There's no denying that in Texas, there are lots of great places to take tourists; but sometimes, those places kind of suck. If you’ve ever dreamed of spending your vacation marveling at barbed wire, then boy, does Texas have the museum for you! Tucked away in McLean, Texas is a museum that promises a deep dive into fencing history- but most visitors leave wondering why they stopped at all.

Dubbed by many as the most overrated and snooze-worthy attraction in the state, this Route 66 stop is more yawn than yee-haw. And it’s not just road-weary travelers saying it- Cheapism recently named this Texas museum one of the top tourist traps in the entire country. While it may have historical charm (and a lot of wire), critics argue it's more about filling time than fulfilling expectations.

What is the Most Overrated Tourist Destination in Texas?

So what’s the Texas attraction earning all this side-eye? The Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean. Cheapism sums it up best:

Devil's Rope Museum in McLean has an intriguing name and free admission, but it may become less interesting when visitors find out that 'devil's rope' is barbed wire. That's right: This quirky museum (due to reopen in March) showcases the 450 patents that apparently exist for barbed wire, as well as more than 2,000 variations that have been found by collectors. For some visitors, it's fascinating. For others, it's just fencing.

I feel kind of bad that it made it to the list because the Devil's Rope Museum actually looks charming- or maybe it's because the people who run it look so charming and passionate about the museum!

A quick look at videos or social media will prove that this isn't just a random roadside oddity- it actually holds a unique place in Texas history! Barbed wire, or “devil’s rope,” played a huge role in shaping the American West, marking property lines and ending the "open range" era. The museum leans all the way into that legacy, featuring thousands of wire samples, antique fencing tools, and even dusty displays on ranch life. It’s a love letter to the stuff that kept cows in and neighbors out- but unless you’re a fencing enthusiast or really into rusty metal, it might be a tough sell.

Cheapism points out that, of course, every tourist trap has its fans- and maybe barbed wire really does spark joy for a select few. But for the rest of us, the Devil’s Rope Museum is proof that not every quirky roadside stop is worth the detour- I'll stick to watching the videos and keeping up with their cute Instagram page!

In a state known for big flavor, big history, and big attractions, this one falls a little... flat. So unless you're building a fence or really into 19th-century patents, you might want to keep driving.