5 Unusual Travel Destinations in Texas

While every state has a strange oddity or two worth seeing on a road trip, Texas may be home to the largest collection of unusual destinations in the U.S. If you prefer to travel off the beaten path, skip the JFK historical ride in Dallas and opt for some of these unique local spots: like a real life replica of the Munster Mansion, or the grave site of an alien pilot.

The Dr. Pepper Factory in Dublin, Texas

The oldest Dr. Pepper bottling factory is located in Dublin, Texas, not far from Waco. The factory opened in 1819 and still bottles Dr. Pepper using the original Imperial Pure Cane Sugar recipe. Tours of the factory run daily. Admission is $2.50 for adults and $2.00 for seniors and children. Old Doc's Soda Shop sits next door where you can grab lunch or an ice cream float made from pure cane sugar Dr. Pepper. The store also sells a wide variety of Dr. Pepper themed goods from Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce, to cake mix, to shot glasses.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Dinosaur Valley State Park, located near Glen Rose, Texas, holds some of the most well preserved dinosaur tracks in the world, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. After viewing the dinosaur tracks, you can stop by the two fiberglass dinosaur models built by the Sinclair Oil Company. The models reach 70 feet tall and feature an Apatosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Scarlet O'Hardy's Gone With the Wind Museum

In the heart of Jefferson, Texas, a small town famous for its Victorian bed and breakfasts, sits a 1,700 square foot, private museum dedicated to "Gone With the Wind". In addition to the dozens of cases of memorabilia, movie posters from all over the world and stacks of books, visitors can take a picture with a life sized replica of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. There is also a Christmas tree, decked to the nines with "Gone With the Wind" ornaments- on display year round. The museum is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $3 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under.

The Munster Mansion

At 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Waxahachie, Texas, sits a real life replica of the house featured on "The Munsters". This is a private residence and the dream home of a Waxachachie couple who built the house to match the one on the popular TV show both inside and out. Even the address matches the home of the real Munsters. The house is closed to the public throughout the year, but you can get a photo of the outside or tour the inside on Halloween- when the owners host a tour to benefit local children's charities. The tour runs October 27 and 28^th at 3636 Farm Road 813. Admission costs $10 for adults and $5 for children 11 and under.

Burial Site of an Alien Pilot

In the tiny town of Aurora, Texas sits the grave of an alien pilot. As the story goes, in 1897, locals found the wreckage of a downed UFO and buried the pilot in the local cemetery. Today, a historical marker documenting the event sits inside the cemetery, all though the original grave marker is nearly impossible to find. The cemetery also boasts unusual and ornate historical tombstones worth checking out while you're there.

Lisa Martin, Hauntingly Familiar, Dallas Morning News.
Space Alien Pilot Buried Here, Roadside America.
Museum Tour, Scarlet O'Hardy's Gone With the Wind Museum.
Dinosaur Valley State Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Tour Information, Old Doc's Soda Shop.