Buzz
Perhaps you're one of the fortunate few who have glimpsed the largest ball of twine in the world, located in Kansas. Maybe you've even witnessed UFOs on the road while driving through Roswell, New Mexico, late at night. Or perhaps you've bragged about attending the world’s largest spinach festival in Alma, Arkansas. Or could it be that you've always wanted to visit the world’s biggest ketchup bottle in Illinois?
Whether it’s strange, silly, or even infamous occurrences, the United States is filled with peculiar things that might have caught your attention during your travels. However, it’s impossible to visit all the oddities and unusual towns across this quirky country often referred to as “America.” That's why we've compiled this list of small towns, each known for their oddities—from bizarre to eerie, from pointless to risky, and from historical to futuristic. A road trip to these strange destinations might be exactly what you're looking for!
10. The Flavor Graveyard
Ice cream enthusiasts, especially those who adore Ben & Jerry’s, will find a treat in Waterbury, Vermont. A visit to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory promises a delightful and fun experience. But there’s a chilling part of the tour: a hill at the back of the factory, surrounded by a white picket fence and eerie trees. Don’t be scared, though—it’s just the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard, where discontinued ice cream flavors are laid to rest.
The Flavor Graveyard exists because Ben & Jerry’s constantly experiments with quirky and unconventional ice cream flavors. However, some flavors simply don’t make the cut and end up not being profitable. Every year, around ten flavors are retired due to poor sales and join the ranks of the Flavor Graveyard. While the graveyard offers a peaceful resting place for some of the strangest flavors, only 34 graves have been dug out of the over 200 flavors that have been retired so far. If you can’t find your favorite flavor in stores, perhaps it’s time to pay your respects in Vermont.
9. The Lost Luggage Capital
Alabama is known for its college football, Southern cuisine, and Forrest Gump, but if you’ve ever wondered where unclaimed airline luggage ends up, head to Scottsboro in the state’s northeastern corner. When airlines can’t trace the owner of lost luggage, it’s sent to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro. There, you can explore and purchase a wide array of items that have been left behind by their owners.
Unusual objects have been uncovered in the peculiar retirement village dedicated to suitcases. Among the discoveries are ancient Egyptian relics, classified files, and even a 5.8-carat diamond ring. The Unclaimed Baggage Center has earned accolades, including being named retailer of the year.
8. Birthplace of Captain Kirk
Riverside, a quaint town in central Iowa, once proudly boasted the slogan 'Where the best begins,' reflecting its relaxed lifestyle and traditional Midwestern values. Today, the slogan has changed to 'Where the trek begins,' as the town claims to be the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, leader of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek.
Although Kirk has yet to be born, Riverside celebrates his anticipated birth date of March 22, 2228, with a festival known as Trek Fest (previously River Fest). It's worth noting that in the Star Trek series, Kirk's official birth year is 2233. The 2228 date originates from the 1968 book 'The Making of Star Trek.' While no Star Trek media has specified the Iowa town of Kirk's birth, Riverside, back in the 1980s, boldly proclaimed, 'Why not us?' Perhaps this humble town has gone where no other Iowa town has dared to go!
7. The Devil’s Crossroads
According to legend, when blues icon Robert Johnson was a young man, he made a deal with the Devil himself in the small town of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Mississippi, known as the birthplace of American blues music, has produced legendary musicians like B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. However, Robert Johnson is said to have struck a dark bargain with the Devil at what is now known as the Crossroads, where US highways 61 and 49 intersect in Clarksdale, in exchange for mastering the art of blues.
As a young man, Johnson was determined to become a blues guitarist. 'Voices' told him to bring his guitar to the nearby Dockery Plantation at midnight and wait. When he did, a tall, dark figure appeared, took Johnson’s guitar, played it, and then returned it. From that moment on, Johnson was able to play the blues guitar like no one before him. If you’re ever in need of making a pact with the Devil, perhaps a visit to this small town in central Mississippi could be just what you’re looking for.
6. World’s Largest Time Capsule
In the small town of Seward, Nebraska, a man named Harold Davisson had such a fondness for the year 1975 that he decided to preserve everything he could from that time, creating the world’s largest time capsule. Today, his time capsule, which is mostly buried underground, has become a popular tourist attraction for those passing through. Covered by a pyramid, the 45-ton vault holds over 5,000 items from the 1970s!
