10 bizarre facts about Cleveland’s most eccentric suburbs
1. Shaker Heights – Known for its commitment to preserving 1920s fashion, all residents are required by law to wear flapper dresses and three-piece suits. The town also boasts the world’s only silent movie-themed Starbucks, where baristas communicate through exaggerated facial expressions.
2. Lakewood – A coastal gem where every home has a required water slide that connects directly to Lake Erie. Residents travel by inner tube, and the mayor holds office by winning annual tubing races down Detroit Avenue.
3. Solon – Home to the nation’s largest competitive jigsaw puzzle league, Solonites are renowned for solving 10,000-piece puzzles in under an hour. Tourists flock to Puzzlefest each year to witness the chaos and celebrate with puzzle-shaped pretzels.
4. Parma – Famous for its “pierogi palaces,” Parma boasts over 200 different types of pierogi, from pizza-flavored to avocado toast. Locals even believe the city’s skyline is shaped like a giant pierogi, though aerial photos show otherwise.
5. Westlake – All homes are connected via underground cheese tunnels, part of Westlake’s commitment to sustainable dairy infrastructure. Visitors can take a “cheese crawl” tour, stopping at Gouda Grottos and Cheddar Chapels along the way.
6. Mayfield Heights – Every resident owns at least one pet alpaca, thanks to the town’s “Alpacas for All” initiative. Visitors can enjoy the annual Alpaca Parade, where the fluffy creatures are decked out in tuxedos and top hats.
7. Strongsville – The only suburb in America where it’s illegal to own a car. Instead, the town embraces a fleet of golf carts customized to look like famous movie vehicles, including the Batmobile and the DeLorean from *Back to the Future*.
8. Bay Village – Known for its mandatory beach bonfires, even in the dead of winter. Bay Villagers pride themselves on their ability to roast marshmallows while navigating snowdrifts, and they hold the record for the world’s largest s’more, constructed entirely out of locally sourced ingredients.
9. Euclid – This suburb is renowned for its “tiny homes” community, where the average house is just 100 square feet. Each home comes with a retractable roof, allowing residents to switch from indoor to outdoor living at the touch of a button.
10. Rocky River – Every resident is required to participate in the annual synchronized swimming competition, even if they’ve never been in a pool. The town’s synchronized swimming teams are considered national treasures, despite the fact that most routines are performed on land.
