Cool Things That Are Free

DayTrip to the Boo Castle Park in Carbondale, Illinois

The loss of a loved one is a tragedy every person will endure at one point in life and each person deals with the sorrow in different ways. When Jeremy “Boo” Rochman died in a car accident at age 19, his father Barrett Rochman picked a unique way to remember his son. He created a public park in honor of Jeremy.

One of Jeremy’s hobbies was the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, D & D for short. In this game, a person would create a character to be used in various made-up adventures. It is make-believe with pen and paper. Players would sometime use small painted figurines as props. This gave Barrett an idea. He would create a park with a Dungeons and Dragons theme with a life-size recreation of Jeremy’s figures.

Barrett purchased some land and set out to create the Jeremy “Boo” Memorial Park. Other names include Boo Castle Park or simply D & D Park.

The park formally opened in 1993 in Carbondale, Illinois, and since then has become a family favorite for people to see. It is a place where forget about the modern world even if for just a little while.

Just off of No Name Rd, visitors are greeted by a wizard and a lion who look like it is enjoying a much-earned nap

A blue robed wizard standing next to a statue of a lion. — Blue Wizard needs food badly.

Around the grounds is a sleeping dragon that does not mind if it is climbed upon. It too looks like it could use a much-earned nap.

A blue Dragon with children climbing on it. — “The things I do for the kids.”

This dragon seems to be showing off its best Loch Ness monster impersonation. Sorry, Charlie, only one Nessie is needed.

A dragon statue partially buried in the ground.

The park’s main attraction is the castle with its two gargoyles that are stone serious about their guard duties.

Feel free to explore the park but please respect the rules and other guests. Visitors would not want to end up like this poor fellow in his cage.

So, when all the exploring is done, and the castle walls have been protected don’t forget to take a rest on the throne and give your pet dragon some attention.

A stone chair with a dragon in the background.

The park is privately owned, and the upkeep is from donations alone. So don’t forget to drop in a few gold coins from the treasury or maybe just a few dollars from your wallet or purse.

Looking for more places that are close to Boo Park? There is the Popeye statue in Chester, Illinois and the Superman statue and museum in Metropolis, Illinois.

Just remember to fill up the car’s tank with gas and your body’s tank with snacks before you set out on the next Day Trip 100.

Boo Castle Park can be found at the following address, or you can search the map below.

31 Homewood Dr, Carbondale, IL 62902

DayTrip to the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois

If you travel along any major highway, you will see the usual things, truck stops, restaurants, and hotels (the good ones and the ones that look like they are owned by a man who has mother issues. Now and then you can pass by something that makes you wonder if you saw what you think you saw. The kind of object that causes you to pull off the nearest exit, turn around and go back to prove the object was real.

In the town of Livingston, Illinois you find such an object. If you are traveling Highway 55, you will witness a life-size pink elephant.

It once served as the Livingston high school from 1927 until it closed in 2004. The building sat empty for about a year until the current owners Davie and Bernice Hammond converted the space into what it is today.

The Pink Elephant — No you are not drunk

On closer inspection, you find other objects of curiosity. A flying saucer, a giraffe, sometimes a rhino, and sometimes a hippo, are just a few. The giraffe could either be standing up or on its side depending on how windy it is.

How do you know rhinos are from outer space?

The flying saucer was once a Futuro House. Designed by Matti Suuronen, a Finnish architect, with the intent for the houses to be easily set up at different locations. They were not well received with only a handful of building traveling to the United States.

The outside is guarded by larger-than-life statues of a man in white shorts with a woman next to the large ice cream cone.

Behind the statues is a two stories tall building. This gives you an idea of how tall the man and woman are.

The cone-shaped building was once a Twistee Treat franchise before the parent company went bankrupt. The building as well and the use of the Twistee Treat brand would remain with the former franchise owners. The Hammonds purchased one of the old buildings and it is now part of the Twistee Treats 50’s style diner. Its menu consists of the usual burgers and hot dogs. As well as other menu items. Just make sure you save room for the ice cream cones and Sundays.

