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Clever/Unpronounceable Street Names
by - December 27, 2007 - 11:00 AM
As we near year’s end, we’re re-posting a few heavily commented-upon posts from earlier in 2007. Here’s one of my favorites, from May.
Inspired by this, the Freakonomics Blog held a discussion about whether a home’s value is negatively affected by a really awful street name (the verdict: maybe, but probably not). I am not compelled to conduct further research.
But this got me thinking. Do I know any really awful street names? Near my house growing up, we had The Hobo Path. Though I don’t recall that appearing on any signs or maps. I don’t remember encountering any hobos, either. There is a Breakneck Road in Green Pond, New Jersey. Kind of scary. Interstate 70 becomes The Mark McGwire Freeway in St. Louis, named long before his infamous Congressional testimony on steroids. In a baffling example of city planning, pretty much every road in Atlanta is Peachtree-something – though that’s more confusing than really awful.
Here are a few more examples…
• Shades of Death Road (Warren County, NJ)
• Unexpected Road (Buena, NJ)
• Psycho Path (Traverse City, MI — voted wackiest street name in a 2006 poll by TheCarConnection.com)
• Divorce Court (Heather Highlands, PA)
• Zzyzx Road (Zzyzx, CA)
• Elvis Alive Drive (Outskirts of Vegas, courtesy of a Freakonomics blog commenter)
Got any examples of poorly named streets where you live? Send a picture for bonus points.*
*No cash value.
Comments (229)
Comment
In my town there are several streets named after a guy with the last name Grim. There’s Grim Street, Grim Court, etc.
I know someone whose address is 1 Grim Place.
posted by Kyle on 5-2-2007 at 10:32 am
We used to have a street called Crnja in Champaign, IL. They had to rename it.
posted by Jennifer on 5-2-2007 at 10:33 am
In the suburbs of Cincinnati, there’s Devil’s Backbone Rd. I’ve always assumed the name came from how twisty/curvey and hilly the road is.
posted by Jess on 5-2-2007 at 10:34 am
I have a relitive on “High RD” and I encountered a woman at my job that said she lived at 1313 Cemetary Dr.
posted by Melissa on 5-2-2007 at 10:36 am
This is not eerie or macabre, but a few blocks from where I live there is a street called “Penistone.” I’m presuming it’s meant to rhyme with “tennis ton,” but whenever I see the sign all I can think of is the musical (?) sound of male genitalia.
posted by Jill on 5-2-2007 at 10:38 am
There’s one in Elgin, IL near me named “King Arthur Court”. I’ll try to get a pic.
posted by Empty Jay on 5-2-2007 at 10:45 am
I don’t know of any streets names existing like this, but I always wanted to name a bunch of streets along the lines of:
Dead End Rd
Right Ln
Left Ln
Unending Cir
posted by Tru on 5-2-2007 at 10:47 am
In Detroit here, there a “Big Beaver” road that happens to be exit 69 off the main highway.
There’s also a street called “Slocum”
Clutch
~tshirtwebsites.com
posted by Clutch on 5-2-2007 at 10:48 am
I live near “Goa Way” and “Rock and Hard Place”
posted by mandy on 5-2-2007 at 10:49 am
In Washington Township New Jersey there’s “No Name Road” – I think U2 wrote a song about it.
posted by Adam on 5-2-2007 at 10:49 am
In the suburbs outside Pittsburgh there’s an Insurrection Road. It’s not in a location to be of historical significance.
In the city of Pittsburgh there’s a Will Way and an Appian Way, although those are deliberate…
posted by Jim on 5-2-2007 at 10:53 am
Near my house we have “Old Muddy Creek Road” which I think is just a quite unforunate name. “Dried Earth Boulevard” has always been one of my favorites.
posted by Beth on 5-2-2007 at 10:53 am
I narrowly avoided living on Seeman St. Yes, it’s spelled differently, but pronounced the same. I would hate to give my address on the phone.
posted by Jen on 5-2-2007 at 10:56 am
I grew up in a housing development where all the streets were named after the developer. So my house was on Storch Turn, near the intersection with Storch Drive. Nearby are Storch Circle, Storch Lane, and Storch Way. What a pain.
posted by Jennifer on 5-2-2007 at 11:06 am
There’s actually only two Peachtree Streets in Atlanta- Peachtree and West Peachtree, and Peachtree Industrial, which is actually just an extention of regular ol Peachtree. It wasn’t really ever that confusing to me when I lived there. I dunno.
I would so live on The Hobo Path.
posted by jill on 5-2-2007 at 11:15 am
In Littleton, CO there is a street called “Jackass Hill Road” as you drive up it, it turns into “Prince Street”. I’ve been driving it for 15 years and it still makes me smile:)
posted by jenn on 5-2-2007 at 11:16 am
There is a Lois Lane in Harrisonburg, VA.
In Elyria Ohio there is a Gore Orphanage Road….named after an orphanage that (so says the folklore) burned to the ground.
posted by Terrie on 5-2-2007 at 11:18 am
After the ban, living on Shamokin street, Philadelphia, isn’t as fun.
posted by Sarah on 5-2-2007 at 11:18 am
In the Silverlake area of LA, there’s a street called “Normal Avenue.” Always liked that one.
posted by justin case on 5-2-2007 at 11:20 am
In Sterling Heights Michigan are a couple of neighborhoods, one with all the streets named after 60’s car names ( Satellite, Invicta, Impala, Monterey, etc.) and the other with streets named after 60’s cigarette brands ( Viceroy, Winston, Chesterfield, Pall Mall, etc. )
posted by Gregg on 5-2-2007 at 11:21 am
In one neighborhood: Red Ridinghood Trail, Cindarella Road, Peter Pan Road, Aladdin Road, Mother Goose Trail, Woodnymph Trail, Fairy Dell Trail, Elfin Road, Gnome Road, and Fairy Trail. And no, this is not Disney World.
posted by Karen on 5-2-2007 at 11:22 am
“In Detroit here, there a “Big Beaver” road that happens to be exit 69 off the main highway.”
Believe it or not, they just opened a Hooters at Exit 69 and Big Beaver! Its True!
posted by Gregg on 5-2-2007 at 11:23 am
Jill, Regarding ATL, you’re forgetting Peachtree Battle, Peachtree Memorial, and Peachtree Circle! It’s a little craziness with the peachtrees down there.
posted by Laureen on 5-2-2007 at 11:28 am
There is a Peculiar Street here in Hot Springs. The Dam Fork Cut-off has been replaced.
posted by Ben Burton on 5-2-2007 at 11:33 am
In Tallahassee, there’s a “Long and Winding Rd.”
posted by Higgins on 5-2-2007 at 11:35 am
While visiting family in Arkansas, we came across Klan Road. One of the ramshackle houses was the headquarters for the area back in the day.
posted by ac on 5-2-2007 at 11:41 am
you should try Charlotte, NC. The road will change names for no reason. Tyvola goes to Fairview goes to Rama goes to Idlewild all in a seven or eight mile stretch.
Or the road you are on, you have to turn to stay on it. You have the intersection of Providence and Queens with both turning into the other if you go straight. Nuts.
posted by Jared on 5-2-2007 at 11:55 am
Zzyzx Road is located at Exit 239 on I-15 between Las Vegas, NV and Barstow, CA. I couldn’t figure out how to spell it, so I looked it up. It’s worth noting that the road leads to Zzyzx Springs, a health spa first opened in 1944 and closed in 1974 (when the owner ran afoul of the FDA.) The building is now used by the California State University System’s California Desert Studies Center.
posted by Peggie on 5-2-2007 at 11:56 am
Out in a rural section of town, there are two roads that make me laugh.
