From Nimrod to Middelfart, world's funniest town names
— -- Oh, the silly, insulting, and downright rude places you can go! These 10 town names made us snicker like middle schoolers. Here's a quick look at how Tightwad, Middelfart, and others got their names—and what else there is to do once you've snapped your photo beneath the roadside sign.
Chances are you don't know anyone who lives in Tightwad (population: 64), but you could probably name a few cheapskates who should. As the story goes, in the early 1900s the postmaster of this town southeast of Kansas City was cheated in a watermelon deal at the local store. Out of spite, he took advantage of his postmaster privilege and renamed the town Tightwad. The main attraction here is Tightwad Bank, which happens to be FDIC insured and classified as "well capitalized." Proof that these 64 Tightwaders are still penny-pinchers?
If You Go: Stop in at the bank or go online to buy a Tightwad Bank hat, shirt, or coffee mug. Nearby Truman Lake is known for boating, fishing, and swimming.
Honorable Mentions: Dollarbeg, Scotland; Pennyhill, Delaware; Money, Mississippi
When you live in a desolate unincorporated community between No Name Canyon and No Name Creek, apparently you accept your destiny of sharing the same name—or lack thereof. No Name, near Glenwood Springs, got its name after Interstate 70 was built. A Department of Transportation official noticed that the area didn't have a name and wrote "No Name" for Exit 119, the ramp accessing the community. It drew some attention for its absurdity, locals started to accept it, and it stuck. Later, when given the opportunity to change No Name to a proper name, the community chose to remain nameless.
If You Go: Go rock climbing in No Name Canyon, or hike along the creek in the vast Weminuche Wilderness Area. Soak in the nearby Glenwood Hot Springs; at more than two blocks long, it's one of the world's largest.
Honorable Mentions: Why, Arizona; Whynot, Mississippi
If you haven't already been to Hell and back, head for West Bay on Grand Cayman Island. You can take a picture with the devil-disguised owner of Hell's souvenir shop and send a wish-you-were-here postcard from Hell to family and friends. Don't miss seeing the jagged black limestone formations that earned this tourist village its name. Most accounts recall someone saying, "This is what hell must look like." Luckily, this one is in a tropical paradise.
If You Go: Go to Hell on your own or drag a few others down with you on an Island Routes tour. Two tours include stops in Hell: the Island Tour & Turtle Farm and the Island Tour & Dolphin Slide-Out.
Honorable Mentions: Hell, Michigan; Little Heaven, Delaware; Convent, Louisiana
One of the country's best forks in the road has to be in southwest New Mexico, where your choices are either Elephant Butte or Truth or Consequences. Tough call. Do you head for a herd of escaped circus performers, or do you take the double dare? Actually, the name Elephant Butte refers to a volcanic cone island (loosely resembling the animal's silhouette) in the middle of a reservoir that is the largest lake in the state and a favorite vacation spot.
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