Go ahead. Take a bathroom break.
You ’re on a tripto the typically sedateVirginia City , a gold rush town which leap up in Western Nevada thanks to a gigantic discovery of silver – AKA the Comstock Lode . Maybe you ’re hoping to visit an abandoned mine , sip a draft in a haunted pub , clomp down wooden boardwalks flank by charming 19th one C facades , or stop in the Mark Twain museum , housed in the former newspaper office where the author cut his teeth . Sure , that would be nice .
But suddenly , you see down C Street and see them coming . With the dusty Sierra Nevadas as a backdrop , outside latrines root and toot your room , barreling forth on mammoth wheels . They ’re work like shark and castles and adorned with Irish bull horns , cowboy hat , and boas . They ’re manned by teams of three and color with names like “ Storm Pooper , ” “ Flapper Crapper , ” and “ Comstock Load . ” Their goal is a finale line made of — what else?—toilet paper . So you duck out of the way , beak your favorite ( Comstock Load , of course ) , and start hearten . You do n’t want to be a party pooper . Or wait , perchance here , you do .
Okay , perhaps the annualWorld Championship Outhouse Raceswouldn’t actually take you by surprisal if you were on a journey to Nevada ’s western corner . There are plenty of warn mark . Held on the first weekend of October — this year ’s run October 1–2 — the event draws upwards of 3,000 raucous spectators annually to Virginia City , lining up along Main Street in hunting of some craptastic action . 2022 marks the 33rd installment of the competition .
Choose your fighter. (The one on the left is called “Tea Potty.")|Virginia City, NV
And it ’s not the only earth-closet race around , of course . Jackson , North Carolina , Trenary , Michigan , Anchorage , Alaska , Nemo , South Dakota , Inlet , New York , and more all have their own ( Anchorage ’s claims to be the large , and possibly the coldest , as their privy move on skis ) . But Virginia City ’s is , perhaps , the only one that began as a political dissent .
This race harkens back to when outside latrines were banned by Ithiel Town regulation in favour of indoor plumbing . So the latrine - lie with citizen did the only coherent thing : They marched to the courthouse to show their displeasure , dragging their earth-closet behind them ( sounds … messy ) . And a tradition took detainment .
Today , the privy races are more merry — some would even say loaded with fun — feature games and music including a “ banjo man . ” The Parade of Outhouses kicks off the upshot . The outhouse races , where costume teams go header to manoeuver inside amusive homemade contraptions , is the base , while the “ Fun with the Runs Undie Relay , ” where contestants chug intoxicant and sodding toilet - themed challenges around landmark in township , add together to the madness . ( If you ’re looking for a new way to get to recognise a metropolis , here ’s a novel option ) .
This town ain’t big enough for two outhouses.|Courtesy of Visit Virginia City
Should youwant to compete , potty humor is a must , and the stipulation for outhouses are available by asking . you may alsorent one — but act fast , as those are limited . Then , all you postulate to do is squat down , and fly like the wind .
It ’s a dirty job , but somebody ’s got ta do it .
Strike It Big in This Old West Boom Town
There may no longer be silver in Virginia City’s hills, but there is a ton of history.
Race towards to toilet paper finish line.|Courtesy of Visit Virginia City
There’s a lot going on here.|Courtesy of Visit Virginia City
