Long time ago when I was stationed at Beale AFB in California, my hubby and I made friends with a couple from Metropolis. I liked Lois and Clark the TV series and it's in Illinois, where my mom was from in her youth, so I always thought I'd like to visit, but once I became a fan of this board, I REALLY wanted to go. So this year, my mom, who now lives in Tennessee, arranged for my kids to come visit her and we decided to meet up with my married sister at a halfway point and I chose Metropolis!!
What I didn't know is that they were having a festival this year and all the hotel rooms near the city square were filled up. We ended up in a Comfort Inn about five miles out of town, but we got into town and walked around a bit. It's actually as small as you'd imagine Smallville to be. There were lots of people with T-shirts(which I found and bought) and tons of kids wearing costumes. I had my picture taken at the Superman Statue in the square, but I'm fat and embarrased to post that one. There were street sellers and carnival foods, but we mostly just walked around.
This sign is right next to the local grocery store. I got a funny feeling this town never had plans to become a "Metropolis", but they love the notoriety and the cash it brings in. There's a new HARRAH's casino and hotel down the road from the city square so maybe they'll build it up a little but my hubby said the only way I'd get him to go back is if I hit him over the head and threw him in the trunk of the car.