A while back, we did a story on funny town names in Virginia. You might remember gems like Frogtown, Fries, and Chilhowie. And, of course, what would a state full of funny-sounding towns be without a bunch of crazy-sounding street names to go with it? Let’s see how many of these funny Virginia street names you’ve heard of. Here are just a few of the more bizarre streets you’ll find driving around this beautiful state of ours.

  1. The Corner of Shady and Creepers, Damascus

Google Maps At least you know where all the sketchy people live in Damascus. Don’t you wish most places just had helpful labels like this?

  1. Mule Barn Alley, Richmond

Tom Woodward / flickr There may be no parking on the street, but at least you know where to put your mule.

  1. Red Rum Drive, Ashburn.

Google Maps It’s “murder” spelled backwards. Just saying. Although “Red rum” is best known as the catchphrase of the creepy kid in Stephen King’s “The Shining,” and it DOES actually spell ‘Murder’ backwards, this street in Ashburn was named after Red Rum, a famous racehorse who won the Grand National three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Good to know. As far as we know murder was not involved either; also good to know.

  1. Yellow Brick Road, Lexington

Vicki Devine / flickr This is where I want to live. If you follow it will it lead to the Emerald City? We’re cool with finding a scarecrow; a tin man is a little weird but it’s ok, but if we see a lion we’re out.

  1. The Corner of Pink and Floyd, Richmond

Eli Christman / flickr I would live in a tent on the sidewalk just to say that my address was the Pink Floyd Corner. Well done, Richmond. We don’t need no education to know that this is a well-placed street corner.

  1. Lickinghole, Ashland

Google Maps I’ve searched around to find the origins of this…ummm…“uniquely” named road and found nothing. I’m going to go out on a limb and say it has something to do with a salt lick, deer, and other woodland creatures. I don’t want to speculate much beyond that. It’s much safer that way…

  1. Anchored in Love Drive, Hiltons

Southern Foodways Alliance / flickr It’s hard not to love the name of this road at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. Also sounds like a weird title for a romance novel about a lovesick salior named Harvey, or a Hallmark movie…

  1. Butts Station Road, Chesapeake

Google Maps If you were looking for a place to park your backside, well…this isn’t it. We learned that the name, “Butt” was actually a very common English surname back in the day. When Robert Butt settled near the Elizabeth River in the mid-1600s, many roads and townships were named after prominent families. As the Butt Family was a primary landholder in the area, “Butts Station” started popping up. And as they say, the rest is history. Now that that’s behind us let’s move on to number 9.

  1. Frying Pan Road, Herndon

m01229 / flickr Seems as good a name as any. In fact, the entire community surrounding it was known as Frying Pan until 1892, when it became Floris. This road in Herndon has a couple of theories behind the name, We learned of at least two thoughts on where this name came from. Theory 1: a group of settlers made camp and left a frying pan behind. Or Theory 2: the name comes from a local pool of water with a run leading into it, making the shape of a frying pan. But since the name has been used since 1728 - in deeds granted by Lord Fairfax himself - I’m guessing it won’t be changing any time soon.

  1. Lizard Ridge Road, Bedford

bonaircat / flickr It may not be elegant, but it certainly gives some good mental images. Did it come from the backside of a lizard with a ridge-like spinal feature, or is it a ridge filled with lizards? Makes you wonder.

  1. Butt Hollow Road, Salem

Google Maps
The large sign off of I-81 announcing the presence of “Butt Hollow Road” has mysteriously vanished. We’re guessing it was done as a safety precaution to keep giggling drivers from running off the road. That’s just government for you, always butting into our business for our saftey.

  1. Hardtimes Road, Farmville.

lunita lu / flickr Yep, we’ve all taken a right on this road at one point or another. Sounds like a bad country song though.

  1. Backlick Road, Fairfax County

Google Maps This oddly named road is a main thoroughfare for many in Fairfax County. And it might make you wonder just who was signing off on the “official road names” list, but it actually originated from the salt licks that Powhatan Indians put along a nearby run to attract deer for hunting.