The large vault made Davisson a local celebrity in Seward, and his time capsule was sealed on July 4, 1975. Two years later, The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized it as the largest time capsule in the world. However, his achievement was contested by Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, which claimed that their 'Crypt of Civilization,' sealed in 1940, was the largest. A controversy ensued, but Davisson was ultimately awarded the title. His time capsule is scheduled to be opened on July 4, 2025.
5. The Last Sideshow Town
Gibsonton, Florida, with a population of approximately 14,000, is America’s true 'Carny Town.' In the early 20th century, when traveling carnivals were a common sight, many carnival workers, or 'carnies,' would take their summer break in this small town located about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tampa. Gibsonton became famous for having a large percentage of its residents as former carnival workers and 'sideshow' human attractions. It was a popular spot for these individuals to retire or spend their off-season in a warm location.
Many 'carnies' referred to the town as Gibtown. In earlier times, the local police chief was a dwarf, and the fire chief stood at a towering 244 centimeters (8 feet) tall as a carnival performer. As one might expect, the carnie community in Gibtown was very tight-knit, and over time, these former carnival workers developed their own secret language, aptly named 'carny.' Additionally, the International Independent Showmen’s Association oversees a welfare system specifically designed for retired and unemployed carnies. However, nowadays, the number of former carnival workers in Gibsonton has greatly diminished, and the town now resembles any other small town.
4. On Fire for Decades
Centralia, Pennsylvania, has been burning since the 1960s. In the early 1980s, around 1,000 people lived in this small town located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Harrisburg. Today, Centralia is more of a ghost town; by 2010, fewer than a dozen residents remained.
Curious about why Centralia is on fire? Since 1962, a relentless coal mine fire has been burning beneath the small town. With toxic fumes seeping through the ground, sinkholes forming, and underground explosions occurring, it’s clear why Centralia is considered an uninhabitable place. Still, a handful of residents choose to endure the hazardous conditions, even though many question their bravery.
In 1992, the Pennsylvania government took control of all properties in Centralia, declaring the area off-limits. While a few residents are permitted to remain, once they pass, the town will officially cease to exist. Some experts even speculate that the fire burning underground could persist for the next 250 years!
3. A Town Within a Building
In Whittier, Alaska, almost the entire population of 218 people lives in a single building! This 14-story structure, initially built as an Army barracks in the 1950s, became residential in 1969, five years after the Army vacated. Now known as Begich Towers, this building not only houses residents but also serves as a church, police station, convenience store, and post office for the town, which is located 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Anchorage.
In the so-called 'town under one roof,' keeping secrets is much harder than in most other small towns. Situated between mountains and the sea, Whittier’s only real access points are either by boat from remote locations or through a long, one-lane tunnel that runs beneath the mountains, open one way at specific times. While this setup may seem strange, isolated, and even uncomfortable to some, the residents of Whittier appear to live harmoniously and form a tight-knit community.
2. The Bell Witch Cave
What makes Adams, Tennessee, so unnerving? In the 19th century, it was believed to be haunted by a demon-like witch!
The legend of the Bell Witch is tied to a woman named Kate Bates (or Batts). The story goes that Kate was duped into a bad land deal by the Bell family. In revenge, she vowed to haunt them, and it seemed she kept her eerie promise. One of the Bell daughters allegedly showed signs of possession and strange hostility toward spirituality. There are even rumors that former U.S. President Andrew Jackson encountered the Bell Witch when investigating the cave where Kate’s spirit now resides, scaring all who come near.
For nearly two hundred years, locals have shared tales of eerie sensations when venturing near the cave. Despite being known as a rather malevolent spirit, a common dare in the area is to utter the Bell Witch’s original name three times in front of a mirror. No thanks!
1. Meet 'The Slabs'
Slab City, California, is home to a group of residents known as 'the Slabs.' This tiny town is popular with recreational vehicle enthusiasts who explore the Sonoran Desert, but located 240 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of San Diego, Slab City is a self-proclaimed lawless community. The Slabs share a single communal shower in this desolate part of the California badlands. While winter may see as many as 4,000 residents, the summer heat can be oppressive.
Often populated by hippies, homeless individuals, drifters, drug users, artists, adventurers, and local eccentrics, the people of Slab City proudly declare their 'town' as 'the last free place in America.' In this unregulated land, chaos has erupted in the form of fiery disputes, with tents and RVs set alight and even shootouts and duels taking place.
Slab City is currently managed by the state of California, but it was once a military base known as Camp Dunlap during World War II. So, how did it get its name? The term 'Slab City' originates from the massive concrete slabs left behind after the Army abandoned the site. In 1961, the land was returned to California, and the state later demolished the remaining slabs.
