海角社区

Normal is boring. Even at the individual level, what often catches our attention is a weird hat, some funny shoes 鈥� the unconventional loner. It is the same reason we love towns with quirky characters, unusual local traditions, or peculiar landmarks. Did you know, for example, that there is a town in the Prairies with just one resident? She is the town鈥檚 mayor, clerk, and librarian all at once. She also collects taxes, from guess who? 鈥� herself. Are you ready for a ride into the unusual? Discover below the nine most eccentric towns in the Prairies.

Roswell, New Mexico

Welcome to the weird, wacky 海角社区 of space aliens and all things extraterrestrial. The story begins in 1947 when some suspicious object landed on a nearby ranch. Learn all this fascinating stuff at the UFO Museum And Research Center, and Marvel at the UFO exhibit and extensive alien-themed displays. Just so you know, Roswell bills itself as the Dairy Capital of the Southwest, a claim that will surprise a first-time visitor, especially considering its semi-arid landscape.

Although Roswell is known for aliens, it is also artsy. The highly rated Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, for example, whose exterior is deceivingly unassuming, will wake up the artist in just about every visitor. Stroll through the quaint downtown area and admire beautiful old buildings, many of which predate the Civil War by a couple of years. Several shops and stores are fronted with alien statues. Still have some time on your hands? Check out the impressive collection at the Roswell Museum & Art Center (RMAC).

Marfa, Texas

Many think of the Prairies as just the upper Midwest, especially the two Dakotas. The truth is that the Prairies is a massive swathe of land that stretches down to New Mexico and Texas. The sun is harsh and relentless in the remote West Texas desert. Like Roswell, Marfa has an extraterrestrial reputation that goes back several years. You may have heard of 鈥淢arfa Lights鈥� and how people often gather at a designated spot to witness the unique spectacle. Marfa, however, is also known for its artsy side, a story that has its roots in the adventures of Donald Judd, a man as peculiar as the town itself.

Today, artistic bohemians flock to the town to explore its quirky attractions: spots such as the Prada Marfa store, The Chinati Foundation 鈥� which is Judd's enduring legacy 鈥� and nearby landmarks, including the Big Bend National Park. If you are into artisanal cheeses, check out Bordo Marfa, an Italian deli that serves lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Wakita, Oklahoma

If you have watched the movie 鈥淭wister,鈥� you will agree that the tornado-chasing epic is among the greatest action movies ever made. An estranged couple, nature at its wildest, and a whirl of emotion 鈥� all combined to produce a masterpiece that was the subject of two Oscar nominations. Wakita was the primary filming location for the movie Twister, and is the place to be, especially if you want to explore the movie鈥檚 backstory and its gripping narrative. Visit the Twister the Movie Museum, a small but wonderful space that is completely free of charge. It is the only 鈥淭wister鈥� museum in the United States. A 鈥淭wister鈥� fan will also want to spend some time at Meg's House Site, just south of the museum. That said, Twister Cafe, right on Main Street, serves some of the best cheeseburgers in the Oklahoma Prairies.

Monowi, Nebraska

With its one resident, Monowi is eccentric in a way no other town is. Elsie Eiler, the town's only resident, wears many hearts. She is the town鈥檚 mayor, clerk, bartender, librarian, and treasurer. One of Eiler鈥檚 other duties is to ensure the lights stay on because otherwise, Monowi can look desolate and scary 鈥� and to collect taxes from the town's sole resident: herself. Spend some time at the Monowi Tavern and taste the delicious burgers that Elsie cooks. Most likely, you will meet residents of nearby towns and passing tourists, all eager to savor this unique, lifetime experience. There is also a library, whose impressive collection includes about 5,000 books.

Mitchell, South Dakota

Mitchell reclines on the James River about 70 miles west of Sioux Falls. It was named for Alexander Mitchell, president of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. Today, Mitchell is known for pheasant hunting, a pastime popular between October and December. Mitchell is as quirky as they come with its unique attractions, including its beautifully adorned Corn Palace. The Corn Palace, however, is not built of corn, even if that is the idea a first-time visitor may get.

