Vienna, Virginia: Midgetville (Gone)

Do not go there. They are normal people, who get pissed at people driving through there. They are normal people -- no midgets, not worth the drive.

As a friend of the Wedderburn family I would like to make some clarifications. For all the rumors about supposed midgets or dwarves that live in the Wedderburn property, better known as Midgetville, there are no midgets or dwarves that live on the property, which was built over 100 years ago -- just normal people. In addition, any homeowner dislikes the idea of gawkers on their property vandalizing and trespassing, how is the Wedderburn family any different? The small cottages on the property are rented out just as a room or house is rented anywhere else. Yes, the land is currently being debated to become a modernized housing complex but real people live there, not weirdos or freaks as people like to claim.

I can confirm that Midgetville exists, as I was just there on June 1st. If you want to see it, you might want to look soon. There is a proposal from a couple of developers to demolish the half dozen tiny houses and replace them with about 20-something new houses. Some local residents oppose the re-development. You can view a couple of the tiny houses off of Wedderburn Lane in Vienna, which is near the Washington and Old Dominion trail and Cedar Lane. I have only looked at the houses from afar from the public street, because the dirt and gravel road that leads into the heart of the little enclave is off-limits and is posted "No Trespassing." It is an interesting little enclave of homes, and they are a piece of local history and folklore.

The place is real. It's across from Thoreau Middle School off Cedar Lane. Going north on Cedar, take a left on Wedderburn and you'll see some weird trees and two dirt roads that lead back, with some vandalized mailboxes out front. Story today that they're thinking of tearing it down. Very weird place.

No, I've never been there, but if it's an urban legend, a LOT of people in the Washington, D.C. area have fooled themselves into believing they have been there. The subject comes up on radio shows every once in a while, and dozens of people call in to confirm it. Oh, and, understandably, the dwarfs (not midgets) there aren't too happy about gawkers, so be careful.