Eccentric Experiences

Weird Nevada

As a state founded by gold miners and cowboys, built up by casino magnates, and flocked to today by renegade artists and other modern freedom-seekers, “ordinary” has just never really been in the cards. And don’t get us wrong. We love our pristine scenery, world-class cuisine, and oh-so-many picture-perfect niceties. But at the same time, whether it’s a haunted clown-themed motel or a “forest” of junk car canvases, there’s another way of looking at things that’s clear to born adventurers hungry for something a little more savory in their future campfire tales: our quirks… are our perks. No matter if you’re deep down the Extraterrestrial Highway rabbit hole or just beginning to scratch the surface of Fremont Street, you’re never too far from some Weird Nevada landmarks that are just satisfyingly so unusual. 

Find Oddball Attractions

Embrace your inner oddball

Oddball Exhibits, Curious Collections & Historic Haunts

weird nevada map

Season

All Seasons

Region

State of Nevada

“Ok, Google. Show me ghost museums in my area.” In Nevada, that actually kinda works. Take Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum in Downtown Las Vegas, 30 rooms jam-packed with some seriously spooky artifacts—like an entire room full of cursed puppets—that are rumored to be the world’s most haunted objects. Of course, Virginia City’s Washoe Club & Haunted Museum couldn’t be a more quintessential qualifier, either. As one of the most haunted places in the West, it’s a mecca to the world’s paranormal elite. Take the tour to hear stories from the Millionaires Club, reported hauntings, and tales of the historic crypt.

Spring for the “R.I.P. Experience” and get chauffeured in a custom hearse to Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum in Boulder City for a personal tour through his massive collection of screen-used props, creature suits, and custom pieces that helped make monster movie history. Does it get any weirder?

bombs on display at hawthorne ordnance museum
Hawthorne Ordnance Museum

Back in the 1950s, Las Vegans used to take a long lunch—first to eat a sandwich, then to watch a bomb explode. Surreal? Yes. Fascinating? Absolutely. With more than 12,000 interactive displays, stories, and videos, the National Atomic Testing Museum educates visitors about Nevada’s explosive Atomic Age history. Swing through Hawthorne—home to America’s largest artillery base—to zero in on the Ordnance Museum’s cluster bombs, historical ammunition, vintage military uniforms and trunks, and some of the first drones in existence.

In the Wild West, where there were cattle, there was bound to be some cattle rustlin’. But few cow thieves were ever clever enough to make off with dozens of head for several months, leaving not even a footprint—that is, a human one—save one man. His secret? Plank shoes fitted with cow hooves, now on display at Elko’s Northeastern Nevada Museum

neon museum
Neon Museum

How many other places have an official state element? In Nevada it’s neon, and a trip to the Strip or Downtown Las Vegas will tell you why. Visit the Neon Museum for an incredible collection of neon signs. The visitor’s center is situated in the historic La Concha Motel lobby that flashes visitors back in time with its mid-century, Atomic Age vibe. Plan to spend at least an hour taking the tour and exploring the Boneyard.

Travel Nevada Pro Tip

If you’re the kind of person who understands that no trip is complete without someone saying “Well, THAT was a little odd!” a couple times a day, then you’re in luck.

Showgirls, showgirls, showgirls! Breaking down the importance of this Nevada icon, one sequin at a time, this Nevada State Museum—Las Vegas exhibit hashes out the beauty, artistry, and of course over-the-top, in-your-face extravagance behind Vegas’ longest running Parisian cabaret-style shows. 

Outlandish, Outsized & Outside

“DIED EATING LIBRARY PASTE” is but one of the gut-busting epitaphs that reveal the untimely demises of this cemetery’s permanent residents at the Goldfield Historic Cemetery. Now a “living ghost town,” it was once one of Nevada’s largest boomtowns, the growth of which forced this former downtown cemetery to be relocated (residents and all) by a crew called the “Official Ghouls” of the night. 

That cluster of 35-foot-tall DayGlo bouldered totems you’ve eyed down on the horizon, rising conspicuously from the surrounding desert landscape, is Seven Magic Mountains, baby. This polychromatic, cult-classic photo op is an exclusive art installation beckoning ‘Grammers off I-15 as they head for the Strip. 

tombstone at haunted nevada
Goldfield Historic Cemetery
giant cow at weird attractions
Big Bovine of the Desert

Road trippin’ the Cowboy Corridor? Head for the delightfully offbeat roadside attraction called Thunder Mountain—a colorful, imaginative folk-art array of sculptures and buildings constructed almost entirely from items found along the highway decades ago. Watch for the Imlay exit, then follow your camera lens around this special addition to the Nevada State Register of Historic Places.