One is an unpaved dirt country road called Dunn Road. I think to myself that it’s not really done until they pave it.
Another road is crumbling, faded, and pock marked with potholes. This is Superior Road, which is obviously wrong considering the quality of the road.
posted by Jason! on 5-2-2007 at 12:06 pm
Moose Creek, Alaska, has Thissa Way and Thatta Way. I really wish i was joking.
posted by Andrew on 5-2-2007 at 12:12 pm
In Beachwood, NJ, there is a road called “Double Trouble Rd”, which I always get a kick out of. It’s near the Pine Barrens, so I always think of a witch in there stirring her pot. It is named for the nearby state park: Double Trouble State Park.
posted by Lisa on 5-2-2007 at 12:23 pm
When I was little my family’s apartment was on Wimbledon Court (West Chester, PA).
Like the post about Harrisonburg, VA, there’s also a Lois Lane in San Francisco.
posted by Lilly on 5-2-2007 at 12:31 pm
In NC, there’s a subdivision with planners that were obviously beatles fans.. there’s “Long and Winding Road”, “Penny Lane”, and “Abbey Road”… among others- but those are the most road-ready. Another in NC is on Topsail where there’s three roads- one after the other off the main drag- the first is “strawberry”, the second is “fields”, the last is “forever”.
posted by Paige on 5-2-2007 at 12:35 pm
My favorite on a back road in South Carolina is Bad Ham Lane. I always wondered if it lead to a pig farm.
posted by shammara on 5-2-2007 at 12:38 pm
When I grew up in Portland, we giggled over Killingsworth St-in the heart of murder central, and Skidmore Ave-where a bevy of accidents occurred daily.
posted by Johnny Cat on 5-2-2007 at 12:44 pm
What Jason simplified is that there are 26 streets in Atlanta with some variation of Peachtree in the name. I used to work at a hotel there and giving directions would get very confusing to the visitors at times.
In the town I live in now, there is a Gallows Hill Rd.
posted by Shane on 5-2-2007 at 12:48 pm
In Endicott, NY, the side street to the main avenue in town is called Ideal Alley. As far as alleys go, I guess you could call it ideal.
posted by Cynthia on 5-2-2007 at 12:48 pm
There’s a Heck of a Hill Road in Wilson, WY. I’d like to see that street some day.
posted by Janel on 5-2-2007 at 12:52 pm
Sallisaw, OK has “No Name Road” and “TripleXXX” Road (a bit redundant, I can never decide if there are 3, 6, or 9 Xs implied by this).
In Edmond, OK where there are a lot of new housing developments, they have an annoying habit of putting two feature names together that 1) do not neccassarily belong together and/or 2) are completely out of place in central Oklahoma, which is completely flat and devoid of natural water (the closest thing many have to water in the environment is a drainage ditch). Some examples are:
Meadow Lake Drive
Mountain View Lane
Beacon Hill Street
Walnut Cove Road
Chimney Hill Court
Rocky Mountain Way
Basking Ridge Terrace
Ponderosa Pine Street
Bridgewater Bay (boldly defying the three-word rule!)
Clear Creek Circle (total denial going on here! Central Oklahoma has red clay earth)
On the other side of the globe, Faulconbridge, NSW (in Australia) has a “Magic Pudding Circle” named after The Magic Pudding, a beloved Aussie children’s book – love it!
posted by elizabutt on 5-2-2007 at 1:06 pm
My Hometown of Aylmer Québec there is a “Rue LaRue” and in the Ottawa suburb of Orleans, in Ontario, a “Mulder Dr.” intersects a “Scully Cr.”
posted by Frank S. Besner on 5-2-2007 at 1:13 pm
And in Frenchville, Me, there is a road called “brace-culotte” pronounced brace-chulotte [translated: suspender]. Perhaps an indication of how we should hold our pants when driving there! The name was changed.
posted by Jim Martin on 5-2-2007 at 1:24 pm
In Jellico,Tenn there is Stinking Creek Rd
posted by Dale D Mosier on 5-2-2007 at 1:24 pm
There’s a river in Maine called, “Nonesuch River”…… it’s the Yankee sense of humor.
posted by Phoenix on 5-2-2007 at 1:25 pm
In Santa Cruz, CA there is a High St. High St. intersects Story St. On the signs where the streets cross somone has cleverly modified Story to look like Stoney. So at first glance it looks like you are standing on the ocrner of High and Stoney St. A very good place to be.
posted by mrburns138 on 5-2-2007 at 1:29 pm
I’ve always loved Skunk’s Misery Road in Lattingtown, NY, on Long Island.
posted by Ali on 5-2-2007 at 1:34 pm
In the small community in South Carolina where I grew up, there is a road called Cooter’s Crossing.
posted by Kelvin on 5-2-2007 at 1:42 pm
In Savannah, GA we have a “Black Weiner Dr.” I think the sign is currently missing, having been stolen.
posted by Cathy on 5-2-2007 at 1:42 pm
West of Ann Arbor there’s a John Holmes Rd. (named for the developer’s son, not the porn star). A neighborhood in Royal Oak, MI has several funny-sounding names, such as Chocolay and Weebik. Opa Locka, FL was designed with a 1001 Arabian Nights theme (Both in the architecture and the street names). The names include Aladdin, Sheherezade, and my personal favorite, Sesame St.
posted by Andrew on 5-2-2007 at 1:50 pm
In Davidson, NC, there’s a Touch Me Not Lane en route to the college’s lake campus. That’s often be my favorite. I’m in Champaign, IL, now and I regret missing Crnja Ln.
And as to the roads in Charlotte changing names abruptly.. the same is true in Atlanta. Not only that, but sometimes the road itself will change names if you go straight but stay the same if you turn left or right. I’d heard this was because city planners originally based roads on Indian trails. Can anyone confirm that as truth or myth?
posted by Jeffrey on 5-2-2007 at 1:58 pm
In Beaverdale, there are street names: Beaver, Lower Beaver, Beaver Crest, Beaver Hill. Also in Iowa are roads Dickman, PO Box, General Delivery, Stoner, High St., Crosswait, Devils Gap, Home, Lover’s Lane, Ozone Drive, Poor Farm Road, Sleeper, Slocum, Tete-a-Tete, Stingy Lane, XL Road.
posted by Laura on 5-2-2007 at 1:59 pm
Charlottesville Va. has Line Drive. There is also a Pinch ‘em Slyly Place, said to be named after an 18th century tavern…
posted by BrianD on 5-2-2007 at 2:04 pm
In Park Forest, IL, one of the first planned communities in the US, the sections of town all have streets beginning with the same initial — except that there is one street in the “F” area named Michael Rd.
Aside from the sudden desire to sing, “Michael Road the boat ashore, alleluia…”
The rest of the story: The road was named after a local boy who was killed in a war. His name was Michael Fartz, and the road was originally named, yes, Fartz Road.
It was soon changed due to repeated resident requests.
posted by lleachie on 5-2-2007 at 2:06 pm
There’s an insane asylum called Sring Grove in Catonsville, MD and right near it is Asylum Road. If you don’t know there is an insane asylum back there, the road name seems very strange.
posted by Jordan on 5-2-2007 at 2:21 pm
Southeast of Ithaca, NY there is a Sodom Road. When we first moved here, we looked at a house on that road. Fortunately we didn’t like the house so we didn’t have to really consider living on Sodom (and no, there is no Gomorrah Road in Ithaca).
