio and Pennsylvania are home to plenty of unusual attractions along the I-90 corridor. Creative geniuses, four-legged war heroes, and victims of the unimaginable are revered through artwork, memorials, and relics of the past.
Before your next trip to the Great Lakes region, be sure to plan for a tour of these spooky, humbling, and inspiring spots!
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