If you tend to feel as if you are a kindred spirit with the character Lydia Deetz from the classic movie Beetlejuice, especially when she says that famous line, “I, myself, am strange and unusual,” well then, this is the story for you. While Las Vegas is jam-packed with all types of experiences, there are a few in this city that cater specifically to fans of the weird and bizarre. These are guaranteed to hold interest and spark curiosity.
How about a grocery store that is a front for a nefarious company? And with every turn, path, door opening and crawl space, you fall deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole? Omega Mart, the 52,000-square-foot interactive art experience at Area15, is the latest testament to all things creative, wonderful and weird from artist collective Meow Wolf.
If you want to fall deeper into a more macabre-type situation, there are a few awesome spots you’ll want to stop at. Fans of Ghost Adventures will get more than spooked when visiting Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, owned and operated by that show’s host. The attraction—in what used to be an old estate owned by one of the city’s most-prominent families—is a dark labyrinth of some of the creepiest and strangest pieces collected by Bagans, such as the Dybbuk Box, Michael Jackson’s propofol chair and Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s death van.
Speaking of macabre and strange, Bodies ... The Exhibition at Luxor is also filled with teachable moments about the human form. Thirteen human bodies have been preserved and put on display, as well as hundreds of organs and partial body specimens.
And who can forget the effects of an atomic bomb? The fatal images are soul-shaking, but you can learn all about America’s nuclear weapons testing program at the National Atomic Testing Museum. Also learn about the Nevada Test Site, where non-nuclear activity such as above-ground bomb testing happened just miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
When it comes to dining, strange might not be the best word to associate with food, but it works in two situations. At Blackout Dining in the Dark, it’s pitch black, and only your server can help guide you—we say it’s definitely got to be strange not seeing what you’re eating! And while you don’t necessarily have to dine here, you can get married inside the Denny’s on the Fremont Street Experience. Yup, unusually, there’s an actual chapel inside the diner, and couples can score two original Grand Slam meals included in the wedding price. Talk about starting married life off right!
While many fascinating, fantastic shows are in Vegas, the weirdest show has to be Puppetry of the Penis at the Erotic Heritage Museum. Two grown, naked men take the stage and proceed to mold their members into incredible positions, one position even mimicking a sailboat—think about that.
Now, if you’re lucky enough to score a peek or tour inside The Underground House, you won’t regret it, because this might be one of the city’s most unusual and simply fascinating spots (you can take a virtual tour online). Yes, right off the Strip, there’s a nondescript house, and 26 feet below it lies 15,000 square feet filled with a Cold War-era, two-bedroom, three-bathroom home with artificial greenery, pool, hot tub, putting green, barbecue and so much more. The house was built in the 1970s by philanthropist Jerry Henderson, a pioneer in underground living. Stay weird!
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
