Rolando Pujol (The Retrologist)

Ever stop at Roadside America on I-78 in Pennsylvania? The miniature village closed five years ago, but you can now scoop up memorabilia from it at an auction. More in my latest jam-packed newsletter:

rolandopujol.substack.com/p/rare-chanc...

Gorgeous shot! If mine was anywhere near as nice as yours, I would have included. Another Thunderbird, in Montana, made the cut. If there’s a book 2 it’ll be in there!

Traces of the lost Twin Towers around NYC: open.substack.com/pub/rolandop...

YouTube video by Illinois Public Media Journalist explores all facets of roadside Americana in new book

From gas station food to motels to unique landmarks, Journalist @rolandopujol.bsky.social discusses all aspects of road trips in new book.

Merci beaucoup!

MetroCard not going down without a fight!

The return of McDonaldland: Nostalgic campaign includes festive apparel and merch collab with Pacsun The surprise comeback of the McDonaldland characters has now extended onto the shelves of Pacsun stores. I take you on a tour.

Now you can not only visit McDonaldland again, you can WEAR it! My latest nostalgic adventure here:
rolandopujol.substack.com/p/the-return...

Nostalgic trip: Visit a McDonaldland reunion decades in the making A McDonald's in Times Square was converted into McDonaldland ahead of the release of the McDonaldland Meal on Aug. 12.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime invite, like receiving the Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. I was told, quite simply, to “get myself ready for a trip to McDonaldland."

Thank you! It’s definitely surreal to hear my voice on that podcast!

A Quest to Capture America’s Greatest Roadside Attractions For decades, Rolando Pujol has traveled across the country to photohraph historic roadside attractions. These are some of his favorites.

Definitely a pinch-me moment: It was an honor to appear on the @atlasobscura.com podcast with Dylan Thuras to discuss roadside attractions and my book, "The Great American Retro Road Trip." www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pod...

Love Lucy? You'll love her hometown of Jamestown, New York! Let's take a Retrologist tour on what would have been her 114th birthday! rolandopujol.substack.com/p/exploring-...

I need to plan the second half of my August to align with McDonald's bringing back some classic McDonaldland.

So well done!

McDonald's brings back classic McDonaldland characters as part of nostalgic meal and shake campaign McDonald's will be taking us on a "trip through McDonaldland" with its McDonaldland Meal that will include merch and more starting Aug. 12.

@mcdonaldsuss.bsky.social bites into nostalgia with new McDonaldland Meal campaign, with the characters, first launched in 1971, all back for the first time in decades.

Take a retro road trip with roadside Americana expert @rolandopujol.bsky.social as we talk about his new book, exploring the country, and some nostalgic roadside pit stops. open.substack.com/pub/american...

Roll N Roaster, the 'not so fast' fast-food restaurant, celebrates 55th anniversary Roll N Roaster has been an institution in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, since 1970.

The Roll N Roaster in Brooklyn celebrates its 55th annivesary. If you’ve never been … go! Start by reading my Substack and peeping my pics. This place is a gem.

Grand Canyon Lodge and Multiple Other Structures Are Destroyed by Wildfires

The Grand Canyon Lodge has been destroyed in a North Rim wildfire. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the lodge was the second one on the site, finished in 1937 to replace the 1928 original, also by Underwood and also destroyed in a blaze, in 1932. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/u...

Officer Big Mac clearly not on the job as Ronald McDonald statue is kidnapped from Pennsylvania McDonald’s; Hamburglar not a suspect The theft Sunday afternoon was caught on video.

This Ronald McDonald statue has been kidnapped. (Officer Big Mac clearly not on the job.)

Hector's Cafe, a Meatpacking District mainstay since 1949, set to close amid redevelopment plans Plus, fire guts art deco 7 Up plant in Bakersfield; Sacramento's Jim-Denny's closes -- again. And more roadside headlines.

Another part of old New York, going in 3, 2 ...

News of the Week: New Books, How to Keep Cool, and the Music of Lalo Schifrin | The Saturday Evening Post In the news for the week ending July 4, 2025, are reading something, buying nothing, and the states where the most psychopaths live.

Thank you, Saturday Evening Post, for the kind words about my book!

www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/07/news...

Dear friends, this is one of those pinch-me moments, the realization of a dream. I walked by The Strand Book Store tonight off Union Square and saw an ad for my book signing in the window! I invite you to join me this Wednesday at 7 pm at The Strand www.eventbrite.com/e/rolando-pu...

Meet me at The Strand Book Store in NYC Wednesday night at 7 for a book signing and chat about “The Great American Retro Road Trip”! Hope to see you. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/rolando-pu...

Video The great American retro roadtrip Author and adventurer Rolando Pujol joins ABC News Live to talk this new book "The Great American Retro Roadtrip."

I had the pleasure of appearing on ABC News Live with Phil Lipof to chat about "The Great American Retro Road Trip." Check it out!

Thank you for this lovely review of my new book!

Rainy night, nifty neon make for Manhattan magic | 6/16/25

While poking around central Florida researching “The Great American Retro Road Trip,” I encountered the Yalaha Bootlegging Co. in Yalaha, Florida. I present this photoworthy roadside quirk in honor of National Moonshine Day! rolandopujolbook.com

The Great American Retro Road Trip by Rolando Pujol | Get it Now! From the creator of The Retrologist, comes a book that celebrates the nostalgia of vintage signs, attractions, and relics. On sale now!!

My book release is less than 3 weeks away! Find out more about "The Great American Retro Road Trip" -- and preorder it -- on my new website!

rolandopujolbook.com

The World’s Smallest Buc-ee’s, an art project along Highway 90 in southwest Texas. Featured in my book, “The Great American Retro Road Trip.” Preorder here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page...

Right! This was supposed to have Starbucks shivering in their cold foam! So much for that …

And they didn’t sell fries! #deathknell