Weird Town Names: Road Trip Through America’s Oddest Places
We’re hunting down weird town names across America—places that sound like punchlines: Booger Hollow, Intercourse, Why, Ding Dong. And while we’re there, we’re finding out what each one is actually famous for.
Because if you’re going to visit a town called Monkey’s Eyebrow, you might as well find out why it’s called that.
Every weird town has a story. Some have a World’s Largest something. Some got a visit from Guy Fieri. And some just have a name that makes you hit the brakes. The towns we stay in don’t always have either one, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own claim to fame. Maybe it’s great coffee, the best pie in three counties, or some weird stuff that went down there once. We go find out.
🗺️ Weird Town Names that made the list
Here are a few of the oddly named places we’re tracking down:
– Pie Town, NM — Homesteaders settled it in the 1920s and 30s, and the pie legend started with dried-apple pies for travelers. It still throws a Pie Festival every September, with horned toad races.
– Ding Dong, TX — Two cousins ran a country store here in the 1930s and hung a sign with two bells, one labeled Zulis and one Bert. Ripley’s and a few road-trip authors have put it on the map.
– Intercourse, PA — It started as Cross Keys in 1754 and got its new name in 1814. Nobody agrees why. It’s the heart of Amish Country, and scenes from Witness were filmed nearby.
– Sweet Lips, TN — Nobody knows the name’s origin, and the theories include creek water, a rifle, and George Washington’s dog. A few scenes from Walking Tall (1973) were filmed here.
– Yum Yum, TN — It’s named after an old candy brand. The storekeeper told the senator, “Just call it Yum Yum. There won’t be another name like that.”
Got a weird town name we should visit? Let us know.
📍 Coming Soon – Weird Town Names we Just Discovered!
We’re currently mapping out visits to:
– Floyds Knobs, IN – It sits on the Knobstone Escarpment, and the “knobs” are the hills. Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller is tied to the area. Huber’s is about five minutes away in Starlight.
– Monkey’s Eyebrow, KY – There are three theories behind the name, including that the town looks like a monkey’s head on a map. It once had two stores, “Old Monkey” and “New Monkey.” Singer Kelsey Waldon grew up here.
– Yeehaw Junction, FL – It used to be Jackass Junction. The Desert Inn started as a 1930s brothel, a semi hit it in 2019, and it’s now demolished. The Turnpike exit here is the only one on a nearly 90-mile stretch.
– Cut and Shoot, TX – A 1912 church and schoolhouse standoff gave the town its name, and nobody was cut or shot.
🔍 How This Works
1. Find a town with a ridiculous name
2. Drive there and photograph the sign
3. Ask locals: “What’s this town famous for?”
4. Go see it (and eat something while we’re there)
5. Report back
Sometimes the claim to fame is a pie. Sometimes it’s a sign, a standoff, or a very questionable name. Usually it’s all three.
👀 This Stop Isn’t Open Yet
We’re still charting the route and planning visits. Until then, start with the weird we’ve already found: browse roadside attractions by state or plot your own route with the Road Trip Route Finder. And check out our other series like World’s Largest or CopyCaturday.