Longstreet Inn is one of those places that can’t help but feel like you’re inside some weird dream. And then, in true dreamlike fashion, out in front, screaming to be noticed is BIG BOVINE: an enormous, two-story cow statue offering a warm, Weird Nevada hello for all those travelers headed for the good stuff on our side of the California/Nevada border. 

Travel Nevada Pro Tip

While you’re here, be sure to inquire about the actual 3,000-lb. cow who inspired this very weird, very appropriate installation.

Just outside Beatty, perched within view of the ruins of historic Rhyolite, the Goldwell Open Air Museum puts the “ghost” in “ghost town.” Begun in the 1980s by Belgian artist Albert Szukalski, its signature photogenic plaster ghosts form a spectral tableau of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” alongside several other installations, which continue to enchant thousands of international visitors to nearby Death Valley.

Got spray paint? Bring it to Goldfield’s International Car Forest of the Last Church. In this unconventional sculpture garden, 40 automobiles—cars, trucks, and vans—stand on end, straddle crevices, or balance delicately on top of one another, inviting new paint jobs from visiting “churchgoers.” 

international car forest of the last church
International Car Forest

Packing List: Passport, EMF Detector, Tinfoil Hat

Fear Factor: Nevada Edition. Exactly what it sounds like, The Clown Motel in Tonopah boasts what’s got to be the largest private collection of clown figurines and memorabilia under the sun. If the creepy clown theme—which stretches beyond the lobby and into each room—isn’t enough to spook you, the added bonus of some resident ghosts slinking over nightly from the cemetery next door might just be the ticket. Even if you don’t stay the night, drop by the lobby, get drowned in clowns, and snap up some truly unique souvenirs from the mini gift shop in the corner. Oh, and before we forget: free clown noses, anyone?

man in front of mural at extraterrestrial highway experience
Extraterrestrial Highway

Pahrump is home to a charming little family-run coffin shop. Nope—not a typo. Read that again. Situated along the Death Valley Rally, a lively husband-and-wife team run Coffinwood, a charismatic coffin-themed business. Initially driven into the old-school, six-point coffin making business to fight the predatory funeral industry, this dynamic duo now offers tours of their macabre, made-to-order, coffin-shaped everything business, including their workshop, hearse collection, and “Church of the Coffin” wedding chapel. 

republic of molossia representative
Republic of Molossia
clown dolls at the clown motel
The Clown Motel

After savoring samples of Carolina Reaper, Cowboy, and other jerky specialty flavors at Alamo’s E.T. Fresh Jerky, peruse kitschy curios, pose with life-size local out-of-towners in funky murals, and be sure to “drop your toxic waste in the cleanest restrooms in Area 51.” After you’ve snagged a selfie with the alien murals, head for the Alien Research Center—you won’t miss it. Gleaming in the desert sun like an actual spaceship, this silver Quonset hut and its two-story silver alien security guard serve up the latest alien apparel, hats, and far more.

skelton hanging at coffinwood
Coffinwood

There’s an entire independent micronation in Nevada that we bet you’ve never even heard of. The Republic of Molossia, not far from Dayton, is loaded with crazy quirks, like an official customs station, a national instrument, and even its own postal service. Bring your passport to be stamped, but be sure to leave your incandescent lightbulbs, catfish, and onions at home—those micro-nationally contraband items will be strictly confiscated at customs.

The Weirdest, Wildest West

Fear not, fellow travelers! This is just the beginning. If you’re still hankering for more spooky, weird, and just plain out-there experiences, there’s plenty more Weird Nevada where that came from. 

As freedom-seekers, “ordinary” was just never really in the cards. We certainly adore our state’s many picture-perfect niceties; but, at the same time, whether it’s a clown-themed motel or a “forest” of junk car canvases, there’s another way of looking at things that is clear to us: our quirks are our perks. In Nevada, you’re never too far from something satisfyingly unusual. 

#WeirdNevada

Wading into some Weird Nevada and digging it? You’re in good company. Tag #TravelNevada so we can creep your feed. If we love your photo, you may find it featured here.

