The world is full of destinations that are beautiful, historic, or culturally rich. But then there are the places that stand out for something truly bizarre. From giant objects to offbeat records, these towns and cities have carved their fame from the strange, the unusual, and the outright crazy. Here are 10 unique places that proudly own their quirky titles and outrageous claims to fame.
Casey, Illinois – Home of the World’s Largest Things
Casey may be a small town, but it makes a big impression with more than a dozen Guinness World Record-holding structures.
This Illinois town features the world’s largest wind chime, rocking chair, mailbox, pitchfork, and more. All of these massive sculptures are placed around town, making it an open-air museum of the oversized.
Hell, Michigan – Welcome to the Inferno
Yes, there’s a place called Hell, and it’s in Michigan. This tiny town embraces its name with devilish humor and fiery attractions.
Visitors can buy “deeds to a square inch of Hell,” get married in Hell’s Chapel of Love, and even become mayor of Hell for a day. It’s a tourist trap that leans hard into its infernal theme and has fun doing it.
Dull, Scotland & Boring, Oregon – A Match Made in Monotony
Dull and Boring made headlines when they officially declared themselves “sister cities” based on the dullness of their names.
While both towns are actually quite charming, they’ve turned their names into a tourism gimmick. Every August, they celebrate “Dull and Boring Day” with tongue-in-cheek events and merchandise.
Roswell, New Mexico – UFO Capital of the World
Roswell became famous in 1947 after a mysterious flying object crashed nearby. Since then, it’s been the center of UFO culture and alien conspiracy theories.
The city has embraced its extraterrestrial reputation with alien-themed shops, murals, and the annual UFO Festival, attracting believers and curious travelers alike.
Forks, Washington – Twilight Territory
Before 2005, Forks was a quiet, rainy town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Then came the Twilight book series, and suddenly Forks was vampire central.
Fans flock to the town to see Bella’s truck, the high school, and other spots mentioned in the books. Though the series is fiction, the town continues to thrive on its supernatural fame.
Metropolis, Illinois – Superman’s Official Hometown
Metropolis is a real city that claims to be the official home of Superman. It even has a massive Superman statue and hosts an annual Superman Celebration every June.
You can tour the Superman Museum, take photos with life-size comic book characters, and even mail postcards with a Superman postmark from the local post office.
Centralia, Pennsylvania – The Town That’s Been Burning for Decades
Centralia was once a coal-mining town, but a fire started in an underground coal seam in 1962 and has never been extinguished.
Today, only a few residents remain, and most of the town has been demolished. The cracked, steaming roads and graffiti-covered highway (known as Graffiti Highway) attract urban explorers and curious visitors seeking a ghost town with a fiery past.
Vulcan, Alberta – Star Trek’s Canadian Outpost
Vulcan took its name from Roman mythology, but Star Trek fans know it as Spock’s home planet. This Canadian town embraced the sci-fi connection and transformed into a Star Trek hub.
There’s a Starship Enterprise replica at the entrance, a Vulcan Tourism Trek Station shaped like a spaceship, and an annual Vul-Con event that draws fans from around the galaxy.
Slab City, California – The Last Free Place in America
Built on the remains of a World War II Marine barracks, Slab City is an off-grid desert community known for its lack of laws, electricity, and modern infrastructure.
Artists, nomads, and outcasts live here year-round. Its most famous attraction is Salvation Mountain, a hand-painted religious art installation made of adobe, straw, and paint. The place is surreal, lawless, and entirely self-governed.
Colma, California – The Town Where the Dead Outnumber the Living
With only about 1,500 residents and over 1.5 million burials, Colma is known as “The City of the Silent.” Most of San Francisco’s cemeteries were relocated here in the early 20th century.
Today, it’s a quiet suburb with more tombstones than houses. Despite its unusual claim, Colma is well-kept and respectful, with some of California’s most historic gravesites.
Final Thoughts
Not every town needs beaches or castles to be memorable. These places stand out for embracing their oddities and turning the unusual into something extraordinary.
Whether it’s a massive mailbox, a vampire-themed gift shop, or a never-ending fire, each location proves that a little weirdness can go a long way in putting a place on the map.