  1. Narrow Passage, Buchanan to Bedford

M. Jeremy Goldman / flickr When you run out of good names, stick with descriptions. State Route 43 between Buchanan and Bedford County may not be big, but it’s beautiful. As a designated scenic byway, it is, in fact, a narrowish passage through the mountains. Well played.

  1. Pleasure House Road, Virginia Beach

Google Maps Now, stop. It’s not what you think. An article in the Virginian Pilot in 2007 asserts that the street got its name, not from a brothel, but from a 1600s or 1700s tavern - which would have been pleasurable to men at the time because their wives were not allowed inside. Of course, there are those who might wish the same rules applied today.

  1. Powhite Parkway, Richmond

Doug Kerr / flickr This name pops up frequently in Richmond area locations: Powhite Parkway, Powhite Park, Powhite Creek, and so on. And the debate rages on – is it pronounced “Pow-Hite” or “Po-White”? The “official” version is “Pow-Hite”, the same way you would pronounce nearby “Powhatan.” But more often than not you hear “Po-White” from the locals. Whatever you do, don’t say it incorrectly in front of the wrong people unless you want a verbal smack down. So which is the acceptable pronuciation? Try it both ways. You’ll know when you’ve gotten it wrong.

  1. The Poe House, Richmond

jennifer yin / flickr Sure, it’s not actually a street name. And sure, Virginians know it means the Edgar Allan Poe House, but to someone less in tune with our literary history…it’s kinda funny. Especially if the po’ people just got off the Powhite Parkway on their way in to Richmond.

Now I know there are more out there! Please take a minute to share some of the more bizarre-sounding road names near you. Comment in the section below with roads that have made you do a double take!

Google Maps

At least you know where all the sketchy people live in Damascus. Don’t you wish most places just had helpful labels like this?

Tom Woodward / flickr

There may be no parking on the street, but at least you know where to put your mule.

Google Maps

It’s “murder” spelled backwards. Just saying. Although “Red rum” is best known as the catchphrase of the creepy kid in Stephen King’s “The Shining,” and it DOES actually spell ‘Murder’ backwards, this street in Ashburn was named after Red Rum, a famous racehorse who won the Grand National three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Good to know. As far as we know murder was not involved either; also good to know.

Vicki Devine / flickr

This is where I want to live. If you follow it will it lead to the Emerald City? We’re cool with finding a scarecrow; a tin man is a little weird but it’s ok, but if we see a lion we’re out.

Eli Christman / flickr

I would live in a tent on the sidewalk just to say that my address was the Pink Floyd Corner. Well done, Richmond. We don’t need no education to know that this is a well-placed street corner.

I’ve searched around to find the origins of this…ummm…“uniquely” named road and found nothing. I’m going to go out on a limb and say it has something to do with a salt lick, deer, and other woodland creatures. I don’t want to speculate much beyond that. It’s much safer that way…

Southern Foodways Alliance / flickr

It’s hard not to love the name of this road at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. Also sounds like a weird title for a romance novel about a lovesick salior named Harvey, or a Hallmark movie…

If you were looking for a place to park your backside, well…this isn’t it. We learned that the name, “Butt” was actually a very common English surname back in the day. When Robert Butt settled near the Elizabeth River in the mid-1600s, many roads and townships were named after prominent families. As the Butt Family was a primary landholder in the area, “Butts Station” started popping up. And as they say, the rest is history. Now that that’s behind us let’s move on to number 9.

m01229 / flickr

Seems as good a name as any. In fact, the entire community surrounding it was known as Frying Pan until 1892, when it became Floris. This road in Herndon has a couple of theories behind the name, We learned of at least two thoughts on where this name came from. Theory 1: a group of settlers made camp and left a frying pan behind. Or Theory 2: the name comes from a local pool of water with a run leading into it, making the shape of a frying pan. But since the name has been used since 1728 - in deeds granted by Lord Fairfax himself - I’m guessing it won’t be changing any time soon.

bonaircat / flickr

It may not be elegant, but it certainly gives some good mental images. Did it come from the backside of a lizard with a ridge-like spinal feature, or is it a ridge filled with lizards? Makes you wonder.