The name 鈥淐orn Palace鈥� is because every year, the building鈥檚 exterior is redecorated in murals made out of corn alongside other local grains and grasses. Not just that, Mitchell hosts the Valtiroty Shiloh's Tabernacle Center, a quirky attraction that features a museum, walk-through diorama, gift shop 鈥� and even a library. There is the Carnegie Resource Center as well, whose history goes back to when Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States. You can鈥檛 miss the 鈥淪un and Clouds and Rain Over Hills鈥� mural in its eye-catching dome.

Wall, South Dakota

In the Great Depression Years, a young couple, still fresh graduates of the University of Nebraska, arrived in Wall, South Dakota. They hoped to find good schools, a Catholic church, and a drug store for sale. Ted and Dorothy Hustead got a drug store, and a few years later, started offering free ice water to lure those traveling on Highway 16. They then put an ad on a roadside sign. In the days before air-conditioned cars, this idea was a masterstroke.

Today, the Wall Drug Store still gives free ice water to thirsty travelers, tourists, and, of course, customers. But it is not just the drugstore. Wall is loved for the beautiful rock formations around the area. Plus, it hosts other quirky attractions, including the Wall Drug "Backyard,鈥� which features an interesting mix of life-sized statues. The nearby Badlands National Park displays the region's unusual landscape.

Lucas, Kansas

At face value, you would not know that Lucas is the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas. It is tiny and prosaic, with a population of less than 500. The town鈥檚 landmark attraction, the Garden of Eden, bills itself as "the oldest intact folk art environment in the United States" 鈥� not just in Kansas. For perspective, its history goes back more than a century to 1907. It dabbles up as the state鈥檚 only stone log cabin and Visionary Sculpture Environment. Walking through the house is like walking through a large time capsule. Also, even if you are not an art major, you will fall in love with the Grassroots Art Center, a hidden treasure filled with some cool pieces of art. There is the Bowl Plaza as well, whose walls are covered in all kinds of quirky pieces, from toys to dishes to license plates.

Havre, Montana

If you visit Havre for the first time, you will notice it looks enticingly quaint and charming. Several towns in the Prairies, some of which are in Montana, are what anyone would describe as 鈥渃harming.鈥� To discover the uniqueness of Havre, you have to dig deeper. More than 120 years ago, fire razed much of Havre, causing untold devastation and loss. In response, businesses temporarily relocated underground, creating what is now Havre Beneath the Streets. Several years later 鈥� and unknown to many 鈥� an entire city was flourishing underground. It had a bordello, an ice cream shop, and an opium den. Today, a one-of-a-kind tour takes visitors to several interesting underground spots, including the storied Sporting Eagle Saloon, a Chinese laundry, and an ethnic restaurant. But Cottonwood Cinemas loved for its great service and smiles, is Home-town theatre at its best

Drumheller, Alberta

Drumheller is in the heart of the whimsical Alberta Badlands in the Canadian Prairies and is unique for several things, including its dinosaur theme. Think of this: although a culinary spot does not make a town unique, Heller Good Sandwiches, with its retro interior, serves one of the most delicious sandwiches in the 海角社区. You may not know it, but this area was once home to some of the 海角社区鈥檚 largest dinosaurs.

To better appreciate this aspect of Alberta, visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Canada's only museum dedicated exclusively to the study of ancient life. This massive and well-curated space, each of whose extraordinary exhibits feels like a portal into a different era, is eccentric and mindblowing in equal measure. Otherwise, outdoor fun spots near Drumheller include the Horseshoe Canyon, a popular hiking spot with spectacular views of eroded cliffs and millions of geological history.

Towns That Break the Mold

Don鈥檛 you love a town that moves to its own beat, one that has interesting surprises and breaks every known rule? It may not be a massive thing, perhaps an underground bar or a weird tradition. If such off-beat stuff piques your interest, lace up for the Prairies. Discover a town with one resident, another with an underground bordello 鈥� and yet another that hosts the oldest intact folk art environment in the United States.