Bad Inspiration for Naming the New Billings “Lakes”

UPDATE 10/28: The deadline to submit your name ideas for the new Billings reservoirs is this Friday, 10/31. Link below. 

Progress appears to be moving smoothly on the creation of two new "lakes" on Billings' West End. Technically, I believe these are reservoirs, not lakes, but the terminology is often used interchangeably.

The City of Billings Public Works Department announced a fun promotion today where the public can help choose the names for the new lakes, which will serve as the city's new water supply when complete.

Opportunities to name new bodies of water in Montana are rare. This could very well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Image telling your grandkids someday, "See those lakes right there? I named them!"

Find out more about the lake-naming promotion HERE or submit your name ideas HERE. You can also drop off your suggestions in person at the Stillwater Building in Downtown Billings.

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Weirdest Lake Names in Montana

Montana has over 3,000 named lakes and reservoirs, and I scoured each county's list to find some of the silliest, most interesting, and perhaps blush-worthy named lakes in Big Sky Country. In a state full of Mud Lakes, Snake Lakes, Lost Lakes, and Alpine Lakes, here are some standouts.

Bighorn County

• Deadman Lake
• Cowbone Lake
• Dingley Lake
• Poison Lake
• Teacup Lake

Carbon County

• Burnt Bacon Lake
• Dude Lake
• Fritter Lake
• Kookoo Lake

Chouteau County

• Big Sag Lake

Flathead County

• Bootjack Lake
• Garlick Lake
• Hole-in-the-Wall Lake
• Lost Coon Lake
• Pot Lake

Gallatin County

• Axolotl Lake
• Coffin Lake
• Lizard Lake

Glacier County

• Goat Haunt Lake
• No Name Lake
• Spider Lake (eeek!)
• Young Man Lake

Granite County

• Little Johnson Lake
• Potato Lake
• Stony Lake

Hill County

• Stink Lake

Lake County

• Disappointment Lake
• Fatty Lake
• Lucifer Lake
• No Fish Lake (thanks for being honest!)
• Weed Lake

Lewis & Clark County

• Hazard Lake
• Keep Cool Lake
• My Lake
• Sock Lake

Lincoln County

• Baboon Lake
• Jumbo Lake (it's not)
• Lick Lake
• Plumb Bob Lake
• Rattlebone Lake

Madison County

• Big Brother Lake (are they watching??)
• Macaroni Lake

Missoula County

• Beanhole Lake
• Doctor Lake
• Spook Lake
• Whelp Lake

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Musselshell County

• Devils Hole Lake

Park County

• Dick Lake
• Fizzle Lake
• Little Molar Lake
• No Bones Lake
• Peanut Lake
• Wrong Lake (however, there is no Right Lake?)

Ravalli County

• Dollar Lake
• Fool Hen Lake
• Knaack Lake

Sanders County

• Ninety-three Mile Lake (93 miles from what?)
• Winniemuck Lake

Stillwater County

• Asteroid Lake
• Big Foot Lake
• Dreary Lake
• Froze-to-Death Lake
• Halfbreed Lake
• Nightmare Lake
• Trouble Lake

We can do better.

Almost all of these lake names seem like terrible inspiration for Billings' new lakes. You have until October 31 to submit your name suggestions. A panel of five judges will narrow down the choices, which will be submitted to the City Council for final approval sometime after 10/31.