The Incredible American Celebration on Parade at Shenandoah Caverns, VA

I really like amusement parks, but I also love to happen upon an awesome roadside attraction once in awhile. While visiting Northern Virginia last summer, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a perfect example of the genre. Shenandoah Caverns is primarily home to a cave tour, but there are also several other additional attractions that truly boggle the mind! And best of all, they're free! In this post, we'll be covering American Celebration on Parade,

Some construction work greeted us that June day, but it subtracted little from the impressive Statue of Liberty replica in the parking lot. I had little knowledge of this attraction before visiting, so it truly blew me away. And if that building looks nondescript to you, take a look at this:

Wow! So American Celebration on Parade is sort of exactly what it sounds like - number upon number of retired parade floats from everything from the Rose Parade to who knows what else!

It was sort of weird, but my dad and I were the only ones in the entire building the whole time we were there. Kind of ominous, but it added to the experience, to say the least!

Backing up a bit, this Mardi Gras-esque character greets you upon entry. The main collection is hidden behind a wall... quite a dramatic effect.

Earl C. Hargrove, Jr. was the man behind the magic here. Although recently deceased, Mr. Hargrove's incredible legacy lives on in this and the rest of Shenandoah Caverns. (Seriously, the complex has some really diverse themes. He must have been a busy man.)

Here's one of the most impressive displays, an American flag that's made of 5,000 square yards of crushed silk, according to Roadside America.

Yes, those buttons do activate things. What are those things, you ask? You'll have to visit this awesome place and find out for yourself.

Another thing that's really interesting about American Celebration is found in the remoteness of Shenandoah Caverns. You're winding on what feels like a country back road, and then, boom! There's a Statue of Liberty!

There was some information posted about the floats, but not enough as there could have been. To be honest, if anything, this probably added to their mystique!

With that, I think we'll take our leave from this amazing roadside attraction. I didn't show everything, so get out here and see it for yourself! It truly is a sight to behold.