We ended up on Salem Drive (NE Ithaca) which sounds pretty normal. The nickname for our neighborhood, however, is “Cigarette Alley” as the developer named the streets after his favorite cigarette brands because he thought it sounded “classy” The other streets are named Winston, Tareyton, Rose Hill and Muriel.
posted by chris on 5-2-2007 at 2:24 pm
In Lovell, Maine you will find “Quite a Road”. In New Hampshire you will find Rollercoaster Road. It’s not the road to any amusement park, just a very long and VERY hilly road!
posted by CB on 5-2-2007 at 2:26 pm
I used to work with a woman who lived on Shades of Death Road. I live on Memory Lane so I take a stroll down Memory Lane on a daily basis!
posted by JaneM on 5-2-2007 at 2:33 pm
In Des Plaines, Illinois, there are a number of rather odd-looking street names. I presume they are Native American in origin, but that’s only a guess because they’re near Council Trail: I-Oka Ave, Hi Lusi Ave, WA-Pella Ave, Candota Ave, Na WA Ta Ave, See Gwun Ave, We Go Trail, Man-a-Wa Trail, Go Wando Ave, and Sha Bonee Trail.
posted by Caleb on 5-2-2007 at 2:35 pm
My cousin lives on “Bull Cresent” in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.
posted by Nicole Wiwchar on 5-2-2007 at 2:40 pm
Rural Maine abounds with these places. Ezekial Gordon Road, Sodom and Gommorah Road, Back Kingdom Road, Streaked Mountain Road.
And proably a few hundred “Dump” Roads brought forward in tact from the time when we used the town dump as a common landmark for all travels.
posted by georgia vandelay on 5-2-2007 at 2:47 pm
In the New Orleans area (Harahan) there is Hickory Ave, Dickory Ave, and Dock Street.
posted by Melia on 5-2-2007 at 2:52 pm
in Killingworth, CT there is “Roast Meat Hill Road”
I grew up on “Abbey Road” in East Hampton… needless to say, the street signs were always missing.
posted by mike on 5-2-2007 at 2:54 pm
Jared-
don’t forget that in Charlotte, Queen’s Rd intersects itself. also, there’s Sharon Ln. and Sharon Rd., and they intersect. there’s also Sharon View, Sharon Amity, Sharon Dr., Sharon Lakes, and i’m SURE more that i can’t think of. as a friend of mine put it when she moved to Charlotte “who is this Sharon and who did she sleep with to get her name all over the town?!” actually, all the Sharons are about a really old church nearby.
posted by mri on 5-2-2007 at 2:55 pm
There’s an 8-mile stretch in Colorado called “Oh My God Road.’ Not because it’s scary, but because it’s beautiful.
Also, my mother grew up on “Easy Street.”
posted by rachelg on 5-2-2007 at 3:15 pm
In Tepoztlan Mexico there’s a “Calle del Olvido” (Road to Oblivion), and a “Calle de la Amargura” (Bitterness St)….I always wondered who named those streets such sad names, especially since the town is located in a stunningly beautiful setting.
posted by cynthia from walla walla on 5-2-2007 at 3:18 pm
There’s a road near where I grew up on Long Island (In the King’s Park/Fort Salonga area) called Bread and Cheese Hollow Road. One night my best friend and I made paper signs with names like “Lox on a Bagel Street” and “BLT BLVD” and covered neighboring street signs with them.
posted by Sara on 5-2-2007 at 3:20 pm
In Dayton, Ohio there is an intersection of Bigger Rd. and Whipp Rd. I always wanted to get a picture of someone dressed up in BDSM gear there.
posted by Cynthia on 5-2-2007 at 3:36 pm
A friend of mine lives at 70 Fallis Road. Missed 69 Fallis by one.
posted by John McCollum on 5-2-2007 at 3:38 pm
In Kirkville, Mo right next to the Truman State campus is the intersection of High St and Normal Rd. The sign is stolen constantly by freshmen.
I currently work on Peculiar Dr, in Peculiar, Mo. (It’s south of Kansas City.) Both the town and road are pretty mundane.
posted by jimmywags on 5-2-2007 at 3:47 pm
Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard in San Francisco in a previous era was just plain ol’ Green Street.
posted by Brian Di Maggio on 5-2-2007 at 3:50 pm
Dundas Ontario has streets named Robinhood Dr.
Little John Rd
Sherwood Rise
posted by zale on 5-2-2007 at 3:54 pm
In Jefferson Parish, LA, just west of New Orleans, there’s a street named Hickory Ave. Parallel to it is Dickory Ave., and they are both crossed by Dock St.
posted by Nick on 5-2-2007 at 4:00 pm
In the town where I live there is a “Lewis St.” and a “Clark St.” right after the other. It’s a shame they don’t connect…I think it’d be great to live on the corner of “Lewis and Clark”.
posted by Kelly on 5-2-2007 at 4:05 pm
In Nanaimo, British Columbia, there is a street called “Dingle Bingle Hill Terrace”
How embarrassing
posted by ella guthrie on 5-2-2007 at 4:17 pm
Outside a large church in Bakersfield, CA is a street called His Way.
Over in Lost Hills, CA are two interesting street names: Main Drain Rd and Brown Material Rd.
posted by Jason! on 5-2-2007 at 4:20 pm
There is also a Lois Lane in Sioux Falls, SD.
Not terribly strange, but the business I work for is on North Westport Ave. I have to explain that one to people on the phone all the time; “No, Westport is one word.”
I also live a block away from Park Avenue.
posted by Dave on 5-2-2007 at 4:31 pm
You should see some main street’s names in Mexico City, like “Niño Perdido” (Lost child), “Barranca del Muerto” (Dead man’s precipice), “Avenida de las Bombas” (Pumps avenue) or “Calzada del Hueso” (Bone’s street).
Regards from Mexico ;)
Karina
posted by Karina on 5-2-2007 at 4:53 pm
there is a Rocky Road in El Sobrante, CA
posted by regan on 5-2-2007 at 5:03 pm
Just south of Klamath falls OR. is “Wong Road”
posted by Kirk on 5-2-2007 at 5:11 pm
Just thought of one in Pittsburgh, where I live now: West North Avenue.
posted by Lisa on 5-2-2007 at 5:16 pm
Quail Crossing.
We always thought it was a weird name, up until the day we actually saw a line a quails crossing the street there. Now we just think it’s weird that we’ve never seen quails anywhere else in town.
posted by Pointy-Hatted Geek on 5-2-2007 at 5:19 pm
Outside Red Bank, NJ, there is a development with a host of interesting names:
Gayboy Ct
Ataboy Ct
Highboy Ct
Orphanboy Ct
Handyboy Ct
Don’t know what they’re named for, but they’re funny as hell.
posted by Rachel on 5-2-2007 at 5:48 pm
On the south end of Bloomington, Indiana – when you’re on your way out to the countryside – you’ll pass That Road.
I keep meaning to take a picture of the big yellow sign that announces it, but I’m usually driving at 55mph, at the time…
posted by Mel on 5-2-2007 at 6:12 pm
In Southport, NC. there are three streets named Howe, Dry, and I Am. The first two are named for 18th century historical figures. The last was just too tempting to someone who was naming streets.
posted by David on 5-2-2007 at 6:41 pm
In Pittsburgh, my boyfriend and I always got a chuckle out of Climax Street.
posted by Emily on 5-2-2007 at 6:48 pm
I have a “Bob St.” near me.
posted by Brittany on 5-2-2007 at 7:03 pm
There’s a particularly empty stretch of Interstate 94 in Eastern Montana where you have consecutive exits for …
Whoopup Creek Road
and then, perhaps as a warning,
Bad Route Road.
posted by justawriter on 5-2-2007 at 7:45 pm
Somewhere in North Carolina along Interstate 81 there’s a Butt Hollow Road. My brother and I used to get a real kick out of that one, and we’d look for it every time the family drove down there for a vacation.
posted by ~Rachel on 5-2-2007 at 7:55 pm
On a recent visit to New Zealand’s south island, we found a road near Queenstown that was called “Paradise Road”. Not so bad, except it was a no-through road and the sign pointing up it at the crossroads said “Paradise Road, No Exit”.
posted by Meredith on 5-2-2007 at 8:15 pm
Had a friend who purchased a house in Welfare Parade. Friends remarked, “Always knew Bruce would end up on Welfare!”.
