We saw the sign for a small harbor community named Dildo while driving to Trinity. Not to be overly juvenile, but how could we not leave the main highway to make a brief stop there? Once we arrived, it seemed like a typical small waterfront town with boats docked in the curve of the inlet. But what was unusual was not only the name of the town but the fact that it was spelled out in huge letters on the hillside above it.
While looking for a rest room on the wharf we chatted with a couple of locals. They told us that Jimmy Kimmel heard of the community in 2019. He decided to use it as fodder for a two week comedic shtick. He declared he was running for honorary mayor and sent his pal Guillermo to Dildo with a production crew for two weeks. The group declared the Dildo Brewery as their election headquarters, and over the next two weeks portions of Kimmel’s show was broadcast live from there. Inspired by the hillside sign designating Hollywood, Kimmel financed a hillside sign for Dildo. The men we spoke to were very happy with the notoriety Kimmel brought to the town along with a boost in tourism.
Our new pals were friendly and chatty and suggested we drive to Anderson Cove, a beach close by down a one kilometer dirt road.
We did and the whole episode was well worth the detour.
And Kimmel does hold the title of Honorary Mayor of Dildo.
