Kingsport / Johnson City: Big Food, Bigger Vibes
There seems to be a thing in this part of Tennessee… Restaurants with seriously oversized everything, so many roadside attractions in East Tennessee. Burgers. Beverages. Bovine. And yes—buffet guardians in questionable weatherwear
At first, we thought these were random roadside one-offs. But after we passed the first giant Pal’s cup, I did what any reasonable person would do: a little enthusiastic scouting 😋
And here’s what we found!
🍔 Pal’s Sudden Service Kingsport, TN Two drive-thrus, same street, and a whole lot of architectural ambition. One had a rooftop mascot and teal tile glory, the other gave us bold burger signage and red roof nostalgia. Pal’s didn’t come to play.
This location served bold burger signage and a red roof that refuses to whisper.
Just a mile down the same street? Another Pal’s, another aesthetic choice entirely.
This one? Rooftop mascot. Teal tiles. Fast food as performance art.
🐄 The Purple Cow Johnson City, TN Cows. Everywhere. Spotted, stylish, and striking a pose outside the Purple Cow ice cream shop. One even wore a cheeseburger necklace because of course she did. Not sure who approved the snack bling, but we salute them anyway. 🤔💜
🏹 Big John at Pratt’s BBQ Kingsport, TN Our final roadside find was this towering statue outside Pratt’s. He’s stoic, he’s shirtless, and he looks absolutely over it. With a feathered headdress and a loin cloth that wasn’t ready for the wind chill, his facial expression said it all: “I’m freezing.” Honestly? Mood. 😁
We only scratched the surface on this trip, but one thing’s clear: East Tennessee doesn’t do small. From burger-topped rooftops to fiberglass fashion cows, it’s all bold, weird, and wildly photogenic.
Most of these giants found us… though maybe our burger radar helped just a little.
More Roadside Attractions in East Tennessee?
Tennessee serves it big—and we barely uncovered the surface. Catch the bigger story in Tennessee Bound, or grab ideas for your own roadside romp with a few favorite Things to Do in Tennessee.