The Twistee Treat ice cream shaped building — I would not try to lick the roof.

The flying saucer from the photo above was once a Futuro House. Designed by Matti Suuronen, a Finnish architect, with the intent for the houses to be easily set up at different locations. They were not well received with only a handful of building traveling to the United States.

Once inside you find more than 50 individual booths housed within the school. Start by weaving your way around on side of the gymnasium. Then go up onto the stage before wandering around the other side of the gym. Don’t think that is just it. Each of the classrooms holds treasures just waiting to be found.

This is just the gym. The rest of the school awaits you.

After foraging for thousands of items just waiting to be brought their new forever home, you may find yourself a bit hungry. You have two options, the Twistee Treat dinner mentioned above, or the candy store just to the side as you walk in. With its wide variety of items sold by the pound, homemade fudge, and both new and classic favorites you are sure to find something.

The Pink Elephent candy store. — I can feel my blood sugar rising just looking at this.

Now that you have your energy restored you should do more passes in case you missed anything. You never know if you will find that priceless treasure or just someplace to store your farm-fresh butt nuggets.

An egg holder — Not actually from the butt.

Just remember to fill up the car’s tank with gas and your body’s tank with snacks before you set out on the next Day Trip 100.

The Pink Elephant Antique Mall can be found at the following address, or you can search the map below.

908 Veterans Memorial Dr, Livingston, IL 62058

DayTrip to the Purple Martin Tower in Griggsville, Illinois

If your best friend ever asks you if you ever want to go on a road trip, make sure you do two things. First, find out where you’re going, and second, find out the reason why.

It was only after my friend, and I was well on our way that he looks over from the passenger seat and explains our destination. He wants to go see this girl that he met a couple of days ago. So not only was I going to be the third wheel in this semi-date, but I will be the one driving that same wheel.

He tells me her address and we proceed to check the map. First by unfolding it and looking up the name of the town on the city and town listing. This was back when you Rand McNallyed it instead of Googled it. If you don’t know what Rand McNally is, go ask someone old than yourself.

After finding the location and directions I soon realize that the town is so small that if you didn’t look left, you would pass it by. Still, this was a road trip and I agreed to go.

About halfway there we come to the town of Griggsville. I soon start to notice something was different. Every house had a birdhouse on the front lawn. Now when I think of a birdhouse I picture a square box, a triangular roof, and a small hole as the entrance. Something like this.

My friend and I kind of think that every homeowner having a birdhouse is weird, but we continue on our way. He looks down to check the map. I turn a corner and see this in front of me.

I immediately shout, “What the (expletive deleted) is that thing?” Yes, I know that it is a tower made of birdhouses, but you have to understand I am used to seeing the one-room bird studio apartments not multi-level attached condos. My friend, startled at my outburst looks up and has the same reaction as I did, and we both feel that we just drove into some weird Alfred Hitchcock remake of his movie “The Birds.”

After both my friend and I got over our initial reaction we notice the side of the building with the large purple bird painted on the side. Above it read “America’s Most Wanted Bird”.

I wonder how many calories are in 2000 mosquitoes?

The sign failed to mention what bird was the most wanted.

We finally noticed the water tower and then understood everything. Griggsville claims to be the Purple Martin Capital of the Nation.

In hindsight, it would have been better if we had driven in from the other side of town and seen the water tower first.

The bird tower was the creation of Jesse Wade, who owned a grocery store in Griggsville. Jesse also manufactured aluminum TV antennas on the second floor of the grocery store. It was here he also started making Martin birdhouses out of aluminum in 1962.

