6 of the Quirkiest Towns in Nevada
Known for cowboys, casinos, and gold miners, Nevada is a popular tourist destination for everything western. However, beyond the cowboys, a secret about Nevada is that it is home to some quirky towns. From extraterrestrial sites to the Devlin's Monster Museum, Nevada has some strange attractions. In the small Nevada town of Rachel, you will find the famed Area 51. Another small town, Jackpot, is a casino wonderland. Nevada is even home to a town with its own sovereign nation, the Republic of Molossia. Explore six of Nevada's quirkiest towns and see the peculiar charm in each of them.
Rachel
For an out-of-this-world experience, Rachel is the Nevada town to explore. The town might may have an ordinary name, but its extraterrestrial history draws in tourists from across the globe. Rachel is home to the Extraterrestrial Highway. The unique experience is a stretch of road close to the famous Area 51. This was a top-secret government facility rumored to be where the government kept extraterrestrial technology and experimented on aliens.
To learn more, stop and explore the Alien Research Center. There are exhibits that show the facility's past, along with aircraft and weapons developed at the site. Some displays also touch on the rumors of alien sightings in the area. Close to Area 51 is another popular spot the Black Mailbox. This is a historic place for people looking to see a UFO. Alien buffs gather at the mailbox in the hopes of spotting a UFO or an alien.
Alien enthusiasts should also check out the town's annual Alienstock festival. The festival started out of controversy. There was a viral Facebook event that called on people to storm Area 51. While the storming event never happened, even organizers decided to still host an event, an alien festival. Since then, the event has grown to include everything alien-themed, from music and entertainment to food and vendors. There is also a panel that discusses topics such as UFO sightings and alien abduction stories.
If aliens aren't for you, Rachel is still worth a visit. The small town has some stunning natural scenery. You can enjoy amazing views on the towns trails. Tikaboo Peak Trail is a challenging hike in town that shows off breathtaking views from the summit of Tikaboo Peak. The trail is a nine-mile roundtrip, typically taking people 5 to 8 hours to complete. While the hike is long, the views of the surrounding valleys and mountain ranges are worth it.
Jackpot
Jackpot town is a mix of casinos and spectacular landscapes. Even though the town's population is under 5,000, Jackpot feels like a city. The community began, and people gambled in the area in the 1950s. Considering the abundance of casinos here, if you are visiting, it is most likely to gamble. A popular casino to stop at is Barton's Club 93. It has over 500 slot machines and table games, including baccarat. The Cactus Petes is another fantastic spot to stop at. The casino has been a gaming landmark since 1956 and is 26,000 square feet.
Jackpot has more than casinos. The gorgeous landscapes are enough to take anyone's breath away. A spot to enjoy some beautiful views is Jackpot "National" Forest. The forest is beautiful and has a contentious origin story. According to rumors, Cactus Pete's Resort Casino gave the land to the US Forest Service at some point. Years later, they wanted to cut the same forest down and expand their building but could not. Despite the small size of the land, it is now deemed an Urban National Forest.
Dayton
One of the strangest Nevada experiences is in the small town of Dayton, where you can visit the Republic of Molossia. They are an official, independent, sovereign nation and have been for forty years. Molissia has its own national bank, post office, and space force. They even have their own currency. You need a passport to enter the nation, and they will stamp it. There are free monthly tours offered in the spring and fall of the nation, but you need to make a reservation.
Besides the random sovereign nation, Dayton has some other interesting attractions. History buffs will enjoy Dayton State Park, which is home to mining ruins. Amongst the ruins is one of the largest early stamp mills in the state. A little farther east, there is also Fort Churchill State Historic Park, which offers interpretive walks through early Nevada military history. Anyone who likes the spookier side of history might like the town's Historic Cemetery. This is the oldest maintained cemetery in Nevada, dating back to the 1850s.
Boulder City
Boulder City is another Nevada town with some eerie sites. The town is home to Tom Devlin's Monster Museum. The museum features Tom Devlin's artifacts from his monster-making career. The museum is Devlin's personal collection, showing the art and history of special effects. There are also original props and costumes from classic horror movies at the museum.
If you want to explore more horror in town, go on a spooky ghost tour. During the construction of the famous Hoover Dam, many people died. For decades, ghost stories have circled the town around the people's deaths. The tours follow these stories and show off the Hoover Dam.
While there are terrifying stories about the construction, Hoover Dam is a magnificent site and the most famous landmark in Boulder City. The dam was a spectacular engineering accomplishment and was the reason the town was originally created due to the construction workers needing a place to stay. There is the Boulder City-Hoover Dam museum on the first floor of the Boulder Dam Hotel, where people can learn more about the dam's construction.
Laughlin
Another intriguing architectural site is the Laughlin Labyrinths, found in the quaint town of Laughlin. The Labyrinths are a set of nine stone mazes created by local artist Wes Dufek. You can explore the mazes on foot. They are in three different places in the mountains just above the town in a unique arrangement on flat areas of desert ground.
Another quirky site made out of rock in Laughlin is the Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs. You can find the petroglyphs on a short hike. Since the area gets so hot in the summer, the best time to hike is winter.
After spending so much time outdoors, there is an indoor attraction worth checking out in Laughlin, Don Laughlin's Classic Car Museum. Located at the Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort, the museum takes up nearly an entire level and has a wide range of cars. There are race cars, cars owned by Hollywood stars, and even antique pre-1950s cars. Something quirky about the museum is that it is also a licensed class car dealer. So if you see a car you like, you may be able to bring it home with you!
Goldfield
If you want to see more cars, Goldfield is one of the best Nevada towns to be in. The town has several car-themed attractions, including the International Car Forest of The Last Church. This is the largest outdoor car exhibit in the United States, featuring over 40 cars. The exhibit is open-air on the southeastern edge of town. The strange name comes from two different ideas. The first one is a national forest that people could visit for free. The second idea is from Rippie's website called The Last Church. The site discusses religious theories that want to be separated from organized religion.
Another spot to see the town's cool cars is Rocket Bob's Art Cars. This is an art installation with old cars covered in trinkets such as Barbies, milk bottles, and air horns. The artists are regular attendees of Burning Man, and this shines through in their psychedelic art. Right next to Rocket Bob's Art Cars is Enigmata Esoterica. This is one of Goldfield's latest galleries. You are sure to find something interesting here. There is everything from custom turquoise and silver jewelry cabochons to stones, books, and bones.
Whether you take a trip to Goldfield to see Rocket Bob's Art Cars or Rachel to visit Area 51, Nevada has many strange landmarks. If you are interested in visiting Nevada and seeing something unusual, these small towns are a great place to start. So pack your bags and get ready to head on an adventure in Nevada. In these quirky towns, you are never too far from unusual landmarks that will leave you feeling strangely satisfied.