This is in Ashburton, Victoria, Australia.
posted by Jillian on 5-2-2007 at 8:24 pm
In Ashburnham, MA (or perhaps a neighboring town — they all blend together), there’s Bean Porridge Hill Road, which always struck me as just…odd.
posted by SMA on 5-2-2007 at 9:00 pm
There’s a road that leads from the hills area to the city in my state of South Australia called Devil’s Elbow. Mainly because it’s a sharp u-bend where a lot of crashes happen.
posted by Nerdfury on 5-2-2007 at 9:03 pm
In my hometown of Candor, New York (the name of the town is odd enough) one of my friends lived on Park Drive.
posted by Heather on 5-2-2007 at 9:15 pm
In Cupertino, CA, Apple has buildings on Infinite Loop… yes, the street was named *because* of the company.
posted by Moira on 5-2-2007 at 9:19 pm
There is a section in north Phoenix with Voltaire Ave, Joan De Arc Ave, Emile Zola Ave, Pershing Ave and Captain Dryefus Ave. An interesting tribute to the French and French literature.
posted by Wayne on 5-2-2007 at 9:33 pm
Jason, you have a lot of comments here. So I thought I’d add one: in my town growing up, we had Stoner Rd. Rawk!
posted by Ransom on 5-2-2007 at 9:41 pm
In Latour, Missouri, there is a road called STITT ROAD named after a local family. The way it is displayed on the street sign is S TITT. Since it appears that way, my wife and I joke that it stands for SOUTH TITT.
posted by Don on 5-2-2007 at 9:43 pm
In Carrollton, Georgia the main road intersects with Clinic Avenue on one side and Trojan Drive on the other. Both names make sense if you know the area — Clinic leads to the hospital, and Trojan leads to the high school, whose mascot is a Trojan warrior. And yet I snicker every time I head into town for groceries . . .
posted by Yar on 5-2-2007 at 9:49 pm
Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport, CT
posted by Lawrence on 5-2-2007 at 10:25 pm
There is a road in my hometown that goes up the steepest hill in the valley. It is aptly named “Able.”
posted by Abby on 5-2-2007 at 10:28 pm
Hey- thanks to MRI for setting everybody straight about the Sharon roads. I am a Charlotte native and I get sick of being asked the “Who was Sharon” question. Now- the triple Queens road intersection – not even a native can navigate that one!!
My favourite road is in Gaffney, SC. It’s called Possum Trot. That is just sooo Hee Haw, n’est-ce pas?
posted by Allison on 5-2-2007 at 10:57 pm
In my hometown in NC there’s My Way.
Where I live now in Colorado, there’s a Tape Drive. (Does anyone still have tape drives in their computers these days?)
posted by kate on 5-3-2007 at 12:42 am
“Skunks Misery Rd” in NY. May not reduce property values but it gets lots of weird comments from friends after Christmas card season!
posted by Toni on 5-3-2007 at 12:48 am
How about Slaughterhouse Road? Country roads were named when 911 was instituted in Amite County, MS…It was later changed to P.P. Wilson, due to objections! PeePee?
posted by Fleet on 5-3-2007 at 5:33 am
In Bismarck, ND there is a road called Couch Street.
Easy Street is another.
posted by Amber on 5-3-2007 at 7:06 am
In Utah there’s a Mutton Hollow Road with a cul-de-sac leading off it called Ewe Turn.
posted by Steve on 5-3-2007 at 7:35 am
In Mt Pleasant, SC (outside of Charleston) there is Rifle Range Road.
On the way to Boone, NC Shacktown Road (probably not so good for home values)
And then there is Long Street Drive in Raleigh, NC.
posted by al on 5-3-2007 at 8:00 am
I’ve got the best. Up here in Canada, in the Northwest Territory there is a city named Yellowknife where there’s a street called Ragged Ass Road. It got so bad with people stealing the street signs, they actually finally painted it on the building. One of our Canadian treasures, singer song writer Tom Cochrane did a song about Ragged Ass Road. If you haven’t heard him, give him a listen. His music is great!
posted by Cindy on 5-3-2007 at 8:15 am
I live right near Random Road in Cleveland, although it’s no more random than any other road.
posted by Brenden on 5-3-2007 at 8:22 am
Howdy,
Down here in Austin, Texas, we have a Lois Lane, its a small street I found delivering pizza once…..I’ve alwyas wanted to lift that sign….
My highschool …. Westwood High (now refered to as Wastwood) was situated at the corner of High Meadow and Mellow meadow ……. lots of rasta learning going on there.
posted by Twitchings on 5-3-2007 at 8:49 am
This pales in comparison to some, but we have the most unimaginative names… to get to us you take Still River to Still Creek, then arrive at the intersection of Moccasin Trail and Moccasin Trail… the only other name in the development in Sandy Plains. Huh?
posted by Eileen on 5-3-2007 at 9:02 am
In churchill, Manitoba (on the shores of Hudson Bay) EVERY street is named after an early explorer… there’s Hudson, Hendry, Selkirk, Thompson, LaVerendrye, Franklin, Bernier, Kelsey, Munck, Button, James, etc…
posted by Jennifer on 5-3-2007 at 9:34 am
Driving in Orlando FL a couple weeks ago, we drove into Mark Twain land, with streets named: Huckleberry Finn Dr, Aunt Polly Ct, Riverraft Ct, Steamboat Ct, Tom Sawyer Ct, and Rapscallion Dr.
posted by Beanie on 5-3-2007 at 9:53 am
In Salem, Oregon, there’s a small street called “Fussy Duck Lane.” I love that one.
In Austin, Texas, there was a development where all the streets were Gone with the Wind Themed: Rhett Butler Way, Scarlett O’Hara Cove, Seven Oaks Drive. Another subdivision in Austin had Texas themed names: Davy Crockett Place, Alamo Way, and my all time favorite: Heart of Texas Way. yick!
posted by Jenny on 5-3-2007 at 9:55 am
As Mel (#82) notes, Bloomington, IN, does have “That Road” — it’s a continuation of Creosote Road. Also in the area are Possum Trot and Greasy Creek roads. The latter is, IIRC, just to the east of Devil’s Backbone. (Technically, I’d guess that doesn’t count since it’s named land feature, rather than a road.)
posted by Steve on 5-3-2007 at 10:47 am
In Lawrence, KS, quite a few streets are named after US states and signs of the zodiac. Also in Lawrence are April Rain Rd, Bonanza St, and S Rawhide Ln. In Hays, KS are JP Dr, Tam Oshanter Dr, Olympic Ln, Safari Rd, Noose Rd, Broadway Ave, and S Street Dr (how creative).
posted by Michelle on 5-3-2007 at 11:16 am
I used to live on College Court Place, which ran between College Court and College Place, both of which were off College St. Used to drive the pizza delivery guys insane.
posted by justin on 5-3-2007 at 11:19 am
Maybe this is a newish development, but there are actually several Peachtree named streets in Atlanta: (PT = Peachtree) ((I admit that one or two of them are in suburbs, but it’s still confusing.)
PT Hills Ave
PT Dr.
