11 Strange Spots In New Mexico That Will Make You Stop And Look Twice
Are you a fan of all things weird and kooky? Well, if you know where to look, the Land of Enchantment is packed with strange attractions, bizarre architecture, and roadside oddities. So, if you’d like an adventure that’s a little out of the ordinary, check out these weird places in New Mexico:
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Bart Prince is an architect with a reputation for designing unusual structures. So, it comes as no surprise that his private home is on the quirky side! For more info.
As far as state parks go, City of Rocks is impressive and unique. Some of the rock formations have a tendency to make visitors smirk. This one has been dubbed "toilet rock." For more info.
Weird meets wonderful in the House of Eternal Return, one of the world’s most creative and interactive art experiences. Even if you just stop by the parking lot, you’ll be greeted by a ginormous robot, wolf, and spider. For more info.
Nothing to see here. Just your average rest stop… except for the 41-foot high missile! The Nike Hercules was an anti-aircraft missile system developed in the 1950s for air defense. Its presence makes more sense once you know that this type of weapon was tested at nearby White Sands Missile Base. The rest stop is off US-70, going eastbound.
Forget looking twice. You’ll want to listen twice to New Mexico’s singing road. This stretch of Route 66 has been designed so that, if you drive the speed limit, the rumble strips play "America the Beautiful." For more info.
Gaze at 100 million-year-old footprints left by dinosaurs. The collection of 500 plus impressions is astonishing - all the more so because the footprints were only discovered by chance, when a flood washed away layers of a spillway. For more info.
Visit the spot where, in 1916, the US was invaded. The invasion itself isn’t as strange as the fact that so few people seem to know it happened. A state park now occupies the place where Pancho Villa and his men raided the town of Columbus. For more info.
A giant rattlesnake sculpture decorates the median on University Boulevard in Albuquerque. Duke City is covered with art, in the form of murals and sculptures, but this one is on an especially large scale.
It’s pretty weird to see an 800-foot deep volcano crater in such close proximity to an ice cave. The ice extends 20 feet down and continues to get thicker! For more info.
Check out the colorful murals that transform boring water towers into works of art! That’s the unusual part of this roadside attraction. The museum is notable because it’s tiny, free, and is crammed full of space and NASA-related exhibits. (Address: 12450 E US Highway 70,
Las Cruces)
You’ll definitely want to give this place a second glance, not because it’s totally bizarre, but because of how mundane it is. Can you believe that Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in such a nondescript building back in 1975? Strange but true!
(Address: 115 California Street NE, Albuquerque.)
What are your favorite weird places in New Mexico?
For more oddities in the Land of Enchantment, check out this past article.
Address: 3501 Monte Vista Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
Address: 327 New Mexico 61, Faywood, NM 88034, USA
Address: 1352 Rufina Cir, Santa Fe, NM 87507, USA
Address: White Sands, NM 88002, USA
Address: Rte 66, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA
Address: 141 Clayton Lake Rd, Clayton, NM 88415, USA
Address: Columbus, NM 88029, USA
Address: 4500 University Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
Address: Grants, NM 87020, USA
Address: 12450 US-70, Las Cruces, NM 88011, USA
Address: 115 California St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weird Places In New Mexico
December 04, 2020
Leah
What are the most unique attractions in New Mexico?
There are many strange things to see in New Mexico – you never know exactly what you’ll find around this state. Many people know rattlesnakes are one of the desert dwellers here, but did you know that the American International Rattlesnake Museum is in New Mexico? You can learn about all things snake and see a variety of live rattlesnakes there if that sounds like a fun outing for you. There is also a Classical Gas Museum that has a variety of vintage gas pumps, signs, and more, just sitting out near Embudo, New Mexico. Needless to say, there are some very quirky and unusual museums and attractions here.
What are the best manmade attractions in New Mexico?
The roadside attractions of New Mexico are sure to turn heads. There’s a giant roadrunner statue hanging out near Las Cruces. Don’t worry – the 40-foot long structure won’t dart in front of your car. The entire town of Roswell could be considered one giant roadside attraction to some. You can walk all around town and see all sorts of extraterrestrial-themed things. It just oozes with kitsch in an endearing sort of way. If you enjoy that and the old west combined, try a visit to Tinkertown in Sandia Park, New Mexico. Even if you’ve been there before, you’re sure to notice something new in each visit due to the sheer amount of stuff in one spot.
What are the weirdest places in New Mexico?
Add these quirky places in New Mexico to your travel list if you want to go experience some things that are a little bit different than most. For an entirely natural yet otherworldly place, visit the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. These badlands are like something from another planet, with colorful stripes, unique formations, and plenty of room to explore. Here’s a place that isn’t natural but uses nature to create something weirdly unique. The Lightning Field, located near Quemado, New Mexico, is an art installation that consists of 400 tall steel poles across a huge field. Even without lightning, it’s still interesting to look at and walk through.
