Mod Betty Comes to a Fork In The Road – Literally! Red Hook NY

Mod B usually leaves the coverage of wacky roadside attractions to the swell folks at Roadside America, as that has been their wheelhouse for years and they do a great job.

However, if you happen to be in the Red Hook New York area, visiting Retro Roadmap worthy places like the Village Diner, A.L. Stickle's 5 &10 in Rhinebeck or the Elizaville Diner in Elizaville, you might want to stop here for a silly photo, like we did!

In a triangle patch of land at the crossing of Route 199 and 308 is a "Punny Sculpture" by local outsider artist Steven Schreiber - An Actual Oversized Fork In The Road. (Well technically, it's in the ground in the triangle not the road , but who am I to quibble, when this sculpture puts a smile on the face of most everyone who drives by.)

There's a great interview with Steven here, where he explains how he "planted" the fork there in 2000.

Steven writes on the Roadside America tip about the Fork in the Road:

My fork in the road is 31 feet tall at a major crossroad near Rhinebeck, NY. I made it from a 13ft. piece of scrap plate steel (x2) and the top 5-ft was aluminum from my dumpster diving -- complete with a taper (sent by the fork gods). It's been a real hit -- I guess you just don't come to a "fork in the road" that often. Must admit it was the perfect spot.

Retro Roadhusband - the rocker that he is - could not help but give us his best Heavy Metal face at the Rock City sign, just next to the fork. This is actually the real name of this hamlet of Milan NY, but fits right in with the silly photos.

Steven, a local resident and an Outsider Artist, and also created the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" giant Prozac pill just up the road (we could not stop for a photo)

Mod Betty has a soft spot in her heart for folks like Steven, who do things to make the world a bit more silly. There's not enough of that nowadays!

So next time you're in the area pull over and get your photo!