There are loads of things to do in New Mexico, including plenty of weird places to visit. Next time you want a break from our state’s more mainstream attractions, check out these kooky spots. Here are the top 10 weirdest places in New Mexico:
- Giant Roadrunner Statue, Las Cruces
Flickr/David Herrera What’s 20 foot tall, 40 foot long, and has Volkswagen headlights for eyes? If you answered the roadrunner sculpture in Las Cruces, you’d be correct. The artwork was originally created in 1993, by Olin Calk, as a way to promote recycling.
- McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch, Alamogordo
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM We know you’ve been desperate to pose by the world’s largest pistachio! Break out the selfie stick because this thing’s huge. Before the jokes about nuts begin, it’s worth noting that the story behind this sculpture is sweet. It’s actually a memorial to Tom McGinn who started the attached pistachio and grape farm. Learn more about McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch here.
- Staircase in the Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe
Flickr/Jim Crotty There’s a fine line between mysterious and weird. Let’s just say that it’s extremely unusual for a staircase with two 360 degree turns to function without any observable methods of support. Discover more about the Loretto Chapel here.
- American International Rattlesnake Museum, Albuquerque
Yelp/Derek B.
Yelp/Alice G. It’s safe to say that this museum, which is devoted entirely to snakes, is unique. Find out more about the American International Rattlesnake Museum here.
- Tinkertown Museum, Sandia Park
Yelp/Rinky N.
Yelp/Melissa R. Pretty much everything on the inside and on the outside of this museum is weird - in the best possible way. This is folk art at its finest. Learn more about Tinkertown here.
- The Classical Gas Museum, Embudo
Flickr/Kent Kanouse This is another large-scale collection, this time of gas station memorabilia and gas pumps.
- The city of Roswell
Flickr/T.Novotny
Flickr/Greg Carley Roswell isn’t inherently odd, but the way that the city has embraced the UFO theme and run with it is both wacky and wonderful. There are alien-themed murals, street lamps, and statues of little green men lounging around town. Find out more about Roswell here.
- The town of Hatch
Flickr/WhiteWaves of Bay De Noc
Flickr/Martin Lewison Parts of Hatch, like the area around Sparky’s, are massively kitschy. It’s surreal to be greeted by these larger than life figures.
- Camel Rock, Tesuque
Flickr/Joel Sowers This rock formation truly does look like a resting camel. Given its size, it’s a relief that this camel can’t spit!
- Kokopelli’s Cave, Farmington
Yelp/Scorpio S.
Yelp/Scorpio S.
Take the Paleo lifestyle to the next level by staying in this cave B&B - although cavemen never had it this good. The suite includes 1700 square feet of space complete with a kiva and waterfall shower! Make reservations at the Kokopelli’s Cave website.
Have you visited any of these strange spots? What’s the most bizarre place you’ve been to in New Mexico? Here are more quirky things about New Mexico if you love to embrace the weirder sides of the state.
Flickr/David Herrera
What’s 20 foot tall, 40 foot long, and has Volkswagen headlights for eyes? If you answered the roadrunner sculpture in Las Cruces, you’d be correct. The artwork was originally created in 1993, by Olin Calk, as a way to promote recycling.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
We know you’ve been desperate to pose by the world’s largest pistachio! Break out the selfie stick because this thing’s huge. Before the jokes about nuts begin, it’s worth noting that the story behind this sculpture is sweet. It’s actually a memorial to Tom McGinn who started the attached pistachio and grape farm. Learn more about McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch here.
Flickr/Jim Crotty
There’s a fine line between mysterious and weird. Let’s just say that it’s extremely unusual for a staircase with two 360 degree turns to function without any observable methods of support. Discover more about the Loretto Chapel here.
Yelp/Derek B.
Yelp/Alice G.
It’s safe to say that this museum, which is devoted entirely to snakes, is unique. Find out more about the American International Rattlesnake Museum here.
Yelp/Rinky N.
Yelp/Melissa R.
Pretty much everything on the inside and on the outside of this museum is weird - in the best possible way. This is folk art at its finest. Learn more about Tinkertown here.
Flickr/Kent Kanouse
This is another large-scale collection, this time of gas station memorabilia and gas pumps.
Flickr/T.Novotny
Flickr/Greg Carley
Roswell isn’t inherently odd, but the way that the city has embraced the UFO theme and run with it is both wacky and wonderful. There are alien-themed murals, street lamps, and statues of little green men lounging around town. Find out more about Roswell here.
Flickr/WhiteWaves of Bay De Noc
Flickr/Martin Lewison
Parts of Hatch, like the area around Sparky’s, are massively kitschy. It’s surreal to be greeted by these larger than life figures.
Flickr/Joel Sowers
This rock formation truly does look like a resting camel. Given its size, it’s a relief that this camel can’t spit!
Yelp/Scorpio S.
Take the Paleo lifestyle to the next level by staying in this cave B&B - although cavemen never had it this good. The suite includes 1700 square feet of space complete with a kiva and waterfall shower! Make reservations at the Kokopelli’s Cave website.
