The Tennessee Town In The Middle Of Nowhere That's So Worth The Journey

Have you ever heard of Skullbone, Tennessee? We’re not talking about an object, but a town. A tiny town. One that has a story that spans decades and implores you to take a deeper look at all that makes Tennessee the neatest state in the union. If you are looking for things to do in Skullbone you might be disappointed, but walking on the soil where such an amazing story was formed is well worth the trip. Plus you can never go wrong when you visit a small town with a super interesting name, right? We’re taking you to northwest Tennessee, folks. Far from any big city and perfectly situated amongst the wilds of nature – enjoy the ride.

Skullbone - Facebook

The tiny town of Skullbone, Tennessee is located about an hour North of Jackson in Northwest Tennessee. We mean it when we say tiny -- the town is unincorporated and isn't on the map.

Skullbone Store/ Facebook

The whole town of Skullbone consists of one sign and a general store. The store, called Hamptons, also functions as the Skullbone City Hall, and it even has a small "Mayor's Office" on the second floor.

Editor's note: The store is no longer open after the owner and mayor of Skullbone passed away in 2020. He was a great man and will be greatly missed. Although it has been closed there has been some activity since then that has left people patiently waiting in the dark. The hope is that one day this store will open once again.

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Skullbone Store/ Facebook

The town also goes by a different, though much stranger name -- "The Capital of the Kingdom of Skullbonia." If that doesn't pique your interest we don't know what will.

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Skullbone Store/ Facebook

The town got its name when a Post Office was established in 1898 (which it lost five years later). The area was known for its bare-knuckle fights that were held there, prompting the name Skullbone.

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Skullbone Store/ Facebook

Hampton's General Store is the lone building in Skullbone. It features murals mapping the domain of the Kingdom of Skullbonia. Be sure to go when the store opens once again to make sure you get the full Skullbone experience.

Brent Moore - Flickr

Skullbone has been around for a while, but it gained popularity when a music park was opened in the area in 1999. Musicians like .38 Special, Charlie Daniels, and Lynyrd Skynyrd all performed there in the early 2000s before the park was shut down a few years later due to its "unruly reputation."

Brent Moore - Flickr

If you're starting to think Skullbonia is weird, there's more. There is a signpost across the street from the store showing distances to places like Shades Bridge (1 mile), Winnipeg (1,209 miles), and Calcutta (10,281 miles).

LearningLark - Flickr

Don't worry folks -- Skullbone keeps getting weirder. Next to the signposts with the cities, there's a telephone pole that visitors like to nail cowboy boots on. You read that right, folks. Cowboy boots.

So when it comes to things to do in Skullbone, Tennessee, there are really only three things. Visit the sign with all of the cities and distances on it, witness the cowboy boots nailed to the telephone pole, and if the store reopens you can always take a peek at the heart and center of the Kingdom of Skullbonia. Isn’t this the neatest place? If you wanna stick around for a little bit in the beautiful countryside then check out this house rental nearby. I would just suggest no bare-knuckle fighting…

We suggest you take a trip and see it yourself and while you prepare for this bizarre place check out the video by Jedsled Notactive below:

Wow. What an adventure. Continue the fun with these amazing hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in Tennessee.

These 11 Hole In The Wall BBQ Restaurants In Tennessee Are Great Places To Eat