Bill Leslie

Bill Leslie's Carolina Conversations

People are always asking me where to take vacation. What's a cool place? What's the most scenic drive? Carolina Conversations attempts to answer those questions and others.

Nauseous Names

Posted: Jul 23, 2008

The spin doctors were not yet weaving their manipulative magic. The wordsmiths at the local chambers of commerce had not yet developed their concept of branding. Yes, we go back to the simple and sometimes ugly muddy days of North Carolina when the state had a lot of features but very few names. People in charge of naming rivers, streams, towns and hilltops didn’t have a lot of time to ponder the complexities of their task. They simply spit out what was on the tip of their tongues and it wasn’t always pretty.

Today I am going to begin a list of Nauseous North Carolina Names. The names are pretty sickening especially by modern standards. There are many more but I want to hear from you and get your names. So check out those history books and maps and let me hear from you. Here are my Top Ten Nauseous North Carolina names:

1. Maggot Spring – Haywood County – named for spring covered with what looked like insect larva

2. Pickens Nose – A mountain in southern Haywood County

3. Greasy Creek – nasty looking creek in Alexander County

4. Ugly Fork – creek in Haywood County

5. Devils Gut – stream in Martin County

6. Huggins Hell – heavy rhododendron thicket of Swain County

7. Ripshin Mountain – rugged mountainous area in Burke County

8. Black Ankle – Robeson County

9. Kill ‘Em Swamp – southeast Hertford County

10. Poison Swamp – Iredell County

Copyright 2008 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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The Alligator River doesn't sound so inviting either!

maddie
GOLO member since March 12, 2008
July 23, 2008 11:13 a.m.

When I was a kid, we lived in VA Beach for a little while, and we came down to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. That day we learned why Kill Devil Hills is called Kill Devil Hills: Thousands of tiny little cactuses that will turn your flip-flopped feet into a bloddy mess. We also learned that when the sign says "stay on path" then you should stay on path.

oogum boogum
July 23, 2008 11:27 a.m.

There's also a little place near Murphy called Hangin' Dog.

oogum boogum
July 23, 2008 11:27 a.m.

Kill Devil Hills derived its name from the area's rum which was said to be strong enough to kill the devil.

bleslie
GOLO member since July 10, 2007
July 23, 2008 11:32 a.m.

Deep Gap, NC

Not really deep, not much of a gap either...

Squirreling Dervish loves pie
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 23, 2008 11:44 a.m.

There's a teeny little town on Hwy 421 on the way to the beach called Bull Tail. THey have a sign that says "Bull Tail - population: several". I stopped once and took a picture. Thought it was cute.

foreverblue
GOLO member since November 16, 2007
July 23, 2008 11:51 a.m.

Bill, I am from Rocky Mount and the official explanation I have heard about teh named of the Tar River is that during colonial times, the pine trees of the coastal plain were used to produce pitch, aka tar, for the ships masts of the British Navy and then the early US Navy. When the tar was collected, it was put into wodden barrels, which would then be floated down the river, thus giving the Tar River its name.

PackManSJP
GOLO member since August 24, 2007
July 23, 2008 11:54 a.m.

Bat Cave, near Lake Lure...

minnows
GOLO member since July 17, 2008
July 23, 2008 12:00 p.m.

I immediately thought of Lizard Lick. There is a Crockers Nub in Johnston County. Oh, and a Dead Cow Lane in Carteret County.

vannaruss
July 23, 2008 12:29 p.m.

Mire Branch, I believe is Harnett County.

ziradog
July 23, 2008 12:33 p.m.

Horneytown, NC Climax, NC

And the locals say High Point is just about in the middle!

What were they thinking????

wildfrenchrose
July 23, 2008 12:35 p.m.

Big Lick in Stanley County always cracks me up!

mcmags
GOLO member since August 10, 2007
July 23, 2008 12:44 p.m.

Funny story since someone mentioned Bat Cave, NC...

About 13 years ago, my family moved to NC from Los Angeles and we drove across the country. Shortly after crossing into NC, we saw signs for Bat Cave. We followed the signs until we ended up in the middle of nowhere (at least, it seemed that way just coming from LA). My dad finally pulled into a lone country gas station to ask for further directions to Bat Cave. The man informed him he was in Bat Cave! We thought the signs meant there was a cave with bats, like a tourist attraction, and we wanted to go! Why name a town Bat Cave instead of Bat Town or Bat City??

myself
July 23, 2008 12:48 p.m.

The neighborhood I was raised up in in Henderson, was called "Moccasin Bottom". Just Po Folks that's all we were,Ha! Ha!

bullrod002
July 23, 2008 12:55 p.m.

Meat Camp

singularity1111
July 23, 2008 12:59 p.m.

Ha... We've got Ape's Hole and Assawoman Bay in MD Go ahead Google 'em I dare ya!

Fillet and Release
July 23, 2008 1:10 p.m.

There's a place in Granville Co. between Stem and Culbreth called Shoofly. There's actually a sign, but that's about it. When I was a little girl, my uncle told me that it got its name one day when several men were sitting around the country store there and agreed that the first thing any of them said would be the name of the area. Not so sure about the validity of the explanation, but it's as good as any, I guess! Then there's a hiking trail on the parkway called the Big B--- trail--but I can't remember if it's in N.C. or Virginia. And north of Asheville there's a little community called Sandy Mush--nice place with an unusual name.

thinknc
July 23, 2008 1:36 p.m.

Gum Swamp Lake...between Scotland Co. and Richmond Co.

cherriedragon
July 23, 2008 1:38 p.m.

Does no one else think the name "Bunnlevel" is hilarious!? my first time to the mountains from Raleigh when I was a kid, we saw that sign and I kept looking out the window trying to see if the people were really just "bunn level" height! lol

jinx
GOLO member since May 8, 2008
July 23, 2008 2:20 p.m.

