Roadside Attractions in Tennessee
3 stops across 3 towns in Tennessee — the oversized, the handmade and the barely-signposted.
Worth the detour in Tennessee
The Mindfield
Brownsville, Tennessee
The Mindfield is an expansive, towering outdoor steel sculpture painstakingly constructed by local artist Billy Tripp since 1989. Spanning over an acre and reaching heights of up to 127 feet, this intricate labyrinth of salvaged metal, decommissioned fire escapes, and water towers serves as a deeply personal, ever-evolving monument to Tripp's life, thoughts, and memories. It stands as the largest outdoor sculpture in Tennessee, offering a mesmerizing and somewhat surreal sight right in the heart of a small Southern town.
The Sunsphere
Knoxville, Tennessee
This iconic 266-foot tower features a massive gold-infused glass sphere, built for the 1982 World's Fair. Visitors can ride to the observation deck for stunning 360-degree views of downtown Knoxville and the Smoky Mountains. Fun fact: it famously co-starred in an episode of The Simpsons.
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
Memphis, Tennessee
Housed in a massive 32-story steel pyramid, this wild retail and entertainment destination is much more than a sporting goods store. It features a cypress swamp with live alligators, a bowling alley, and the country's tallest free-standing elevator leading to an observation deck.
Browse by town in Tennessee
Every listing has photos, opening hours, admission and directions, and the directory grows whenever somebody searches for a stop that isn't in it yet.