Unusual Things to Do In Las Vegas & Beyond
Fremont Street. The Sphere. Allegiant Stadium. And of course, the Las Vegas Strip. We know and love them all, but there’s more to discover beyond these famed Silver State sights.
From only-found-here history to larger-than-life landmarks, there are tons of unusual Las Vegas attractions. All you have to do is get a little out there.
Weird Las Vegas Wonders and anything-but-ordinary adventures
Seven Magic Mountains
South Las Vegas Blvd.
Just 25 minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip, seven 30-foot-tall rock towers rise from the desert, their bright colors a stark contrast against the Mojave backdrop. Produced by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone and the Nevada Museum of Art, Seven Magic Mountains is a favorite photo op for road trippers and free to visit 24 hours a day.
While you’re in the neighborhood, go 15 minutes west of Seven Magic Mountains to Goodsprings Ghost Town. Tour the preserved community, get acquainted with its equally colorful history, then cap it all off with a good meal, a frosty drink, and legendary tales at the Pioneer Saloon.
Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
Downtown Las Vegas
In 2017, Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” host Zak Bagans converted a nearly 100-year-old mansion into a paranormal showpiece. Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum features 30 rooms packed with seriously spooky artifacts, including Sharon Tate’s wedding dress, a parlor full of puppets, and a collection of what are (allegedly) the world’s most cursed objects.
Grab a flashlight and take the ghost tour in total darkness—if you dare. Just don’t let the frights make you forget to visit the nearby Las Vegas Arts District, which borders the museum. Eat, shop, and art-hop around one of the city’s most charming pedestrian promenades.
National Atomic Testing Museum
Las Vegas
As the threat of nuclear armageddon loomed during the Cold War, the U.S. government tested a whopping 928 atomic bombs in the Nevada desert just north of Las Vegas. Today, the long, colorful history of the Nevada Test Site (now known as the Nevada National Security Site) is on display at the National Atomic Testing Museum, a Smithsonian Institute affiliate. In addition to presenting the historical context and cultural impact of this controversial period, the museum also features detailed displays and rare oddities, including an authentic nuclear reactor, nuclear test mannequins, and a backpack bomb.
The Neon Museum
Downtown Las Vegas
Soak in the glowing glory of vintage Las Vegas at The Neon Museum, home to more than 800 rescued neon signs sprawled across the nearly 2-acre Neon Boneyard. The signs represent more than 200 Las Vegas properties, including Caesars Palace, the Moulin Rouge Hotel, and the Golden Nugget. Hop on a guided tour any day of the week—or schedule a twilight tour for a more authentic nighttime neon experience.
P.S. Only a half mile from The Neon Museum, The Mob Museum showcases both sides of the local and national battle between organized crime and law enforcement. Wrap up your visit with a toast to Prohibition history at the museum’s basement distillery and speakeasy.
KISS World Mini Golf
Las Vegas
Rock ‘n’ roll all night and putt-putt every day at the only KISS-themed mini golf course on Earth. Play 18 indoor holes among 13,000 square feet of KISS concert memorabilia and museum exhibits, then head to an arcade filled with vintage KISS pinball machines. Each hole unfolds around life-sized, KISS-themed features, so watch out for Gene Simmons’ tongue. It’s all illuminated by blacklights and buzzing neon—and a non-stop KISS soundtrack, of course.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
If pinball is your game, launch yourself across The Strip to the Pinball Hall of Fame, a warehouse-sized arcade featuring more than 400 machines from the 1950s to today.
Alabam the Toilet Paper Man
Downtown Boulder City
During Hoover Dam’s construction, many of the 7,000 jobs were strenuous, thankless, and unthinkably dangerous—like dangling from a rope hundreds of feet above the Colorado River to plant and ignite dynamite. But Alabam’s role was no less important: He kept the commodes clean, tidy, and fully stocked with fresh toilet paper. Today, Alabam stands proudly on a corner in Boulder City’s historic downtown. Stop and see his statue before moving on to enjoy the rest of this colorful and charming neighborhood.
Dig deeper into Hoover Dam’s fascinating history at the free Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, which highlights the stories of the men and women who braved it all to build this architectural wonder—and Boulder City itself.
Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum
Boulder City
Slink, lumber, or lurch into Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum, where you’ll uncover a treasure trove of curated props, creature suits, and classic monster movie memorabilia. An award-winning special makeup effects artist by trade, Tom Devlin mastered his craft working on more than 160 feature films and TV shows. Now, his namesake museum is a home away from home for other horror flick aficionados. Snap selfies with famous villains, marvel at the artistry that brought them to life, and catch B movies in the on-site screening room.
Coffinwood
Pahrump
What began as a mission to create affordable coffins became a specialty, custom-order coffin business. Coffinwood makes coffin-shaped everything, ranging from furniture and ping pong tables to jewelry, purses, and actual coffins. Before you visit, make an appointment to tour the owner’s coffin-themed home and workshop, which includes a hearse collection, lapidary studio, and coffin gardens.
Big Bovine of the Desert
Amargosa Valley
On the outskirts of Death Valley National Park, the state-straddling Longstreet Inn Casino & RV Resort is a favorite stop for road trippers. But the star of the show isn’t the well-stocked convenience store—it’s the enormous, two-story cow offering a warm Nevada salute on behalf of the Silver State. But why a cow, and why here? “Big Bovine” honors Herman, a 3,000-pound cow that once resided in the Longstreet Inn petting zoo.
Want more unusual oddities? Check out our complete guide to Weird Nevada.
