In Florida We Trust: 20 Weird Tourist Attractions From The Sunshine State
Florida’s Strangest Oddities
It always starts the same way: someone says, “You have to see this place.” Next thing you know, you’re standing in front of a castle made of coral or spotting a giant lobster by the road. Florida’s oddball spirit isn’t accidental. It’s woven right into the trip. So, let's take a look at some of the weirdest must-see tourist attractions the Sunshine State has to offer.
Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia
1. Coral Castle
Built single-handedly by Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskalnin between 1923 and 1951, Coral Castle is a 1,100-ton limestone marvel. Some compare its mystery to Stonehenge. Visitors marvel at its massive stone gate, which moves effortlessly. Even today, no one fully understands how Leedskalnin managed this feat.
2. Skunk Ape Research Headquarters
Ever wondered where Florida’s Bigfoot might be hiding? The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee keeps that legend alive. Operating since the 1990s, it features a small campground and artifact displays tied to reported sightings. It's a genuine portal into Florida’s strangest wilderness myths.
Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, Joanie's Blue Crab & More by Hoosier Tours
3. Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has entertained travelers with live mermaid performances in a crystal-clear natural spring since 1947. The underwater theater sits 16 feet (approximately 4.9 meters) below the surface, allowing audiences to watch swimmers perform in the flowing current.
Leonard J. DeFrancisci on Wikimedia
4. Spook Hill
Gravity-defying tricks or just optical illusion? Either way, Spook Hill in Lake Wales leaves travelers scratching their heads. When a car is placed in neutral, it appears to roll uphill. Recognized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, this phenomenon continues to inspire tales of ancient battles and ghostly guardians.
5. The Bubble Room
Stepping inside The Bubble Room on Captiva Island feels like getting lost in a vintage wonderland. Opened in 1979, it’s known for its over-the-top Christmas decorations and neon-lit nostalgia. The menu leans heavily on Florida favorites, but the atmosphere alone draws curious diners from around the world.
Exploring Very Famous Bubble Room of Captiva Island, Florida by Volkan Yuksel
6. Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp
In Cassadaga, the "Psychic Capital of the World," the spirit world feels only a whisper away. This tiny town remains active with psychics and spiritual healers. Guided historic tours showcase its Victorian-era cottages and otherworldly reputation, first established in 1894 by George P. Colby.
7. Solomon’s Castle
In the 1970s, artist Howard Solomon built a shimmering aluminum-covered castle in the swamps near Ona. Solomon’s Castle features galleries filled with recycled art and a replica of a Spanish galleon docked in the surrounding moat. Quirk runs through every corner.
8. Monkey Jungle
"Where humans are caged, and monkeys run wild" is the experience at Monkey Jungle. Opened in 1933 by Joseph DuMond, this wildlife park in Miami lets monkeys roam freely while visitors traverse protected walkways. Research programs on endangered primates make this a respected facility.
9. Gatorland
Nicknamed the “Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland opened its jaws to the public in 1949. Located in Orlando, it has thousands of alligators and crocodiles, including the rare leucistic “white” gators. Today, visitors can enjoy ziplines over gator-filled swamps along with its living prehistoric giants.
The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia. on Wikimedia
10. Key West Cemetery
Beneath the shade of old banyan trees lies the eccentric Key West Cemetery. Here, "I Told You I Was Sick" remains a famous epitaph among others. The cemetery’s reflective spirit, established in 1847 after a hurricane displaced the original burial grounds, mirrors Key West’s own history.
11. St. Augustine Alligator Farm
First opened in 1893, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm is accredited by the AZA and houses every living species of crocodilian. Few places in the world offer such a complete collection. Guests can explore boardwalks over swamp exhibits or brave a zipline adventure overhead, just like in Gatorland.
12. The Haunted Doll At Fort East Martello Museum
Behind a glass case in Key West’s Fort East Martello Museum sits Robert the Doll, who is Chucky's alleged inspiration. Gifted in the early 1900s, Robert became infamous for supposedly causing accidents and misfortune. Visitors often ask his permission before taking photos. Some even write apology letters afterward.
Cayobo from Key West, The Conch Republic on Wikimedia
13. The Orange World Gift Shop
It’s hard to miss a giant orange looming over Highway 192. Orange World is one of Florida’s most recognizable roadside oddities. Inside, you’ll find citrus-themed souvenirs and plenty of photo ops. Family-run and proudly kitschy, this fruit-shaped shop is as delightfully strange as it is iconic.
14. Whimzeyland
In the 1990s, a simple Dunedin home turned into an explosion of color and chaos when artists Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda created Whimzeyland. Their yard has overflowed with mosaics, bowling balls, sculptures, and glittery oddities. Tours inside their equally zany home can also be scheduled.
Whimzeyland in Safety Harbor by St.Pete-Clearwater Film Commission
15. Big Betsy, The Giant Lobster
It’s impossible to miss Big Betsy, the 30-foot-tall spiny lobster sculpture anchoring Islamorada’s Rain Barrel Village. Built in the 1980s by artist Richard Blaze, Big Betsy pays tribute to Florida’s seafood heritage. Today, she draws visitors into an eclectic artist market located along the famous Overseas Highway.
16. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not St. Augustine
The very first permanent Ripley’s museum opened in 1950 inside the old Castle Warden Hotel. Exhibits here reflect founder Robert Ripley’s fascination with weird stuff and human wonders. Unlike other locations, the building itself is said to harbor ghostly sightings.
17. Spiritualist Church’s Devil’s Chair
In a quiet Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery sits a brick chair known as the Devil’s Chair. According to local legend, if you sit in it at midnight, the devil might whisper to you. Some leave unopened beers, which are found empty the next day. Cassadaga is also known as the “Psychic Center of the World.”
THE DEVILS CHAIR - Cassadaga , Florida - SATANS LAZY BOY ! by adamthewoo
18. World’s Smallest Police Station
In 1963, a single telephone booth in Carrabelle began serving as the police station after the original building proved impractical during storms. The booth protected officers and their communication lines. Although retired from active service, it remains a proud symbol of Florida’s creative spirit.
19. Dinosaur World
Just off Interstate 4 in Plant City, Dinosaur World offers life-sized models of over 200 prehistoric creatures. Opened in 1998, the outdoor museum balances education with playful exploration, making it a favorite stop for families. Shady trails weave through dinosaur dioramas and interactive paleontology exhibits.
20. Neptune Memorial Reef
Off the coast of Key Biscayne lies an underwater city built for the departed. The Neptune Memorial Reef combines a marine sanctuary with a cremation memorial site. Divers explore its stone arches and coral-covered columns while loved ones' ashes are mixed into concrete structures within the reef.