In 1965 he created what he called the “Empire State Building of the bird world” after Griggsville declared itself the “Purple Martin Capital of the Nation.”

a photo of the Purple Martin bird — The photo was taken by JJ Cadiz

Now, to be honest, I did earn a few Nature merit badges when I was a Boy Scout, but I can’t claim to know about all the birds that live in Illinois. So, I made a mental note to go to the library when I get back home and find out more about the Purple Martin. This was before smartphones and the internet.

The scientific name for the bird is Progne subis and the average weight is just under 2 ounces. The feathers of the Purple Martin are more of a dark blue tint than purple with a wingspan of up to 15 inches (38 cm).

An average diet for a Purple Martin consists of flying insects like moths, butterflies, wasp, and their favorite being dragonflies. What isn’t on the menu are mosquitos. Purple Martins feed at a higher altitude, with mosquitos flying lower. I promise not to let the people of Griggsville know that bit of information.

Regardless, sights like this are usually not found on major highways. So, it is worth a trip to take the slow route toward the Purple Martin Highrise. While you’re in town have lunch at the local bar and grill. You don’t have to eat 2000 mosquitos.

In case you are wondering we did not look left, and we did pass the town up.

Just remember to fill up the car’s tank with gas and your body’s tank with snacks before you set out on the next Day Trip 100.

The Purple Martin Highrise can be found at the following address, or you can search the map below.

201-257 W Quincy St, Griggsville, IL 62340

DayTrip to Elephant Rocks State Park in Belleview, Missouri

When people ask what my age is I usually tell them I am a 30 max character with 21 epic levels. That’s 51 years old to all of my readers who are not gamers. Being on Earth that long you find yourself thinking first before acting. For example, the picture below may look like it would be a simple jump to get to the other side.

Two granite boulders next to each other a Elephant Rocks State Park. — My inner voice is telling me to not be that stupid.

What the picture doesn’t show is the crack separating these rocks is about 3 feet deep. I knew starting the jump would be no problem. Completion is where I would likely receive an injury. I doubt an appendage would get stuck and my only option would be to cut it off with a pocket knife. 1. I did not have a pocket knife with me and 2. my cell phone still had a signal. So I would have to settle for just a photo of my intended destination. Which you can see below.

By now you are asking yourself where was I when I had my realization of mortality? That place would be Elephant Rocks State Park.

Just outside of the town of Belleview, Missouri on Highway 21, you will find the sign marking the entrance to the park. It looks more like the entrance to the parking lot with some picnic tables, public restrooms, and one simple food truck.

What I like to call the true entrance is just a few feet into the woods. You come to a stone circle at the start of the Braille Trail. A 1.4-mile loop trail where you can choose which way you want to go. Most people go to the right like the sign says but those few people who like to live life on the edge can go left. Yes, I did say Braille Trail.

The asphalt pathed trail that runs through Elephant Rocks State Park. — Go ahead and bring the stroller if you have one.

The main trail is pathed with various stops that have information written in both Braille and English.

So if you’re with a group try blindfolding someone and let them walk around that way first. Let them use their other senses besides sight. What do they hear and what do they feel? They can always hike it again to see what was missed.

The trail does have some tricky areas like this spot between two boulders, but the park planners took this into account. The trail goes around if you happen to be slightly claustrophobic or you’re pushing an extra-large stroller.

The trail that goes through two boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park. — Yes, I have to say it. Caught between a rock and a hard place.

But it is not all pretty cool shade and large rocks. The park did serve a purpose at one time as a working quarry. Whether you call it red or pink granite if you look closely you can see the boreholes the workers used to blast away the blocks.

Examples of cut granite at Elephant Rocks State Park. — Did you think the rocks formed straight lines naturally?

The granite was then carved out and carried by trains to be used in various construction projects around Missouri and other locations, including the Engine House, which was large enough for the trains to pull in for serving. To reach the Engine House Ruins there is a small path off of the main trail. It is unpathed unlike the other. It can also be used if you want a longer hike, if not you can always just go back the way you came and continue with the Braille Tail.

