I am always amazed when students bring in their vacation pictures to share with the (photo) class and the % that are of their posed family, with or without the minivan and dog, in front of a sign. Sigh. So here is my "brilliant" idea for a money making new style theme park. Somewhere in the middle of the country where the land is cheap - I'm thinking MO - just off the interstate, we build a theme park. Lots of billboard advertising. Large free parking lot. Free water spigots. Free shaded picnic tables. Pets allowed. Perhaps a small conv. store/garage - mechanic on duty. Some food stands. Most of the profit will come from burgers, popcorn and soda. Low admission to the theme park - say $5. a family. Theme park consists of a nice paved walkway with plenty of rest benches scattered along the way. Leads you up to large signs (reproductions of the real signs) that you can pose the family in front of. Welcome to the Everglades. You are entering the Mark Twain Forest. Please enjoy the Grand Canon. You are standing on the Continental Divide. Death Valley. ETC. Each sign is placed along the path so that you can get your shot without seeing the other signs. One pleasant low key afternoon and you have many pictures to impress all of your friend with when you get back home. Gene

But if you were seriously dissing, I would have a lot to say in defense of such an "overused" photo theme.
The relevance of a mundane family sign photo is a challenge I would happily discuss.

I' m sure it has its time and place. Gene

LOL Gene, your comments reminded me of this photo that my husband took in 2005 when we were in N.C. He said, "Stand by the sign", so I did ... it's the only time in 48 years of marriage that I've ever done what he told me to.

We probably have all done that at one time or another. Thanks for sharing. Gene

The other day my 92 year old uncle took a photo of me next to my grandparents gravestones. It seemed important to him somehow. Maybe he will take it with him when he "crosses to the other side" to show them how I came out?
Anyway your theme park could have a section with blank gravestones (names could be photoshopped in for family that have passed on) and town signs (for the ancestral homestead like maybe Hendersonville?).
Come to think of it, just make a website with all these photos, then charge $ to photoshop people in. No trip required.

It would never happen, because then places would lose out on their small tourist appeal, but I have always wished that there was a place that housed a lot of "oddities" from around the country. To include: The biggest ball of yarn in Cawker City, Kansas; The tallest totem pole in Foyil Oklahoma, The blue whale of Catoosa, OK; The foamhendge in Natural Bridge, VA; The world's largest ball of paint from Alexandria, Indiana; Salem Sue from New Salem, North Dakota; etc.

I think if all placed together, and charged an entrance fee, then they might be able to make money if the park was large enough. That way all of the crazy and random attractions would be in one spot. But kind of like the road sign idea, a lot of the fun and importance of it is that you actually traveled and were there