The 16 Weirdest Attractions in San Antonio Worth Visiting

The former Frank’s Hog Stand
801 S Presa St
Though Frank’s Hog Stand has long since closed, the hog has kept on standing. Fashioned to look like a pig to grab people’s attention, the pig has been restored since its heyday in the 20th century and remains to be a favorite selfie spot of tourists and locals alike.
Photo via Instagram / jlg_atx

The Quadrangle
Fort Sam Houston, facebook.com
Found at Fort Sam Houston, the Quadrangle is an open wildlife garden on base that allows deer, rabbits and even peacocks to roam free. There’s rumors as to the historical significance (ie. Geronimo) of the wildlife in the Quadrangle, but it’s worth asking about while you’re there.
Photo via Instagram / eturner22

The Alamo cat graves
300 Alamo Plaza, thealamo.org
The Alamo may get its own share of visitors every year, but cat lovers should make it a task to sneak a peek of the graves of the cats that called the Alamo home. No, they weren’t alongside the “heroic” Texans at battle in 1836. Ruby was the Alamo Cat in the ‘80s while C.C was more recent. Don’t forget to pay your respects, fam.
Photo via Facebook / Darlene Parker Dickerson

King of the Parc
4203 Loring Park, Converse
At the center of a roundabout in a residential area of Converse is a giant stag made entirely of junk. Fashioned from rusted fenders, license plates and typewriters, the heroically-posed stag was created by Mexico City sculptor Florentino Narcis and is known as “King of the Parc.”
Photo via Instagram / audreyylyynne

’Classmates’ sculpture (aka the mansplaining sculpture)
Between Bonilla Science Hall and the Carvera Wellness Center, 4301 Broadway St, uiw.edu
Sculptor Paul Tadlock perfectly visioned how mansplaining would look like in a game of charades, though that wasn’t his intention. The ‘Classmates’ sculpture at the University of the Incarnate Word was meant to show two classmates having a conversation, but instead looks like the guy is cockily mansplaining to the woman – or maybe even harassing her? This awkward post is definitely worth visiting if you need a good laugh, or a reason to go on a rant.
Photo via Instagram / mkomar09

World’s largest Virgin Mary mosaic
723 S Brazos St, (210) 271-3151, guadalupeculturalarts.org
Found at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, artist Jesse Treviño paid tribute to the Virgin Mary in the most beautiful and biggest way possible. The mosaic also highlights the West Side’s Latino community and is the perfect backdrop for a puro SA selfie.
Photo via Instagram / vickybot311

The Grotto
On the River Walk between Newell Ave and Camden St, sariverfoundation.org
Concrete artist Carlos Cortés’ fascinating addition to the River Walk is not one to be missed. This offbeat grotto features scary faces carved into the cave-like walls, make complete with splashing waterfalls and winding passageways. There’s also benches if you and bae want to share a cute, but creepy moment together.
Photo via Instagram / dklandez

The ashes of the Alamo defenders
115 Main Plaza, sfcathedral.org
Let’s be real – Texans are irrationally passionate about the “heroes” of the Alamo. (We all have our own opinion.) And because Texans dare not disrespect the spirit of the Alamo and its defenders in any way – we still have their supposed ashes today. Santa Ana and his army may have defeated the Texans and burned their corpses, but Juan Seguin supposedly took the ashes and put them in a tomb. The tomb was lost for decades, but can now be found at San Fernando Cathedral. So go pay your respects?
Photo via Instagram / rose.baxter

Cinnamon Kandy, the circus elephant
3801 Broadway St, (210) 357-1900, wittemuseum.org
While there’s much to explore at the Witte Museum, your next visit should definitely include checking out this adorable circus elephant statue. Cinnamon Kandy has called the Witte home for more than 75 years and has been subject to a bunch of necios climbing on top for pictures. While Cinnamon Kandy is now in front of the Morton Research and Collections Center nearby, she’s still worth a detour.
Photo via Instagram / colchas_y_mas

The Picasso benches
1414 S Alamo St
Blue Star has plenty to offer – from art galleries and boutiques to bars and coffee shops. Oh, and some subtle badass Picasso benches. Right near the entrance to the Blue Star Complex, you’ll find beautiful detailed bus station benches that pay tribute to the late and great Picasso. If you’re all about art, this is definitely worth snapping a few pics of.
Photo via Instagram / suzannacabanna

World’s largest cowboy boots
7400 San Pedro Ave
Native San Antonians might not pay any attention to the big-ass cowboys in front of North Star Mall, but think about it. It’s a pair of cowboy boots as tall as a building. Make them the world’s largest pair of cowboy boots – Guinness Book approved y todo! Strange? Yes. Puro San Antonio? Also yes.
Photo via Instagram / hurrem30_06

’Johnny Loves Vivian’ bench
3801 Broadway St, (210) 357-1900, wittemuseum.org
Before Johnny Cash fell in love with June Carter, he was all googly-eyed for Vivian Liberto, his first wife. Johnny was in the Air Force and she was a local girl, and everything fell into place. Before they wed, the singer carved “Johnny loves Vivian’ into a bench on the River Walk. As we know, substance abuse and infidelity put a strain on their relationship, and they ended up divorcing. But their love is forever carved and can be seen at the Morton Research and Collections Center nearby the Witte.
Photo via Atlas Obscura

McNutt Sculpture Garden
210 W Market St, (210) 299-4499, briscoemuseum.org
You might have seen and missed it, but this garden is definitely worth keeping an eye out for. Not too far from the River Walk, the hidden garden is actually part of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Whether you choose to walk around or sit on one of the benches, you’ll be able to experience bronze western-themed sculptures from Native Americans to wildlife.
Photo via Instagram / resendez96

Bracken Cave
26101 FM 3009, tpwd.texas.gov
If you’re all about spooky things, make it a point to visit Bracken Cave. Serving as a summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world, more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats chill here from March to October. See them emerge and prepare to get spooked (but also amazed).
Photo via Instagram / aa62579

Donkey Lady Bridge
Applewhite Rd
We all know the story about the Donkey Lady. And of course we all, at some point, take the trip all the way down to the South Side and then some to see for ourselves. While we might not be able to catch the Donkey Lady herself, consider it a rite of passage (if not an annual ritual) to go hang with the urban legend.
Photo via Instagram / por_aye_te_wacho

The ghost tracks
2902 Shane Rd
Ok, so the urban legend of the schoolbus full of children being hit by a train, thus killing all the kids, isn’t true. But that hasn’t stopped San Antonians from going out to the tracks with their baby powder, putting their call in neutral, and waiting for the lil niñitos to push the car over the tracks. However you feel about the debunked urban legend, you should definitely put this on your shortlist.
Photo via Instagram / brianprzybyla