The remains of the Engine House Ruins at Elephant Rocks State Park. — They made things to last back then.

About the midway point of the Braille Trail, you come to a set of steps that take you to the whole point of this walk, the Elephant Rocks. Giant boulders act as guardians overlooking the Ozark Mountains having the Earth surrounding them eroded away. It feels like at any moment these behemoths could roll down the side having nothing to stop them.

Granite boulders where the sounding earth has eroded away at Elephant Rocks State Park. — Not going anywhere soon.

You could find thousands of photos on the internet, showing every angle and view possible. This site just adds to it, but photos can’t relay the awe you feel standing next to a 27-foot tall “rock” that weighs tons.

So get your friends, pack a lunch, and take a day trip to a place that has been waiting billions of years for you to visit. Remember, Cool things are closer than you think.

Just remember to fill up the car’s tank with gas and your body’s tank with snacks before you set out on the next Day Trip 100.

Elephants Rock State Park can be found at the following address or you can search the map below.

7390, 7406 MO-21, Belleview, MO 63623

DayTrip to the Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton, Illinois

Most of the people reading this post will have heard the quote “walking in the footsteps of giants”. There is just a small problem with that saying. I have never met a giant. For that matter how do you even get classified as a giant? Is there a minimum height that a person needs to be before they can be called a giant? Is the term giant even politically correct? Hey someone has to wonder about these things.

While I have never met a giant in person. The closest I can get is this guy.

His name is Robert Pershing Wadlow and he was the Gentle Giant.

Born on the 22 of February 1918 he was a normal 1 foot, 8-ounce baby, but due to a problem with his pituitary gland, he produced more growth hormones than a normal human. In simplest terms, he kept growing and would not stop.

When he was six months old he was 2 ft and 10 1/2 in tall. The size of an average 2-year-old normal child. When he was 2 years old his height was 4 ft, 6 1/4 in. The size of an average 6-year-old normal child. When he was 6…You get the picture.

Robert Wadlow Lifesize Statue — Like he needs a pedestal.

He may have been tall but he did all the things that other kids did, Went to school. Joined the Boy Scouts. Graduated from high school. Enrolled in college, dropped out of college, and finally went to work representing the Brown Shoe Company. That was the company that made those 37AA He hung out with friends, dated girls, and lived life as best as he could. Robert knew he was different but treated everyone he met with the utmost kindness. This is why he was called the gentle giant.

Unfortunately, Robert’s life was short-lived. Due to a foot infection, he died in his sleep at the age of 22. His final height was 8 ft. 11 in. If don’t believe me and you really feel the need to compare yourself to him. Go to the town of Alton, Illinois, just north of St Louis, Missouri, and just off of College street you will find a life-size statue of Robert.

You can see how I measure up to him. (I feel just as tall emotionally.)

A size comparison of the 5'8" author next ot Robert Wadlow. — My 5ft 8in can’t compete.

If you feel overwhelmed by the size of the man you can always sit for a bit. Just next to the Robert statue is a replica of the chair he used when he was a member of the Masons. A small word of advice, the chair has no shade and is made of bronze. Metal and sunlight make for one hot seat. Either wear long pants or bring a towel.

The lifesize recreation of Robert Wadlow's chair. — You bet this is hot.

We may not be as tall as Robert or have a giant footstep for us to follow. That does not mean we can strive to be just as kind to others as he was. Before you act think to yourself “How would the “Gentle Giant” act?

A size comparison of Robert Wadlow's shoe with the author's. — No jokes about the size of a man’s feet. You’re better than that.

So when you’re done being amazed at the statue and chair go across the street to the Alton Museum of History and Art. There you can find more information about Alton’s Gentle Giant.

Just remember to fill up the car’s tank with gas and your body’s tank with snacks before you set out on the next Day Trip 100.

The Robert Wadlow statue can be found at the following address or you can search the map below.

2810 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002