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Why UFOs and giant bulldozers top the list of the strangest Nevada gems

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Image: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Why UFOs and giant bulldozers top the list of the strangest Nevada gems

Nevada is often reduced to the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip, but the Silver State is actually a rough landscape of high-desert weirdnesses, Wild West relics, and fierce subcultures. Whether you’re looking to spy a top-secret military base or visit a country that technically doesn’t exist, Nevada offers experiences that feel like they’ve been plucked straight from a cult film. Here are 10 of the most extravagant things you can do in Nevada.

In 1986, Life magazine warned travelers never to drive Highway 50 through Nevada without minimum survival skills. They called it the "loneliest road in America". Stretching 287 miles through the heart of the state, the road crosses mountain ranges and vast sagebrush valleys with almost no signs of civilization. Nowadays, the state offers a "Survival Guide" passport that you can get stamped at tiny outposts along the way to prove you made it through the void.

Traveler’s tip: If you’re heading to the Loneliest Road, ensure your spare tire is in good shape and your gas tank is full. In central Nevada, "Next Gas: 80 Miles" is a literal warning, not a suggestion.

Located in Goodsprings, the Pioneer Saloon has stood since 1913. It is famous for its stamped-tin walls, which still bear bullet holes from a poker game gone wrong over a century ago. It’s also where Clark Gable waited for three days for news of his wife, Carole Lombard, after her plane crashed in nearby Potosi Mountain. If you like history and memorabilia, this is the place to go.

The Clown Motel in Tonopah might be a nightmare for many people. Yet, if you are one of the few people who love clowns, you’ll like it here. The lobby of this motel is packed with over 2,000 clown figurines, and the rooms are themed with portraits of famous jesters. If that isn’t enough, the motel is located immediately next to the Old Tonopah Cemetery, where miners from a 1911 fire are buried. It is frequently cited as one of the most haunted—and definitely the creepiest—lodging options in the country.

Near Dayton, Nevada, lies the Republic of Molossia, a self-declared sovereign micronation. Led by President Kevin Baugh, Molossia has its own currency (pegged to the value of chocolate chip cookie dough), its own time zone, and its own navy, which consists of inflatable boats. While the U.S. government doesn’t officially recognize it, Molossia is a fully functioning country on 1.1 acres. Tours must be booked in advance, and yes, they will stamp your passport upon entry.

Since Area 51 is a restricted zone, you can’t just drive up to the gate. However, Tikaboo Peak is the last remaining legal vantage point where you can see the base. It’s a grueling hike and a 26-mile distance from the facility, meaning you’ll need high-powered telescopes or telephoto lenses to see anything. Yet, it’s the only way for civilians to catch a glimpse of the most secret military installation on Earth.

On Highway 375—also known as the Extraterrestrial Highway—stands a lone mailbox. While it was originally a normal mailbox for a local rancher, UFO enthusiasts became convinced it was a drop point for Area 51 secrets. Over the years, "The Black Mailbox"—which is now white, since the original was stolen—has become a shrine where visitors leave letters, tokens, and messages for extraterrestrials. What would you leave for a potential cosmic pen pal?

In Las Vegas, "playing in the dirt" isn’t just for kids. At a park called Dig This, you can rent 15-ton excavators and 20-ton bulldozers. After a brief safety orientation, you’re given a headset and a personal instructor who guides you through digging massive trenches, stacking 2,000-pound tires. It’s an oddly therapeutic way to release stress by moving literal tons of earth.

Nevada is home to a unique geographical record: the spot in the contiguous United States that is the farthest from any McDonald’s. Located in the northwestern desert near the Oregon border, you would have to travel roughly 120 miles to find a Big Mac. It is the ultimate destination for those seeking a true escape from corporations and a taste of the raw, untouched American West.

In 1997, as a marketing stunt for The Simpsons, a contest was set to give away a real-life, 2,200-square-foot replica of 742 Evergreen Terrace in Henderson, Nevada. The builders watched over 100 episodes to get the details right, from the corn curtains in the kitchen to the dent in the wall. While the winner opted for a cash price instead of the house, and the exterior has since been repainted to blend into the neighborhood, fans still flock to the curb to see the architectural skeleton of the world’s most famous cartoon home.

In the desert, just an hour outside of Las Vegas, there is a modern megalithic structure that functions as a Solar Calendar. Inspired by ancient sites like Stonehenge, these pillars are aligned to track the summer and winter solstices and the equinoxes. It serves as a quiet, spiritual reminder of the passage of time in a state that often feels like it’s stuck in a perpetual neon night.