Less Beaten Paths of America

06May 2012 by David Kravetz

A Super Place called Metropolis

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Illinois, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery

Metropolis Welcome Sign[/caption] This blog entry not only includes a unique name of a town, but is now introducing the second theme of this blog...the big statues and unusual sites along the road. [caption id="attachment_265" align="alignleft" width="96"] Metropolis Signs[/caption] Metropolis is the home of the Giant Superman Statue - a 200 foot tall statue of the Man of Steel. Funny thing is, as I drove into this town, the first big statue I saw was in front of a grocery store and was NOT the Giant Superman Statue!! The town is really all about Superman. [caption id="attachment_266" align="aligncenter" width="199"] The Giant non-Superman Statue - Big John the Grocery Clerk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_268" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Giant Superman with not so giant Sumoflam[/caption] [caption id="attachment_267" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flying Superman…

25Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Boo!! Let's take a Scary adventure

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Wildflowers

[/caption] Another of the many places of interest in West Virginia is the Scary Creek area. The map on Google does list a Scary, but there are no official signs with the Scary name on them. But, as you can see below, there are many of other Scary references. The Scary Creek community is located near Nitro, WV (actually, just across the Kanawha River). During the US Civil War, the area that would become Scary, West Virginia was the site of the first Confederate victory in Kanawha Valley, on July 17, 1861. There are a few homes, a couple of churches and some other small businesses, most prominently, a large Paint Ball place. [caption id="attachment_255" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A mailbox on Scary Rd., near Scary, WV"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter"…

20Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Ho Ho Ho…Welcome to Santa Claus!

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Indiana, Large Statues, Roadside Attractions, Unique Eatery, Unique Places

Santa Claus Post Office[/caption] OK, you want Christmas year round? You like looking at jolly old elves in red clothing daily? Then Santa Claus, Indiana is for you. [caption id="attachment_240" align="alignleft" width="300"] Santa Claus Town Hall[/caption] According to Wikipedia, Santa Claus was established in 1854. In 1856, when the town (then known as Santa Fe, mispronounced "fee") was working to establish a Post Office, the US Postal Service refused their first application as there was already another Santa Fe in the state. Several town meetings were held, during which the name Santa Claus was selected. [caption id="attachment_241" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Santa Claus, Indiana[/caption] The town apparently has the world's only post office to bear the nameof Santa Claus. Because of this popular name, the post office receives thousands of letters to…

16Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Bugtussle? What is it? Where is it?

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

[/caption] So, have you ever heard of Bugtussle? I did, I remember the episodes from the Beverly Hillbillies where the "Mayor of Bugtussle" paid a visit to its richest former citizen Jed Clampett. This fictitious Bugtussle was in Tennessee. Well, on a trip in February 2010 I became possibly the only person to ever drive from one Bugtussle to another one, all in one day (see entire trip journal). [caption id="attachment_234" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Bugtussle Rd, Kentucky"][/caption] In my research on the Bugtussles of America, I found three actual places called Bugtussle...one in Kentucky, on in Alabama and on in Texas. So, I chose the two between Lexington, KY and Keller, TX. [caption id="attachment_232" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Bugtussle Blvd., Texas"][/caption] I left very early in the morning and got to Bugtussle, KY…

13Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Oregon's got Talent!!

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Yard Art

Welcome to Talent, Oregon[/caption] I am currently on another business trip in Oregon and was down in the Ashland area in Southern Oregon. Just near Ashland is a small town called Talent, OR. I first heard about it when there was a participant from Talent that appeared on America's Got Talent. [caption id="attachment_223" align="alignleft" width="256"] Welcome to Talent[/caption] Called "The City of Talent", I am not sure how much talent there actually is here. The community does have nearly 7000 people. According to the Talent website, the story of Talent begins in 1852 with the arrival of the first recorded settler, Jacob Wagner. Jacob completed his homestead in 1853 and named his settlement "Wagner." In 1854, the military came from Yreka and set up a fort on Jacob's property. The…

08Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

A place called Tightwad….really?

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Missouri, People Shots, Place Names, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places

Tightwad Bank[/caption] On a trip to Kansas City back in November 2011, I returned via some back roads in south central Missouri. My main destination of choice was Tightwad, Missouri. This is an unincorporated town of about 65 or 70 people. [caption id="attachment_201" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tightwad, Missouri[/caption] The village's unusual name is said to stem from an episode in which a store owner cheated a customer, who was a postman, by charging him an extra fifty cents for a better watermelon. Some sources claim the transaction involved a rooster rather than a watermelon. However, there is really nothing definitive. Nonetheless, the town is fun. Perhaps the biggest point of excitement is the Tightwad Bank, a real bank. According to its website, The bank was founded on September 5, 1900 as…

06Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Here's an interesting DISH for you

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Texas

[/caption] I have been busy in Texas all this week so it is only appropriate I add a Texas comment on the blog. Just about two years ago I was on business in Texas (except I drove here instead of flying). On my way back to Kentucky, I made it a point to drive to DISH, TX. This community, established in June 2000, was originally named Clark. In November 2005, the community accepted an offer to rename itself "DISH" as part of a commercial agreement with the satellite television company of the same name. [caption id="attachment_198" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="DISH Town Hall"][/caption] The day I went through (April 17, 2010) was also NASCAR day at the Dallas Speedway, which is just a few miles away from DISH. To my shear enjoyment,…

01Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Yes, I have been to Hell and lived to tell about it

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Michigan, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Wall Art

[/caption] Back in late May 2008 I was on a return trip home from Ontario via Michigan. I made my way through Central Michigan. As I had been told to "go to Hell" a few times, I decided I would finally go to Hell...in Michigan (see entire trip report) [caption id="attachment_191" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Howell Rd. to Hell"][/caption] Hell, Michigan is actually not a real town. It is a "tourist trap" in the midst of the Pinckney Recreation Area, about five miles north of Pinckney, MI. It is, honestly, quite a scenic drive. To get there from the town of Pinckney you need to take south Howell Rd. (no joke...you get to Hell via Howell Rd. -- Hell is in the name of the road). The village of Hell…

30Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Missed Success by 16 miles!!

Backroads Discoveries, Missouri, Town Names, US Highway 63

Success, MO[/caption] In my last post I noted how I went looking for Romance and only came to a dead end. Well, on my way back to Kentucky from Arkansas a couple of days ago I was heading north on US 63 in Missouri. As I go to Houston, MO (in Texas County -- NO JOKE!!), I passed the sign above. It was a long drive back to Kentucky and I had just gotten started, so I decided to not take the 16 mile trek to look for Success. So, in one weekend I went looking for Romance, never found it, and I missed Success by 16 miles!! At least I made it home to Kentucky safe and sound. View Larger Map Success, Missouri]]>

26Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Trying to find Romance

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Missouri, Place Names, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Road to Romance[/caption] It has been a few days since I have posted anything. I was in Hutchinson and Salina in Kansas for the NJCAA tournament and was too busy to post. On the way to Arkansas, where I am meeting with the Bass Federation, I drove by the above sign. I took the road and it was a dead end. How funny... [caption id="attachment_174" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Romance Baptist[/caption] ...I took the road to Romance and ran into a dead end. Never could locate Romance. No longer there???? View Larger Map Romance, Missouri]]>