PT Park
West PT Battle Ave
PT Industrial Blvd
PT Place
PT Place Parkway (not the same as above)
PT Walk
PT Circle
PT Court
PT Square
PT St NW and NE, which are different roads
PT Rd NE, which turns into PT Rd NW and then BACK into NE…
NEW Peachtree Rd
And, by the way, Peachtree Heights West (a housing district) is NOT off of any of the roadways called Peachtree, although it is behind Peachtree Rd NW (or is it St…or…{sigh})
posted by Kathy on 5-3-2007 at 11:51 am
My husband used to live on Easy St in Medford Oregon and in Enterprise Alabama there is a My St.
posted by Kathy on 5-3-2007 at 11:55 am
In Portland, Oregon, there is a street named Couch Street.
HOWEVER, it is not pronounced as the piece of furniture. It is, in fact, pronounced “cooch”, which leads everyone to believe that Portland lives up to its freaky reputation.
posted by Steve on 5-3-2007 at 12:06 pm
The island of Oahu has a Likelike Highway. Although its not pronounced that way.
Also SW of Pearl Harbor, Old Ft Weaver Rd intersects with Old Ft Weaver Rd. Then it connects to Ft Weaver Rd.
Further up the Wainae coast is Kill Rd.
On the north shore Nudist Camp Road must lead to some great scenery.
And like most I’m still don’t how Oahu can have 3 interstates.
posted by Bob on 5-3-2007 at 12:06 pm
In my town there is
King Richard Dr.
Nottingham Dr.
Friar Tuck Dr.
Sherwood Dr.
Little John Ct.
Redhead St.
Greenhead St.
Canadian St. (and this is in Texas)
Redbud St.
various streets with bird names, tree name, flower names.
Fortuna Dr.
Yale Dr.
Princeton Dr.
Dartmouth Dr.
Old Hitchin’ Rack Lane
Ultra Light Ln.
Old Saltgrass Trail Ln.
and in a town close to us there’s a Country Club Lane.
our town is wierd.
posted by amyisbored on 5-3-2007 at 3:26 pm
I have the best of all. Jackson, Mississippi proudly contains a small road named “Can’t Stand Earl”.
It’s right next to “Tv Rd.” and one called something like “That Darned Fool”.
No wonder people believe the stories about us.
posted by Aemi on 5-3-2007 at 5:14 pm
The town where my family moved to when I was 16 has ridiculous streets. Our house was the last house on our street- the street turned (barely)and became a new street for about 10 houses, then ended. Our street went down, through an intersection, then changed names again as the street made a complete U where there was a creek. Now, on the other side of the creek (no bridge) the street continued again. Why the street changed names when the road turned, but not when it jumped a creek, I’ll never know! Also, a main street changed from Fry Rd, to Fry Blvd, to Fry Rd, to Fry Blvd probably at least 6 times in the course of about 6 miles. (it makes Mapquest interesting- it tells you to change streets every time the road changes)My favorite highway directions are where I-35 splits near Waco in TX. So there is a 35 W and a 35 E (one through Ft Worth and one through Dallas) which is fine, except that you go North or South on them… It’s always fun to tell people, “go north on 35 West.”
posted by greenstrawberries on 5-3-2007 at 9:45 pm
I grew up in a house on the corner of Seaman Rd. and Ponderosa Dr..I lived on Seaman and Ponderosa, and yes, it was a rather high protein diet.
On another note, I have to laugh when I go to see my OB-GYN. Her office is on Beaver Creek Rd.
posted by Pedeka on 5-4-2007 at 10:58 am
When traveling on a road trip around the Great Lakes right after graduation, my former fiance and I stumbled across several signs for “Seldom Seen RD” in Ontario somewhere. We actually saw the road, too.
Not to mention, in my town of Madison, WI there is an intersection of Hooker St and Pleasure Rd. Always wanted to steal that one. :D
posted by Brian on 5-4-2007 at 1:13 pm
Also in Austin: Nutty Brown Road.
posted by Evan on 5-4-2007 at 1:32 pm
in response to Dave, way back in #75, who said “the business I work for is on North Westport Ave. I have to explain that one to people on the phone all the time; “No, Westport is one word.” “”
I grew up in East Northport, NY. Not quite as confusing since Eastnorth isn’t a word, but it still sounds weird to people who don’t say it all the time.
posted by Sara on 5-4-2007 at 1:35 pm
If you walk a bit up Welcome Way in my neighborhood, you meet a rather unpleasant looking fence with all sorts of signs proclaiming “NO TRESPASSING” and “KEEP OUT.”
posted by Alison on 5-4-2007 at 6:38 pm
where my uncle used to live there was a whole bunch of streets named after Lord of the Rings characters. there was elrond st and gimli st and a whole bunch more that i can’t remember.
posted by little jimmy on 5-5-2007 at 10:21 pm
There was a welfare office at the end of Easy Street near Pasadena, CA. Now that’s funny.
posted by Marv on 5-8-2007 at 10:36 am
Our little town outside of Sacramento, CA has a “Dead Cat Alley.” Legend has it that there were a number of Chinese restaurants. And to be fair, the city council just named another alley “Dog Gone Alley.”
posted by Scott on 5-8-2007 at 11:19 pm
In West Seneca, NY there is “Organ Crest” which is down the street from “Tim Tam Terrace”.
I’m glad someone else mentioned the “Hickory”, “Dickory” and “Dock” in Hammond… Plus, the streets there would continue over the median and around houses- heaven forbid you needed to get to Airline Drive instead of Airline Road.
Spent half of my buiness trip trying to find the hotel.
I also find streets with clearly new-devolpment-names amusing: White Oak Park, Deerfield Crossing, Harmony Way, Birdsong Drive…
posted by Stephanie on 5-9-2007 at 1:31 pm
in response to Terrie:
Gore Orphanage Rd out by Elyria, OH is a real road. i grew up near there. but the orphanage was just demolished after it had been abandoned for some time. the old myth of the burning children is just your usual spooky hometown myth.
also, there’s a road in the “Little Italy” section of Cleveland, OH that’s always been my favorite street name. it’s just called Random.
no Ave no Dr. no Blvd. nope.
just Random.
posted by mikey on 5-11-2007 at 10:44 am
Morning Wood Lane in East Amherst, NY has always been my favorite. It actually got stolen so many times that the town changed the sign to Morning Wd Lane.
posted by Phil on 5-15-2007 at 6:25 pm
I’m a database administrator in Pennsylvania so I see tons of weird names and addresses. Two of the worst are Horse Killer Road and Agony Road.
posted by Kim on 5-17-2007 at 7:34 pm
there’s a Morning Wood Lane in Olney, Maryland, too.
also, Blunt Road, in Germantown, MD, and Jay Drive, in Rockville. there’s a Gay Road on the Eastern shore somewhere, and a Roman Coke Road (I saw these on the way to Ocean City last weekend) and theres another Gay Road somewhere around Frederick.
posted by Tim on 8-23-2007 at 11:57 am
In Lexington, Kentucky we have streets named after horses:
Man ‘O War Blvd.
Sir Barton Way
Bold Bidder Way
Citation Blvd.
posted by Josh on 9-4-2007 at 1:19 pm
In Knoxville, TN there is a Gay Street Bridge. I live outside of Nashville on Karmaflux Way…no kidding
posted by Sonja on 9-4-2007 at 1:39 pm
In Downers Grove, IL – The frontage road off at Lemont Rd and I-55 is called CHEESE ROAD. It just sounds yucky.
posted by Lisa on 9-4-2007 at 4:52 pm
Justamere Road in Midlothian, IL
posted by kellahinx on 10-8-2007 at 2:04 pm
I named Karmaflux Way after my husband’s screen name. He has been karmaflux online since he was 10. He needed to come up with something so he picked up a dictionary and another book and opened them to random pages, then pointed blindly at the words. He came up with Karma and Flux and chose karmaflux over fluxkarma. I never for a second thought it would get through the planning commission. (Radlabo, after another friend’s screen name which had been her phone number in Seattle, got kicked back and named Scarborough Drive.) The choice of “Way” instead of “Drive” was deliberate. It tickles us to think of kids being raised the “karmaflux way” and we just love that someone lives on the corner of Karmaflux and Superior. Accipiter Circle in Riverbend Landing (off Powell Drive, with Colin Ct another road I named in the subdivision) is another I named after a friend’s screen name (accipiter.org).
