Posted in New Mexico
January 29, 2017
Here Are The 14 Weirdest Buildings In New Mexico
New Mexico has no shortage of man made wonders and stunning architecture. However, we also have our share of quirky buildings, some of them strange enough to make traffic grind to a halt while people gawp. Here are the 14 weirdest buildings in the state:
This restaurant looks normal enough from the outside...
...But, inside, this 10,000 square foot space is crammed with kitsch and oddities galore. You certainly won't be bored dining at this restaurant. (2410 Calle de San Albino in Mesilla.)
It's amazing what you can do with old shipping containers. For instance, you can build an entire shopping complex! Green Jeans Farmery can be found at 3600 Cutler Avenue NE in
Albuquerque.
The Lensic Theater looks out of place because it’s surrounded by some of Santa Fe’s oldest and most traditional architecture. While this theater at 211 West San Francisco Street could certainly be considered appealing (I happen to like it), the Moorish touches put it in the kooky category.
This is one of the most fun-looking buildings in Duke City. Books and booze, what's not to like? To see it for yourself, head to 312 Central Avenue SW
Albuquerque.
Bart Prince is an Albuquerque architect known for designing truly unique homes like the
Fu Residence above (nicknamed The Snake House). This is on private property.
This Masonic temple was modeled after the Alhambra in Spain. It is located at 463 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe.
The same people who were responsible for the Lensic – the Boiler Brothers - designed this theatre. The building is constructed in Art Deco-Pueblo Revival Style and it’s fascinating, unique, and quirky. Oh yeah, and it’s supposedly haunted! The KiMo is located at 423 Central Avenue NW in Albuquerque.
Welcome to this New Mexico castle, once a 90,000-square foot hotel that hosted multiple presidents. It was built in 1886 by an architectural firm out of Chicago (Burnham and Root). Now this bizarre structure is owned by the United World College.
This isn’t just one building; it’s a whole compound owned by the Church of Scientology that’s located in Northern New Mexico. From an aerial perspective, it looks… deliberate? Odd? You decide. It allegedly contains the works of founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
It should come as no surprise that Bart Prince’s own home is as individual as his projects for other clients. The curved portion of the structure is the architect’s home, while the tower is used as a library and storage area. This is on private property but you can cruise past 3501 Monte Vista NE in Albuquerque and glimpse it from the road.
Earthships may look a little strange but if you ever taken a tour of one, you’ll be amazed at the way in which these structures maximize resources and minimizes people’s impact on the earth.
A McDonald’s in the shape of a spaceship? Of course you’ll find this building in Roswell, at
720 N. Main Street.
Tinkertown is the most intriguing piece of folk art I’ve ever seen. The walls are constructed from glass bottles, and wheels are used to frame the windows. This quirky place is hidden in 121 Sandia Crest Road in Sandia Park.
This private residence looks like a marshmallow or, as the nickname implies, like the Flintstones house. Norah Pierson designed this home and it blends in with the surrounding rocks. (This is on private property.)
In your opinion, what’s the most unusual or strange building in the Land of Enchantment? Let us know on the Only In New Mexico Facebook Page.
