theme towns in america

Middle Eastern folk tales inspired the founder of Opa-locka, Florida to choose namesfor its streets.  They include Sharazad Bouldevard, Sinbad Avenue and Sultan Avenue. In keeping with that concept, Moorish design features in the buildings which line those roads include the horseshoe arch, courtyard gardens, square minarets and elaborate tilework.

Some communities in the United States have been preserved, and in many cases restored, to retain their history and heritage.  Others were designed right from the start with the express goal of attracting tourists, and their dollars.

These places evoke a theme, be it architecture, realistic Old-World charm or memories of a popular television series and its primary star.  The list of such destinations offers those interested in checking some of them out a welcome, and surprising, variety of choices.

In the 1860s, a Catholic missionary reported spotting Sioux Indians carrying gold out of the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory.  Several years later, “placer gold” which had eroded from its original source and been deposited in rivers and streams was discovered, and thousands treasure seekers flocked to the new town of Deadwood.

That community, located in present-day South Dakota, attracted famous Old West figures including Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.  Today it has been designated a National Historic Landmark District because of its well-preserved Gold Rush-era architecture.  Adding to the fun are costumed re-enactments of historic shootouts based upon real people from the past.

It was the silver rush, launched in 1877 when a prospector found ore in the Arizona hills, which led to the founding of the village of Tombstone.  According to legend, he had been warned that the only thing he would discover in the dangerous Apache territory would be his own gravestone.  When he staked his mining claim, he named it Tombstone as a symbol of both risk and his resolve.

Before European settlers arrived in the present-day United States, the land that would become Mount Airy, North Carolina was home to the Saura Native Americans. They farmed, fished and hunted there until the mid-1700s, when increasing European settlement led many of them to migrate elsewhere.

Today that town is known primarily as the location of the popular 1960s Andy Griffith television show.  The entire hamlet is designed to serve as a nostalgic reminder of where Andy, Opie, Barney Fife and the other cast of characters lived and interacted.  Floyd’s Barber Shop, the Mayberry Jail and other fictional locations have a new life as tangible institutions.  Visitors may relive aspects of that program as they tool around town in a classic squad car similar to the one used by Andy and Barney.

While Mount Airy is a small town with a big reputation, everything is BIG in Casey, Illinois — except the population (about 2,400 people).  Its claim to fame is as home to a dozen of the largest objects in the world.  Picture a 3,500-pound taco or wooden shoes that would fit the feet of a giant.  Marvel at a humongous golf tee, an enormous pitchfork and a gigantic gavel.

From gigantic gadgets to tiny towns to realistic Old-World settings, a smattering of places around the United States invites visitors to explore and enjoy a variety of unique environments.