Browse the best Illinois roadside attractions, tourist traps, road food, and more at Silly America. Plan your next road trip through Illinois and find all the most iconic (and silliest) sites along the way!
This giant fiberglass Muffler Man and Bessie the Cow stands outside of Lambs Farm in Libertyville, Illinois. Lambs Farm is a non-profit organization that provides vocational and residential services for adults with developmental disabilities. The property features a petting zoo, pet shop...
The Guardian Auto Rebuilders muffler man in Evergreen Park, Illinois stood atop the auto body shop for many years. Also known as the “super shiny muffler man,” the Bunyan-style giant sported a sleek coat of Du Pont Chroma base glittery red and blue car paint that gave him an...
The giant cigar store Indian outside of Cardinal Liquor Barn in Oak Lawn, Illinois is known by locals as “Big Chief.” And, he’s kind of a big deal. The Indian was built by a company called Creative Display in the 1970s. It was originally constructed as an attraction for...
They were quick photos. Late at night. We were taking a day road trip around Chicagoland looking for the best roadside attractions in Chicago and this was one of the final stops: the giant Indian muffler man on the roof of an eye clinic wearing a sandwich board that declares “Eye...
Antonio Pasin built his first wooden wagon in 1917. They quickly became popular among his clients as he sold the toys around Chicagoland. In 1923, his company was officially born as “Liberty Coaster Company” and, to speed up production and offset costs, he began selling steel...
Many towns in America profess themselves to be a “home of the white squirrels”: pockets of suburbia where these curious albino squirrels seem to congregate. Olney, Illinois is one of the most boastful. About 200 or so of the tiny mammals currently inhabit the town. At its peak...
This past Saturday was Obscura Day, a day devoted to hidden and odd treasures from around the world, organized by Atlas Obscura. Since you all know I’m all about the odd you all know I had to attend something! There were several events around Chicago, such as a tour of the Busy...
In 2009 the famous “Ferris Bueller house” went for sale on the market. You know the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, right? And you definitely know the iconic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Garage, right? If you’ve never seen the movie, well, GO WATCH IT NOW...
Sunday we woke up early at the bluegrass festival and I made the executive decision to cut my trip a day short. I allotted two days to get back but looking over my map I kept thinking I’d probably only end up a few hours from home anyways. So I decided to cut out a few things and...
The Taste of Chicago is the biggest food festival in the city each year. If you ask, nine out of ten Chicagoans will tell you that the Taste of Chicago is horrible, expensive, crowded, not worth the time.* If you ask someone like me, that tenth kind of girl, you’ll get someone who...