1. This Late Local Has A Headstone And A Legstone
Malaga resident Benjamin Waldron was working as a farmer when he had an accident with a horse-powered thresher. His leg got caught in the machinery, and it was so badly injured that it was amputated. And that’s where the fun begins…
Waldron asked that his leg be buried in Samaria Cemetery under the headstone, “B.W. October 30, 1878.” When he died in 1914, his body was buried in the same cemetery, awarding him two headstones. But, his body is not buried near his leg.
2. A Museum That Commemorates An Unhappy Ending
The Oasis Bordello Museum isn’t your typical historical pit stop. This brick building was home to a brothel, where business abruptly ended in 1988.
As the story goes, the women who worked here were convinced that the FBI was about to raid the place, and they left in a hurry. So, the brothel is kept exactly how it was then—down to the Atari video games, hair spray, and magazines.
3. You Say Po-Tay-To, I Say Drive-In Movie Theater
Drive-ins may be hard to find these days, but there is still one in Driggs. Open since 1953, The Spud Drive-In Movie Theater feels like a blast from the past. Order snacks at the concession stand, take photos next to the giant spud, and watch old and new movies under the stars.
4. Pay Your Respects To A Stoplight That Went Into The Light
You have to hand it to the town of Wallace for giving honor where honor is due. In 1991, when plans to finish the bicoastal Interstate 90 included a bypass that would send through-traffic away from the center of town, Wallace made its own plans to remove that traffic’s stoplight with a special occasion.
They were going to have a funeral—this was, after all, the supposed last stoplight on the interstate. You can pay your respects at the Wallace District Mining Museum, where flowers usually mark its makeshift coffin.
5. This Substantial Secret Is To Dive For
Set in the rural town of Arco, the conning tower of the USS Hawkbill stands in an unlikely place: the desert. Although it is about 1,000 miles from the ocean, this monument was dedicated by the Naval Historical Society to the town for its help in developing nuclear power. Around 40,000 sailors had nuclear operations training in the area.
But aside from garnering the nickname “Submarine in the Desert,” the USS Hawkbill is also known as the “Devil Boat.” Its serial number, 666, is displayed on the sail, but it has no affiliation with the occult.
6. This Idaho Hideaway Has Really Gone To The Dogs
If you ever find yourself near Cottonwood after a long day of driving, you’re in luck. This town is home to the world’s biggest beagle, and the 30-foot version of man’s bestie is also a bed and breakfast.
The structure is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom hideaway called Dog Bark Inn. The larger dog’s name is Sweet Willy, and the small dog is referred to as Toby. They were created by Dennis Sullivan and Francis Conklin, who are professional wood carvers specializing in canine likenesses.
7. Witness The Site Of A Rock Solid Contract
Treaty Rock Park in Post Falls is home to a 1871 namesake agreement marked on stone between settler Frederick Post and Chief Seltice of the Couer d’Alene tribe. Post was given 200 acres of the tribe’s land to build a sawmill, and as a trade, he would supply the tribe with lumber. Although it isn’t entirely clear whether the rock is a commemoration of this partnership or the actual contract itself, it is argued to be the only one of its kind between an early settler and a tribe in the country.
8. This Freak Show Is Suitable For Public Consumption
Known as “Freak Alley,” this downtown stretch on Bannock between 8th and 9th features kaleidoscopic graffiti art. Artists do have to have a permit to work here, but the city otherwise gives them permission to unleash their creativity.
Be sure to catch a glimpse of it, since a lot of the work featured here is from local artists.
9. This Place Really Puts The “Wild” In Wilderness
It’s easy to be intimidated by this place by it’s name alone: The Frank Church – River Of No Return Wilderness. The largest area in the country without roads, The Frank Church and its 2.4 million acres are home to steep mountains, whitewater rapids, and deep canyons.
In fact, the Main Salmon River moves through an abyss that’s deeper than the Grand Canyon.
10. Yule Be Glad You Had One Of These Ridiculously Rotund Rolls
Tucked away in McCall, The Pancake and Christmas House serves up heaping portions of breakfast in a picturesque lodge. While you could stick to the pancakes or omelets, the best thing to get here is the oversized, homemade cinnamon roll. Bonus points if you can finish it.
11. This Museum Makes A Tidy Profit
Maybe you can think about giving the owner of this museum your chore list. The Museum of Clean in Pocatello commemorates all things that make a room look tidy and neat, from washing machines and brooms to toilets and vacuums.
In fact, the vacuum collection here spans the length of a century, from 1869 to 1969—which is probably how long it feels since you last plugged in your own.
12. Things Really Pop Off At Soda Springs
Home to the sole captive geyser on the planet, which erupts every hour like clockwork, Geyser Park in Soda Springs came to be during a search for a swimming pool’s hot water source. The search drilled into a geyser in November 1937, and plans changed—which is too bad for anyone who wanted to go for a dip.
13. Join The Captive Audience At This Historic Hoosegow
Built by inmates and then closed because of riots over harsh living conditions, the Old Idaho Penitentiary gives you an intimate glimpse into the lives of these captives in the 19th and 20th centuries.
But apart from the buildings themselves, the exhibits here are incredibly intriguing. For starters, the “Marked Men” exhibit explores the history and methods of prison tattooing.
Then, J. Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit presents weapons throughout history, including medieval armor and World War I pistols.
14. This Oversized Miner’s Hat Is Majorly Bizarre
You guessed it: When you look at this round building in Kellogg, it does resemble a miner’s hat. Really, the headlamp gives it away.
Although this used to be a diner when it opened in the late 1930s, and later became a drive-in, this unusual building is now a real estate office called Miner’s Hat Realty.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user emelec
Did we miss anything? Tell us your favorite secret spot in Idaho? Tell us in the comments below!