There is a SE Tater Peeler Rd in Lebanon, TN. That one is not my doing at all.
posted by Francesca Maier on 10-23-2007 at 2:45 pm
We have a Beelzebub Road with a church on the corner.
posted by T.M. on 12-27-2007 at 11:04 am
Since this post was originaly made, I’ve stumbled upon a street called No Name Rd. I’d send you a picture of the street sign if I knew where to send it to…
posted by Jason! on 12-27-2007 at 11:19 am
In my area I like Hell Roaring road and Round Butte road (I know it’s pronounced differently, but I always think of Sir Mix A Lot when I see that one.
posted by qt314159265 on 12-27-2007 at 11:20 am
Plumbroque in Baton Rouge, LA is lined with runned down shacks, shame.
posted by Sneezy on 12-27-2007 at 11:25 am
Our vacation house in Idaho sits on
Slaughterhouse Gulch Rd.
That’s just creepy… and yes, I think there was a small slaughterhouse there long ago.
posted by Liz on 12-27-2007 at 11:47 am
Bloody Springs Road in Bernville, PA
Railroad Road in Mohrsville, PA
Elm Street in Mohrsville, PA
Hessian Blvd in Reading, PA
South Park Ave in Mertztown, PA
Shackamaxon Street in Leesport, PA
Loose Lane in Leesport, PA
Butcher Ally in Leesport, PA
posted by Jaime on 12-27-2007 at 11:48 am
Boogertown Road, in Sevier County, Tennessee.
posted by debbie on 12-27-2007 at 11:49 am
Considered buying a house at one time on “Tennis Court.”
posted by Betsy on 12-27-2007 at 11:51 am
We had friends that lived in Front Royal, VA on Apple Mountain. Our friends lived on Ben Davis Drive. There is also Granny Smith Road, Delicious Road, Crabapple Court and McIntosh Drive and several others named after other apple varieties. Not so much weird, but inventive!
posted by bzzyb on 12-27-2007 at 11:54 am
There is a corner in Wildwood, New Jersey where 69th Street meets Pleasure Street.
posted by Ack on 12-27-2007 at 11:55 am
there’s a street in highland park, nj called “the avenue of the owls.” i thought that was the most awesome street name ever until i found out that it was named after the local high school’s mascot–a far more mundane explanation than i had hoped. also, in lafayette, louisiana, there’s street called “boring circle.”
posted by lala on 12-27-2007 at 12:08 pm
In Ipswich, MA you’ll find the discouragingly named Labor-in-Vain Road.
posted by MandC on 12-27-2007 at 12:16 pm
My neighborhood in columbus ohio has all the streets ending in wood.
Loganwood
Firwood
cypresswood
redwood
yellowwood
sprucewood
satinwood
etc.
It gets really confusing when trying to give someone directions.
posted by Sabrina on 12-27-2007 at 12:23 pm
In Champaign, IL, there are two streets – Church St. and State St. – that intersect, which is odd because I always thought that there was supposed to be some kind of separation between the two.
posted by SpaceMonkeyX on 12-27-2007 at 12:28 pm
I was traveling in Indiana once and saw “This Rd.” and “That Rd.”
I would love to give directions to someone using those streets!
posted by Elizabeth on 12-27-2007 at 12:45 pm
Once-I believe in San Francisco- there was a noteable Judge name Wong. The city named a street after him- Wong Way.
posted by harold on 12-27-2007 at 12:46 pm
My husband lived near a road called Hard Scrabble Hill in NJ and yes, it was a very steep hill.
I live near Cumming GA (heehee) where they have a street called Jot-em-down Rd.
Growing up, I lived on Joseph Avenue. My dad’s name is Joseph and my name is Nina. The guy who lived in the house before us was named Joseph and had a daughter named Nina too…creepy.
posted by Nina on 12-27-2007 at 12:59 pm
unimaginative street names from my childhood neighborghood in Colonia NJ- it’s funny because all the houses were EXACTLY the same but the streets were randomly named.
The ‘general’ streets
Pershing ave
Grant ave
Prescottave
Sherman ave
The ‘tree’ streets
Locust ave
cypress dr
The ‘english’ streets
trafalgar dr
califon dr
The miscellaneous streets:
Thelma
Overbrook
Starlight
Orion
Candlewood
posted by QT314159265 on 12-27-2007 at 1:16 pm
Somewhere northeast of Tampa Fl I encountered “Who ‘Dat? Lane”. I inquired of the locals about this and the explanation was that most country roads were named according to the landowners name, and someone forgot “Who ‘dat” was!
posted by bertbaker on 12-27-2007 at 1:20 pm
There is NO NAME St. in Washington Township, NJ. The street sign actually has all the letters capitalized.
posted by Jonathan on 12-27-2007 at 2:05 pm
Needmore Rd.
Dayton, OH
You can see it off I-75 :)
posted by Chuck W on 12-27-2007 at 2:11 pm
Near where I live in Las Vegas, there’s a street called “Lois Lane”.
There are also 3 courts right in a row called “Snoring Ct.”, “Snugglers Ct.” and “Pillow Talk Ct.”
Let’s not forget Apple’s address: 1 Infinite Loop!
posted by gmsc on 12-27-2007 at 2:31 pm
Similar to one of the originals in the article; Elvis Lives Lane in Ottawa, Canada. Home of the Elvis sighting society, and yes, they were the ones to name it.
posted by Bob on 12-27-2007 at 2:39 pm
Can’t think of anything in Jefferson City, MO, except the owners of some businesses loudly petitioned the City to change the name of “Bubba Lane” because they felt it unprofessional.
Didn’t work.
posted by Renee on 12-27-2007 at 2:40 pm
Note to Kathy: you forgot “Old Peachtree” in Atlanta, GA. Sure, it’s north of the city, but Doraville is still part of Atlanta.
posted by Robin on 12-27-2007 at 2:54 pm
I live on Squirrel Run Road in SC. When I lived in Chattanooga, I saw a street named No Pone Rd.
posted by stephanie on 12-27-2007 at 3:03 pm
In my old neighborhood in Columbia, MO every single street was named after an animal. Some of them were grouped by region of the world (Snowy Owl, Arctic Fox, and Arctic Wolf were all right together), but others were totally random. On top of it all, the neighborhood was called Vanderveen – which has no relation to animal names – we suggested renaming it the Columbia Zoo.
Other names included:
Weasel
Mongoose
Jackal
Mamba
Antelope
posted by Katherine on 12-27-2007 at 3:15 pm
There is a “I hate Earl Drive” and “Ringtail Doofus Road” in Jackson, MS
posted by Amy on 12-27-2007 at 3:42 pm
there is a Dyke Dr. near my parents lake out.
posted by susan on 12-27-2007 at 3:42 pm
In Galena, OH we have a road called:
“3 B’s & K Rd.”
No idea about the origin
posted by Erin on 12-27-2007 at 3:47 pm
Somewhere in Nashua, New Hampshire, there’s an “Obtuse Rock Road”.