Just thought of another that I have always loved. In Hertford County is a little crossroads area called "Poor Town" Love that!

Mmaker52
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
July 23, 2008 2:28 p.m.

More history on Hanging Dog. The legend goes back to the Cherokee Indians in the area. It is said that a hunting dog got hung in a laurel thicket; hence the name Hanging Dog Creek. There is aslo a Pin Hook community near Brasstown in Cherokee County.

shutterbug
July 23, 2008 2:34 p.m.

Toxaway in Transylvania County

shutterbug
July 23, 2008 2:37 p.m.

If my memory is right, there is a Possum Trot up Hwy 221 between Rutherfordton and Marion. When I was growing up in Sunshine, NC, my family had to find a little place around there to buy some paneling for the walls when doing some house renovations.

wilfhh29
July 23, 2008 2:38 p.m.

Ossipee in Alamance County Scaly Mountain in Macon County Seven Devils in Avery/Watauga County

Mmaker52
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
July 23, 2008 2:41 p.m.

Climax in Guilford Co Gragg in Avery Co Buzzards Crossroad in Bertie County

Can you tell I am having fun????

Mmaker52
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
July 23, 2008 2:53 p.m.

Skeeter creek in Lucama....

40 going on 26
GOLO member since July 17, 2008
July 23, 2008 3:31 p.m.

I also crack up about Climax. There's a house w/ a mailbox just after Climax there I love to drive by b/c it has a sign saying, "Denouement" on it. Hilarious.

ladybugs-mom
GOLO member since October 18, 2007
July 23, 2008 3:38 p.m.

Stinky Creek is located in southern Wake County. My mom used to mention some place in souther wake or Harnett County called the Augie Hole. Not sure what it was but I do remember the name.

Legswilson
GOLO member since July 12, 2007
July 23, 2008 4:08 p.m.

There's Snake Bite in Bertie County. The legend has it that when troops were mustering for the Revoluntionary War someone bit the head off a snake.

And how 'bout Spot down near Coinjock and Moyock?

Frizz
July 23, 2008 4:18 p.m.

There's a little community named Aho just outside of Boone right off the Blue Ridge Parkway headed north.

Wheelman
July 23, 2008 4:36 p.m.

In edgecombe county there is conetoe, pronounced ka-nee-ta.

singularity1111
July 23, 2008 4:46 p.m.

Bill, Black Ankle is in Montgomery County. I've been through there many times.

And although this was supposed to be a nauseous names list, since many have already deviated from that theme, I'll continue the 'Climax' theme. I dated a girl from Climax, and my best friend lived in Erect, and I was about halfway in between.

Myrrdin
GOLO member since August 21, 2007
July 23, 2008 6:02 p.m.

Myrrdin......"Bill, Black Ankle is in Montgomery County. I've been through there many times.

And although this was supposed to be a nauseous names list, since many have already deviated from that theme, I'll continue the 'Climax' theme. I dated a girl from Climax, and my best friend lived in Erect, and I was about halfway in between."

your posting may be correct but there is also a community by the same name in Robeson County just like Bill wrote, I know 'cause I've been through there many times....... :-) !!!

parr4246
GOLO member since July 4, 2007
July 23, 2008 6:33 p.m.

How about Lizard Lick? Not enough to make you sick, but it is strange. Wonder how they came up with that name?

jetset
July 24, 2008 7:08 a.m.

singularity1111

WOW. That one is good. My parents live there!! ( well, between Todd and Meat Camp)

Squirreling Dervish loves pie
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 24, 2008 7:37 a.m.

Horneytown, NC is named after a family with a last name of Horney. David Horney is still alive and in his 90's today. They made a lot of money off furniture and he now just manages that and gives to local charities. Not a bad life for such a bad name.

ambergail1
GOLO member since September 23, 2007
July 24, 2008 7:43 a.m.

We lived in the southwest for several years and we've traveled through Elephant Buttte, NM. We always called it Elephant Buttt :)

I had to add extra letters because I received a warning: "...we've found a word or a combination of words that could potentially be considered inappropriate to some of our visitors."

aburge
July 24, 2008 7:54 a.m.

I know this is probalby dedicated to NC, but my family is from Virginia (we are a bunch of Hokies at heart) and in Smyth county, in the deep mountains, is a place called Lick Skillet, Virginia. :)

jwstevens04
July 24, 2008 8:07 a.m.

There is a community outside Bailey in southern Nash County called "the Gallberry".

angela2
July 24, 2008 8:11 a.m.

Conetoe (Edgecombe County) - always amused me to hear visitors call it "Cone Toe". It's locally pronounced - Cuh-NEE-dah. The running joke was, "Well, if ya pronounce Cone Toe, Cuh-NEE-dah then I guess you'd pronounced Pinetops, Puh-NEE-dups."

Anyone mention Ether, NC?

Fun, interesting topic, Bill. Thanks :) Just another reason I like WRAL's web site - learn something new everyday.

GroupOfPricklyPears
July 24, 2008 9:02 a.m.

Ever heard of Lizard Lick, or Ashpole, or a small community that once had a tavern that sold "beer or rum" - a hurricane tore down the "beer" part of sign and the town was named "Orrum".

whatusay
July 24, 2008 9:10 a.m.

Parumph, Nevada. No explanations necessary.

rogers922
GOLO member since September 7, 2007
July 24, 2008 11:01 a.m.

I can't beleive no one has mentioned Booger Mountain, NC. There was even a piece about it on The Daily Show a couple of years back.

marvlori
GOLO member since July 23, 2008
July 24, 2008 2:05 p.m.

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