09/19/2026
Fun fact!
Y'all, Texas has absolutely no shortage of wild and unique town names, but this one might be the most misunderstood of them all!
If you ever find yourself driving near Cedar Creek Lake, you will probably stumble across the town of Gun Barrel City, Texas. With a name like that, and a city motto that proudly declares "We Shoot Straight With You," you'd probably guess it was the site of an old Wild West shootout or a historic hideout for outlaws. In fact, colorful local folklore has long claimed that the secluded area was a safe haven for Prohibition-era gangsters like Bonnie and Clyde, or that it was named after a grumpy early resident who pointed a sh***un out of his window at unwanted visitors!
But local historians confirm the real story is much simpler. The town officially incorporated on May 26, 1969 (fun fact: the primary reason they incorporated was so local establishments could legally sell b**r and w**e!). The famous name actually originated from a local road called Gun Barrel Lane (now State Highway 198). A resident named J.C. Waits originally coined the nickname because that specific two-mile stretch of road was as "straight as a gun barrel."
Today, Gun Barrel City is a beautiful, thriving lakefront community that proudly leans right into its quirky history!
👇 Have you ever visited Gun Barrel City or driven through a Texan town with an unforgettable name?
