Towering Achievement
State Fair icon Big Tex takes home prize as quirkiest landmark in America
In a beatdown of epic proportions, Big Tex, the icon of the State Fair of Texas, was voted the Best Quirky Landmark in the United States by readers of USA Today and 10Best.
It was a competition in name only. Although the results don't mention the percentage of votes cast for our lovable Dickies-clad cowboy, as the contest wound down, Big Tex held a lead that befit his giant status.
The second-place finisher — or first loser — was the Longaberger Home Office in Newark, Ohio. The building is shaped like a giant picnic basket, which we have to admit is pretty cool. Texas ended up with three quirky landmarks in the top 10, including Amarillo's Cadillac Ranch at No. 6 and Houston's Beer Can House at No. 7.
If you're looking to stamp Texas as the best state to visit, you can currently vote for entries in Best Motorcycle Trip and Best National Park, although neither entry is located in Dallas-Fort Worth.