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Address: 2219 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, USAAddress: 70, 7320 US-54, Alamogordo, NM 88310, USAAddress: 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USAAddress: Rattlesnake Museum & Gift Shop, 202 San Felipe St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USAAddress: Tinkertown Museum, 121 Sandia Crest Rd, Sandia Park, NM 87047, USAAddress: NM-68, Embudo, NM 87531, USAAddress: Roswell, NM, USAAddress: Hatch, NM, USAAddress: Camel Rock, New Mexico 87506, USAAddress: 87 Rd 1980, Farmington, NM 87401, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weirdest Places In New Mexico August 12, 2020 Leah What are the most unique things to do in New Mexico? The Land of Enchantment is full of things to see and do that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. For example, did you know that New Mexico has a musical highway? Indeed, a specific stretch of road near Albuquerque was used in an experiment where carefully spaced grooves in the road will play a song if you drive on them at exactly 45 mph. Another unique thing to do in the state is to visit the intricately hand-carved caves in La Madera. You can only explore them on a guided tour but the level of detail in the entirely manmade caves is astounding. What one-of-a-kind destinations can I visit in New Mexico? There are unique places in New Mexico that you can only experience here. For example, the White Sands National Monument consists of a desert that’s the only of its type and size in the world. The strikingly white gypsum sands are jaw-dropping to see in person, and fun, too. You can see giant origami sculptures in Los Cerrillos at Origami in the Park. The structures somehow manage to be both massive and still looking like delicately folded paper. They have a backdrop of red rocks and desert plants, giving them even more of a sense of whimsy. What are the coolest attractions in New Mexico? Head out and explore all that New Mexico has to offer by visiting some of the neatest attractions here. For interesting history, visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings that have been around for centuries. The Taos Pueblo is another historic spot that looks amazing and has been continuously lived in for not hundreds but thousands of years. If you want a literally cool place to have a refreshing swim while also being amazed, visit the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. This strikingly colored swimming hole is incredibly deep. You can swim at the surface or even go diving down to its deep underwater caves.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weirdest Places In New Mexico
August 12, 2020
Leah
What are the most unique things to do in New Mexico? The Land of Enchantment is full of things to see and do that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. For example, did you know that New Mexico has a musical highway? Indeed, a specific stretch of road near Albuquerque was used in an experiment where carefully spaced grooves in the road will play a song if you drive on them at exactly 45 mph. Another unique thing to do in the state is to visit the intricately hand-carved caves in La Madera. You can only explore them on a guided tour but the level of detail in the entirely manmade caves is astounding. What one-of-a-kind destinations can I visit in New Mexico? There are unique places in New Mexico that you can only experience here. For example, the White Sands National Monument consists of a desert that’s the only of its type and size in the world. The strikingly white gypsum sands are jaw-dropping to see in person, and fun, too. You can see giant origami sculptures in Los Cerrillos at Origami in the Park. The structures somehow manage to be both massive and still looking like delicately folded paper. They have a backdrop of red rocks and desert plants, giving them even more of a sense of whimsy. What are the coolest attractions in New Mexico? Head out and explore all that New Mexico has to offer by visiting some of the neatest attractions here. For interesting history, visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings that have been around for centuries. The Taos Pueblo is another historic spot that looks amazing and has been continuously lived in for not hundreds but thousands of years. If you want a literally cool place to have a refreshing swim while also being amazed, visit the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. This strikingly colored swimming hole is incredibly deep. You can swim at the surface or even go diving down to its deep underwater caves.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Land of Enchantment is full of things to see and do that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. For example, did you know that New Mexico has a musical highway? Indeed, a specific stretch of road near Albuquerque was used in an experiment where carefully spaced grooves in the road will play a song if you drive on them at exactly 45 mph. Another unique thing to do in the state is to visit the intricately hand-carved caves in La Madera. You can only explore them on a guided tour but the level of detail in the entirely manmade caves is astounding.
What one-of-a-kind destinations can I visit in New Mexico?
There are unique places in New Mexico that you can only experience here. For example, the White Sands National Monument consists of a desert that’s the only of its type and size in the world. The strikingly white gypsum sands are jaw-dropping to see in person, and fun, too. You can see giant origami sculptures in Los Cerrillos at Origami in the Park. The structures somehow manage to be both massive and still looking like delicately folded paper. They have a backdrop of red rocks and desert plants, giving them even more of a sense of whimsy.
What are the coolest attractions in New Mexico?
Head out and explore all that New Mexico has to offer by visiting some of the neatest attractions here. For interesting history, visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings that have been around for centuries. The Taos Pueblo is another historic spot that looks amazing and has been continuously lived in for not hundreds but thousands of years. If you want a literally cool place to have a refreshing swim while also being amazed, visit the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. This strikingly colored swimming hole is incredibly deep. You can swim at the surface or even go diving down to its deep underwater caves.
