South of the Border
Photos and info courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

This big guy is supposed to be the largest neon sign east of the Mississippi. A service road runs between his legs to the parking spaces for the souvenir shops on his left. One is open 24/7. Just in case you have the urge to stock on sombreros in the wee hours of the morning. There is also a restaurant by his foot where for a few bucks you can buy a paper hat, write your name on it and they will staple it to the ceiling. South of the Border, Dillon SC.

More information and photos can be found at Roadside Peek's Spotlight From the Road: South of the Border.

Airplane Gas Station
Powell, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

Here is an old gas station in Powell Tennessee (north of Knoxville) that was built to look like an Airplane. It sits on U.S. 25W and was built in 1930 by the Nickle brothers and was in operation until the 70's. There is a local effort to save and restore it. The brothers advertised the station on the reverse side of business cards that Harland Sanders used to promote his restaurant and motel in Corbin, KY. Harland Sanders is better known as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. Many thanks to Doug Harvey for info. 03-06

You don't have to be a pilot to appreciate this one. Driving along Clinton Highway north of Knoxville, it's hard not to do a double take when a full-sized airplane suddenly appears beside the road. Look a little closer and you'll realize you're not looking at an airport at all. You're looking at Airplane Service Station, one of Tennessee's most unforgettable roadside attractions.

The Nickle Brothers
Powell, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

Built in 1930 by brothers Elmer and Henry Nickle, the unusual station was designed to catch the attention of motorists traveling the busy Dixie Highway. Aviation was still the newest craze after Charles Lindbergh's historic 1927 flight across the Atlantic, so why not build a gas station that looked like an airplane? It certainly worked. Instead of pulling up beside a typical service station, customers drove directly beneath the airplane's wings to reach the gas pumps while the cockpit served as the station office.

The building isn't a real aircraft, of course. It's a cleverly designed steel structure made to resemble one, complete with a pointed nose, cockpit windows, tail section, and even mysterious "Z13" markings painted on the fuselage. Whether those markings actually meant anything has been lost to history, but they've become part of the landmark's personality and were faithfully recreated during its restoration.

Airplane Gas Another View
Powell, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

The pumps eventually went dry in the 1960s, but the airplane never completely disappeared from the roadside. Over the years it found a second life as several different businesses, including a produce stand, bait shop, liquor store, used car office, and for many years, a neighborhood barber shop. Even when it wasn't selling gasoline anymore, passing motorists couldn't help slowing down for another look.

By the early 2000s, however, the old airplane had fallen on hard times. Kudzu wrapped around the wings, the metal skin was deteriorating, and demolition seemed almost certain. Fortunately, preservationists stepped in just in time. After years of careful work, the landmark was restored with gleaming new sheet metal while preserving the same whimsical design that had been surprising travelers since the Depression.

Airplane Gas Rear View
Powell, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

Today, the old airplane is still parked exactly where motorists expect to find it. The gas pumps are long gone, but the building has found yet another life as a unique overnight rental. It may be one of the few places where you can spend the night inside an airplane that never left the ground.

UPDATE: The beautifully restored Airplane Service Station now operates as a short-term vacation rental while continuing to surprise travelers along Clinton Highway. 08-26