I don’t have a picture (I was given a real estate listing) but I would dearly love to live there…
posted by Dianne on 12-27-2007 at 3:49 pm
My dad grew up in Flagstaff, AZ. He said that the signs at the corner of Beaver and Cherry were repeatedly stolen by middle school boys.
posted by Stephanie on 12-27-2007 at 5:25 pm
In the subdivision I used to live in in Naperville, IL, all of the streets were named after famous race horses. And, the street everyone commented on was Honest Pleasure. The sign was always getting stolen and, there was recently an article in the paper about having to bolt the sign down for the 100th time or something. And, I used to live on Tim Tam Circle.
posted by Rosie on 12-27-2007 at 5:42 pm
I live in a part of Kentucky where a portion of I-69 is currently being constructed. A friend of mine wants to print t-shirts saying, “Home of I-69″, but I’m just waiting to see how many highway signs are stolen by area teenagers. ;)
posted by kate on 12-27-2007 at 5:44 pm
this isn’t exactly horrible naming, but there is an Essex Drive where someone has broken off the first two letters of that name… I’m thinking wooden signs were just inviting that sort of vandalism
posted by Korin on 12-27-2007 at 6:17 pm
On Guam, in the village of Dededo, there is a road called NeverMind road. Linked to here //bisitaguam.com/images/chalan/154.jpg
posted by Miss Nae on 12-27-2007 at 7:01 pm
In salyersville KY there is a road named meatskin road
and then in white oak KY there is a total collision road
posted by Jess on 12-27-2007 at 7:12 pm
Here is rural southern British Columbia, there is a road with the official name “Un-named Road”.
posted by Wanda on 12-27-2007 at 7:19 pm
Downtown Nashville has both Gay St (where the police department is) and Church St (where the Hustler’s Hollywood, liquor superstore, gay bookstore, gay bar, and Nashville Electric Service are). Oddly enough, the two intersect, just search flickr for “nashville gay street”.
And just as a reminder you’re in the south, outside of Nashville there is Lee Victory Parkway, and the town I grew up in near Atlanta has Jefferson Davis Memorial Parkway.
posted by mtook on 12-27-2007 at 7:55 pm
In Inwood, New York City (the far northern tip) Cumming Street and Seaman Avenue intersect right near Dyckman St.
posted by Seamus on 12-27-2007 at 8:06 pm
My grandparents and parents house (the house I grew up in)are on Breakneck Hill Road in RI. The legend my uncles (who are not exactly known for being reliable sources) told me is that when they were building the road an ox was carrying supplies up the hill and fell and broke its neck, but who knows.
posted by Bri on 12-27-2007 at 10:06 pm
Let me tell you about a quaint little street in Yellowknife North West Territory Canada. Ragged Ass Road. The signs are so coveted and were stolen so often that the city has taken them down and painted the name of the street on the buildings on Ragged Ass Road (I love the way that sounds…:-). Also Ragged Ass Road (There I go again) is the name of a cool tune by Canadian rocker Tom Cochrane…Ragged Ass Road, Ragged Ass Road, Ragged A….
posted by Cindy on 12-27-2007 at 11:43 pm
i live on a street in houston called “effingham”…..when family comes over for easter dinner and asks what’s being served i always respond, “an f’ing ham, you idiot!”
posted by eric on 12-28-2007 at 12:14 am
….and we’re about half a mile away from “jackwood” road, where we almost rented a house (which isn’t to say that i jack wood for easter dinner!)
posted by eric on 12-28-2007 at 12:16 am
here in las vegas, the only fun one i can think of is “my way”.
in one of the poorer parts of town, all of the streets are named after ivy league colleges.
posted by Kelly on 12-28-2007 at 12:41 am
I’ve been to shades of death
.
.
.
its haunted
posted by ithidet on 12-28-2007 at 2:23 am
there are two streets that cross at the intersection of grinn and barrett. seriously. my high school named their hallways, and they, too, have two intersecting hallways at grinn and barrett. it’s awesome.
posted by holly on 12-28-2007 at 6:14 am
Near downtown Asheville, NC there is a road called:
Short Coxe Avenue
Don’t know who thought that was a good idea.
posted by Andy on 12-28-2007 at 6:26 am
There is an Easy Street in Hawaii somewhere that I heard about. It happens to be a dead end.
:)
posted by Tyler on 12-28-2007 at 8:57 am
When I was in high school, we used to play this school that was on Slaughter Rd in Huntsville, AL. We always knew the outcome of the game before we ever got there…
posted by Kelli K. on 12-28-2007 at 9:09 am
In the Martinsburg, WV area, I was looking to buy a house at the corner of Needmore Rd,and Poorhouse Rd. To add to the fun, these two roads intersected each 3 times. Needless to say, I didn’t buy the house. I couldn’t imagine giving directions to someone. Interesting also, is that Penniless Lane also intersects Poorhouse Rd.
posted by Tony on 12-28-2007 at 9:24 am
Port Charlotte, Florida boasts street names such as:
Barranquilla
Tierra Del Fuego
Nuremburg
Hong Kong
(those are all in he same neighborhood – very international, yes?)
and the family favorite:
Nimrod
posted by jen on 12-28-2007 at 9:38 am
In Mobile, Alabama there is a “Three Notch Kroner” which most people pronounce as “corner”, but I have no idea why it’s spelled like a currency.
There are also several bridges with offical names which no one calls them by: i.e. Gordon Persons Bridge = Dauphin Island Bridge; General Rapheal Semmes Bridge = Dolly Parton Bridge (it looks like two giant breasts);
and the Jubilee Parkway = The Bayway (it goes across the bay)
In Midtown Mobile, there is a tiny little street in the Carlen neighborhood with only one house on it. the street sign says “My street”
posted by Amy on 12-28-2007 at 10:27 am
There’s actually a town in Pennsylvania called Bala Cynwyd. Try saying that!
posted by anon on 12-28-2007 at 10:45 am
I work for as a County Planner. One of the jobs here is to process road naming applications that come in with developments. It’s rural out here, so most are glorified driveways. So people get rather creative with their names. And since we require 4 options with each application, we get a wide variety of wackiness.
In my county, we have:
Forrest Gump Way
Home Run Lane
Mud Puppy Lane
Dog Tail Way
Peek-A-Vue Way (that was an application I took in, I winced when I saw it)
Fussy Duck Lane (I think I posted that one in the original comments–it’s the developer’s nickname for his daughter)
Act of Congress Way
Cheese Factory Lane
Woof Way
Kitty Kat Place
posted by Jenny on 12-28-2007 at 10:52 am
In Sequim, WA there is an intersection of Woodcock and Kitchen Dick. I have a picture of the street sign. Makes me laugh
posted by Rand Soper on 12-28-2007 at 11:21 am
I live in Chile, and we have some weird street names like Dog’s Alley and Cat’s Alley. Since we don’t speak english we have a metro station and a street called Cumming, it’s the last name of some guy, but is so funny.
posted by Mile on 12-28-2007 at 12:32 pm
In my hometown in CT, we have “Roast Meat Hill Road.”
The story goes that one day a barn that was located on the hill caught fire, trapping some unfortunate bovines within. Hence… Roast Meat Hill.
posted by Tim on 12-28-2007 at 12:46 pm
In order to head west and leave the valley where I live you have to drive across Deadmans Pass and down Cabbage Hill. It tends to scare people coming to visit. (Outside of La Grande, OR)I think my favorite, though, is in Homer, AK, where they have Poopdeck Lane.
posted by Manda on 12-28-2007 at 1:06 pm
Rick James Way in New Castle Indiana. It was a rather short road, however two properties were for sale on the street. The first property has a rather small house on the lot. The other property was a vancant lot. The land sizes were the exact same measurements, however the empty lot had a higher asking price.
posted by Mike on 12-28-2007 at 1:36 pm
When I was a teenager I lived on Hight street in Pottstown, PA. I thought that was cool back then. By the way, I hated living there.
posted by Bruce on 12-28-2007 at 2:26 pm
I meant to say High street, not Hight. Sorry about that!
posted by Bruce on 12-28-2007 at 2:27 pm
We have a “North & South Street” in St. Louis. Because it runs…you guessed it…north and south.