❤️Someone told me there's a cow in this photo! Where?!🤤
.......... “IT IS NOT THE DESTINATION WHERE YOU END UP BUT THE MISHAPS AND MEMORIES YOU CREATE ALONG THE WAY.” ~ PENELOPE RILEY
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Stay tuned for some live streaming later today! Got a new bike mount for my phone! Can't wait to try it and show you my neighborhood!
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Love above all else,
Michael R.
Gives a whole new meaning to the term “Ghost ride”. Anyone else used to do that with their bikes? Those were the days, when the biggest worry was “how many bike ramps are we going to build today?” 😂 #FujiFilm #xt2
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Nevada is home to allllll kinda of weird
Desert “art” - not counting the entire strip itself, there’s Seven Magic Mountains, The International Car Forest, the Goldwell Open Air Museum (where homeboy here lives), The Art District in DTLV.... we’ve got it all 🤘🏼
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#agameoftones #moodygrams #hypebeast #instagood #artofvisuals #illgrammers #heatercentral #createcommune #fatalframes #Fujifilmglobal #fujiframez #fujifilmz #vegas #lasvegas #vegas_insta #702 #lasvegasigers #love
A 10-foot-tall taxidermied polar bear, dubbed White King, looms over gamblers at the Commercial Casino, which originally opened in 1869 as the Humboldt Lodging House in downtown Elko, Nev. 
White King, who arrived at the casino in 1958 after being killed by Eskimos in Alaska, makes a momentary appearance in Hunter S. Thompson's 1992 essay
Nevada... Yes those are shoes in a tree in the middle of nowhere, on The Loneliest Road! 
#epicroadtrip #2020doesntsuck #adventure #loneliestroadinamerica
All are welcome in the hamlet of Rachel Nevada. #rachelnevada #parking #parkingsign #nevada #townofrachel #alienparking #unusual #ethighway #alientech #valet #drive #driving #drivingadventures
Yuh yuh yuh👽🛸✌️ #alienresearcenter #rachelnevada #rachel #travelnevada #nevada #explorenevada #aliens #ethighway #yesnevada #hiko #hikonevada #weird #spacestuff #ufo #ibelieve
#LaterGram because all my INSTAgrams are stories 👽
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#outfitshare #ootd #outfitoftheday #lasvegas #vegas #nevada #travelnevada #wanderlust #fashionshare #dailyoutfits #westernstyle #lasvegaslocal #vegaslocal #ltk #ltkoutfits #springstyle #summeroutfitideas #momsbelike #momstyle #momoutfits #stylediary #outfitshot #igfashion #amazonfashion #under1k #ootdshare #jeepgirls
Sunrise at Seven, 2019. Seven Magic Mountains by Ugo Rondinone #september7 #desert #sunrise #7magicmountains #sevenmagicmountains #color #installation #architecture #human #presence #love #expression #art #nature #light #naturallight #photography #photooftheday #giaaadventure #giatrovelaphoto #teamcanon #canonphotography canonusa canonbr canonuk canonaustralia 
#nevadaart #lasvegas #nevada #thankyou
Lessons from the past 🏔 #mountainstories

The last few weeks have been a time of education, reflection and/or protest for those who’ve wanted to bring a positive change for our society. I love documenting wildlife, nature and space but in the spirit of growth I wanted to share a Nevada trip which led me to this tucked away landmark. It’s a monument created by outsider artist Frank Van Zant which pays tribute to Native Americans and the injustices they’ve faced.

Since 1983 it’s been subject to arson and vandalism - and garners such little attention that that we were the only ones exploring the monument for the time we were there. Yet it still stands - resilient in the face of adversity like the Native Americans it represents.

Another reason I wanted to share this is because while researching the story behind the monument I learned that the artist has since ended his life - a topic of mental health I hold near to me for the friends I’ve lost in the last few years. In a time of uncertainty - take care of yourselves & be open and encourage others to be open as well. Drink water, get rest and exercise your mind and body along with your rights.

It’s also fire season for some of us here in California so be safe out there!

Thunder Mountain Monument
Imlay, Nevada
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Canon 6D MKII
© Kevin Dhaliwal 🙋🏽‍♂️
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#nevada #roamtheplanet #earthcapture #findyouradventure #ourwild #findyourpark #mountainstories #seeyououtthere #trappingtones #discoverearth #ourplanetdaily #dscvr_mood #earthcapture #moodnation #artlovers #naturephotography #teamcanon #natgeoyourshot #nature #visualsofearth #wildlifeseekers #socality #theearthoutdoors #greettheoutdoors #earthfocus #history #ournaturedays #wanderfolk
Stargazing and looking for meteors at the Seven Magic Mountains ☄️🌌 You don’t have to wonder too far from Vegas to catch the meteors. Grab a chair and a few jackets cause it gets 🥶 Shouts to jennayyyyye for helpin me achieve these effects 🔥📸

#astrophotography #travelnevada #sevenmagicmountains #meteorshower
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