The story of the founding of Tomahawk presented in the episode mirrors the real-life founding of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, albeit that the real-life Bradley family was in lumber rather than meatpacking.
When Sam asks Dean how he can eat after touring the meat packing plant, Dean replies, "Grow up, Sam, okay? Burger's beef, bacon's pig, Soylent Green's people, but this is heaven." He is referring to the 1973 post-apocalyptic cult classic Soylent Green (1973), which features a novel approach to overpopulation, resources depletion, and world hunger.
The names Sam and Dean use are Agent Stark and Martell, reference to houses Stark and Martell from the show Game of Thrones (2011). Normally their aliases are members of rock bands, so this is a deviation.
When Arthur opens Dean's drawer, we can see a cassette copy of Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band "Night Moves" (1976). The ninth studio album of the band includes the single "Night Moves" that is featured in the episode Baby (2015) from the eleventh season, and is part of one of the fan favorite scenes.
The title of this episode comes from a Metallica song of the same name.