The first time I heard about it was on a traffic report — “there’s an accident at the intersection of Page and North & South….” and I was left trying to figure out just how many streets one intersection can contain!
posted by Anita on 12-28-2007 at 2:52 pm
i don’t get how to add pictures, maybe I’m a moron– I added the picture as my website, but I just google image searched. Anywho, my family lives right off of exit 69 Big Beaver Road.
posted by Sarakenobi on 12-29-2007 at 10:29 am
In the nearest metro (and I use the term with some reservations), there is the intersection of Whiskey Road and Coker Springs. Lots more people get their picture taken under that sign than at the courthouse or the 150 year old Methodist Church.
Also, it is the most stolen street sign in the county, maybe the state. Disappears on an average of 6 times a year. Costs the county a bundle, too.
FWIW: Whiskey Road is named for the pathway the old-timers used to haul the white oak for their casks; Coker Springs is named for a family that developed some hot springs there for their medicinal value. FDR used to avail himself of their curative qualities.
posted by Doc on 12-29-2007 at 4:03 pm
Cougar Court in Toronto Ontario
posted by Angeline on 12-29-2007 at 10:53 pm
A large wooded area near me was turned into a housing developement. Alot of the streets have “woodland” or tree type names. It seems slightly perverse to me considering that they bulldozed the woods to build the houses! There ain’t no woods there anymore!
posted by Tdave on 12-30-2007 at 5:39 am
There is another “No Name Street”, as the sign says, near or in Millersburg, Ohio. We took pictures of it every time we drove by it taking my sister to college and eventually it made it to our local paper. It was just a little side street that I imagine had never been named, but had to be eventually for a mail route or directions to that was it’s given name!
posted by Yvonne on 12-30-2007 at 8:54 am
In Ashland, VA (a suburb of Richmond) we’ve got “Lickinghole Rd”. It never fails to make me giggle.
posted by Lacey M. on 12-30-2007 at 1:12 pm
I regularly drive past Radon Rd in Aston PA. That can’t be helping home values.
posted by Joe Pulcinella on 12-30-2007 at 8:48 pm
In my hometown (Yonkers, NY) there is a Hiscock Pl. We always would giggle and laugh at the house at number eight. Could there be a worse address in all of America than 8 Hiscock? The street isn’t long enough for 69…
posted by Texas Jim on 12-31-2007 at 12:26 am
My aunts family used to live in a housing development where all the streets are named after South Park Chracters, McCormick (Kenny), Mackey (the Couselor), Garrison (the Teacher), Crabtree (the Bus Driver, and finally Cartman.
posted by Adam on 12-31-2007 at 8:16 am
This post made me laugh way too loud for work. Good thing I’m quitting anyway.
One street over from me is Buttrick. It’s Scottish, as are all the street names in my neighborhood. But still, it’s a Butt Trick. That’s great.
I had a friend in college who lived in the main part of town, at 420 High Street. She was kind of square and didn’t see the humour.
posted by Molly W. on 1-2-2008 at 12:25 pm
One of the best, already stated a couple times above… Off I75 in Michigan, Big Beaver Road is Exit 69.
A bit more info though is that the name road is also a bit confusing because it actually has several different names depending on where you are (From the East to West):
• Metroparkway
• Big Beaver Rd.
• Quarton Rd E.
• Quarton Rd. W.
Or, if you like, the whole thing is also called 16 Mile Road.
Plus, an entirely different road (Walnut Lake Rd) 1/2 mile south of Quarton is also often referred to as 16 Mile Rd.
posted by It's good to be the King on 1-2-2008 at 1:59 pm
At one point i lived on Indian Pipe Loop.
My Aunt lives on Puddinghill Lane.
I currently live on Adrain Street. Not AdrIAn st., which everybody seems to think it is. In fact, i can’t mapquest, etc. my own address…it doesn’t exist, but a ’similar’ address does – Adrian st. Silly.
posted by thirty7 on 1-3-2008 at 9:26 am
Best I’ve got is Dusty Road.
Egh. Boring. I know….
Everything in florida is Palms, flowers, and damn beaches. -_-
As for street names, that is.
posted by Aubry on 1-9-2008 at 1:49 pm
On the way to Tampa, I come across Who Dat Rd and laugh everytime. Nearby is Peeples Rd.
posted by Joannie on 3-11-2008 at 7:46 am
In Longmont, CO, there is a series of blocks with the names of Princess Drive, Duchess Court, and Queen Street. It’s pretty funny to see, because they are all in a row.
posted by Maia on 6-6-2008 at 4:05 pm
In Austin my favorite street is Bunny Trail.
posted by Mark on 7-11-2008 at 1:59 pm
When I lived in North Pole, AK I lived on Culdesac Court. And to get to our house you had to drive past Go Thatta Way, Da Niece Street, and Da Nephew Street.
posted by Heather on 7-11-2008 at 2:59 pm
A few towns over from me, in Braintree, Mass., there’s a road named John Maher Highway. I’ve had plenty of friends get pretty confused as to why we have streets named after relatively new musicians who are definitely not from Massachusetts (John Mayer) – especially when my GPS reads aloud the name.
posted by Abby on 7-11-2008 at 4:12 pm
in Pensacola, there’s a North Eight Mile Creek Road, a South Eight Mile Creek Road, Nine Mile Road, 8 and a Half Mile Road, and Ten Mile Road. The first two are incredibly annoying to write in the little squares on applications and forms. There’s never 27 blanks there!
posted by Emily on 7-12-2008 at 12:16 am
While in Baghdad in ‘06, I lived near the intersection of Sniper Ln. and Mortar Alley. Intentional, I know, but still something to laugh at everyday.
posted by Janelle on 7-12-2008 at 8:24 am
I could write a novel on the street names in the Phoenix metro area. Some of the best are Calle Sin Nombre (street without a name, there’s one in Tucson too), Calle del Paisano (Peasant Street, in a ritzy neighborhood), and my favorite is the following:
(from north to south)
Calle del Norte (North Street)
Calle del Medio (Middle Street)
Can you guess the next one? Wrong! It’s Lafayette!
posted by Celtic Rose on 7-12-2008 at 11:26 pm
In the Phoenix metro area:
Calle Sin Nombre (Street with no name, there’s one in Tucson too)
Calle del Paisano (Peasant Street, in a ritzy neighborhood)
(from north to south)
Calle del Norte (North Street)
Calle del Medio (Middle Street)
Can you guess the next one? Wrong! It’s Lafayette!
posted by Celtic Rose on 7-12-2008 at 11:34 pm
Near Heber Springs, AR there are roads called
Bird Dove Lane
Cooterneck Road
Lo Hawk Drive
Tooth Fairy Lane
Then, like the Peachtrees, in Searcy, AR there’s a neighborhood called River Oaks and all of the streets are named after a species of oak tree; Live Oak, Pin Oak, White Oak, Post Oak, etc.
posted by Special Agent Baker on 7-13-2008 at 7:45 pm
In norwalk, ct Gay Hill Rd intersects with Rainbow Drive. Thought that was kind of funny.
posted by Evan Barrett on 9-15-2008 at 7:33 pm
My fiancee used to live on Honey Bear Ct., which is right off Honey Bear Drive. Which is one block down from Never Mind Road. Seriously.
posted by Dana on 3-27-2009 at 2:35 pm