7 Roadside Attractions Made from Salvaged Materials

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Written by Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to start planning your great American road trip, but skip the world’s largest ball of twine this year and hit up some of the country’s greenest roadside attractions. Some are works of art, others are hobbies-turned-obsessions, but all of the stops on our list were made with salvaged and recycled materials.

Homepage Photo: Flickr/Michigan Municipal League (MML)

1. Beer Can House

Photo: Flickr/randwill

It’s estimated that more than 50,000 cans adorn John Milkovisch’s Houston home, in addition to bottle caps, bottles and other beer paraphernalia. The project began in 1968 when Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer, “got sick of mowing the grass” and covered his front and backyard with concrete, inlaying thousands of marbles, rocks and other glittery items to create a unique lawn.

Once this project was completed, he turned to the house and began decorating it with flattened beer cans, covering the walls and roof, and even creating beer-can wind chimes. “I guess I just thought it was a good idea,” Milkovisch says. “And it’s easier than painting.” In addition to lowering his energy bills, the beer-can decorations also began attracting visitors from across Texas, and today the Beer Can House is a museum.

When people ask what brand of beer is his favorite, Milkovisch has a go-to answer: “Whatever’s on special.”

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