It’s summer road trip season, and even with high fuel prices, there doesn’t seem to be a significant disruption in travel. In the past, roadside attractions and souvenir shops were destinations and the ghosts and ruins of these former landmarks line the highways and byways, visible through the weeds and overgrown landscapes.
Remnants of iconic establishments like Howard Johnson’s orange roof and a variety of faded hand-painted signs touting attractions can be found throughout the Northeast and beyond. There was a time when Santa’s Village and the now-defunct Six Gun City were central to family vacation plans.
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