Google Maps

The large sign off of I-81 announcing the presence of “Butt Hollow Road” has mysteriously vanished. We’re guessing it was done as a safety precaution to keep giggling drivers from running off the road. That’s just government for you, always butting into our business for our saftey.

lunita lu / flickr

Yep, we’ve all taken a right on this road at one point or another. Sounds like a bad country song though.

This oddly named road is a main thoroughfare for many in Fairfax County. And it might make you wonder just who was signing off on the “official road names” list, but it actually originated from the salt licks that Powhatan Indians put along a nearby run to attract deer for hunting.

M. Jeremy Goldman / flickr

When you run out of good names, stick with descriptions. State Route 43 between Buchanan and Bedford County may not be big, but it’s beautiful. As a designated scenic byway, it is, in fact, a narrowish passage through the mountains. Well played.

Now, stop. It’s not what you think. An article in the Virginian Pilot in 2007 asserts that the street got its name, not from a brothel, but from a 1600s or 1700s tavern - which would have been pleasurable to men at the time because their wives were not allowed inside. Of course, there are those who might wish the same rules applied today.

Doug Kerr / flickr

This name pops up frequently in Richmond area locations: Powhite Parkway, Powhite Park, Powhite Creek, and so on. And the debate rages on – is it pronounced “Pow-Hite” or “Po-White”? The “official” version is “Pow-Hite”, the same way you would pronounce nearby “Powhatan.” But more often than not you hear “Po-White” from the locals. Whatever you do, don’t say it incorrectly in front of the wrong people unless you want a verbal smack down. So which is the acceptable pronuciation? Try it both ways. You’ll know when you’ve gotten it wrong.

jennifer yin / flickr

Sure, it’s not actually a street name. And sure, Virginians know it means the Edgar Allan Poe House, but to someone less in tune with our literary history…it’s kinda funny. Especially if the po’ people just got off the Powhite Parkway on their way in to Richmond.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Funny Things About Virginia December 22, 2022 Chris Dodge What are some other funny things about Virginia? We are always up for a good laugh so here are a few more funny articles about Virginia:

15 hysterical pictures taken in Virginia that are too good not to share 17 jokes about Virginia that are actually funny 10 of the funniest memes about Virginia Funny maps that tell how people really feel about the state 15 more memes that are funny for those who call Virginia home

  What are some other funny town names in Virginia?  There are a couple of other funny town names in Virginia; here are a few suggestions for you:

9 towns with the silliest names in Virginia 20 town names that will make you look twice 12 more unusual town names in Virginia

The OIYS Visitor Center

Funny Things About Virginia

December 22, 2022

Chris Dodge

What are some other funny things about Virginia? We are always up for a good laugh so here are a few more funny articles about Virginia:

15 hysterical pictures taken in Virginia that are too good not to share 17 jokes about Virginia that are actually funny 10 of the funniest memes about Virginia Funny maps that tell how people really feel about the state 15 more memes that are funny for those who call Virginia home

  What are some other funny town names in Virginia?  There are a couple of other funny town names in Virginia; here are a few suggestions for you:

9 towns with the silliest names in Virginia 20 town names that will make you look twice 12 more unusual town names in Virginia

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

We are always up for a good laugh so here are a few more funny articles about Virginia:

  • 15 hysterical pictures taken in Virginia that are too good not to share
  • 17 jokes about Virginia that are actually funny
  • 10 of the funniest memes about Virginia
  • Funny maps that tell how people really feel about the state
  • 15 more memes that are funny for those who call Virginia home

 

What are some other funny town names in Virginia? 

There are a couple of other funny town names in Virginia; here are a few suggestions for you:

  • 9 towns with the silliest names in Virginia
  • 20 town names that will make you look twice
  • 12 more unusual town names in Virginia