Nevada
Top 10 Outlandish Things You Can Do in Nevada – Listverse
Most people know Nevada for its crazy shows and lax gambling rules, but the state extends far beyond Reno and Vegas. Desert oddities dot the Silver State, making it one of the most unexpectedly eccentric places in America. Here are some of the wildest and out-of-this-world things you can do in Nevada.
10 Mesmerizing Deserted Places
10 Eat at an Authentic Saloon
This is where you can finally live out your Wild West dreams.
The Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada, is the oldest working saloon in the Silver State, and it shows. Original tin walls and ceilings from 1913 make this building exactly like the kind you’ d imagine a cowboy striding into.
Actor Clark Gable spent three days straight pounding back drinks while waiting on the fate of his wife, Carole Lombard, who had recently gone down in a plane crash nearby. Lombard didn’t make it, and many say that her spirit haunts the saloon, searching for her lover.
Not just a place to eat, drink, and meet a ghost, the Pioneer Saloon is a kind of mini-museum, housing memorabilia from Goodsprings’ days of yore.[1]
9 Tell Time at Ryanhendge
Ryan Williams, CEO of Western Elite Landfill in Alamo, Nevada, paid tribute to his childhood love for the stars by creating his own solar calendar. Located over an hour outside of Vegas, far from the neon lights that ruin the view of the galaxy, Williams’ landfill is now home to a Stonehenge-themed sundial, labyrinth, and even a chess board.
The constellations are mapped to the 21st of each month, a reference to Williams’s own birthday (December 21). It took over ten years to complete the attraction, which also includes yin-yang symbols, Latin phrases, and other emblems to encourage visitors to relax and meditate.
And, of course, there are some aliens strewn about so you can tell all your friends back home that you had a truly otherworldly experience.[2]
8 Play with Construction Equipment
Who hasn’t wanted to get behind the controls of a bulldozer and see what happens?
Thanks to Ed Mumm, creator of Dig This Las Vegas, now you can. Mumm was building his home and realized that using the excavator he had rented was a ton of fun. He “felt that it was something everyone could enjoy, and there was nothing like it out there.”
This construction theme park gives customers a choice between classic bulldozers or hydraulic excavators, then lets them into the Nevada desert to dig up holes, build mounds of dirt, or compete in skill tests such as moving tires and basketballs.
It’s all the fun of being a construction worker, but without getting paid. But hey, if you’re into that, you do you![3]
7 Send a Letter to an Alien
When you think “Nevada,” no doubt you also think “aliens.” The 36th U.S. state has become synonymous with extraterrestrials thanks to alleged UFO sightings and the nearby secrecy of Area 51, a government-owned section of the desert rumored to be home to aliens (which I’ll get to again later).
If you’re not able to spot any otherworldly creatures, you’re in luck: You can send them some mail. Between the towns of Alamo and Rachel sits a mailbox marked “Steve Medlin,” a nearby ranch owner. Over the years, the mailbox’s proximity to Area 51 has attracted alien hunters and curiosity seekers, prompting Medlin to add a smaller, black mailbox a few yards away from his own for people to send letters (or perhaps receive them) from outer space.[4]
6 Get a New Stamp in Your Passport
Ever wondered what goes into making a country a country? If you ask Kevin Baugh, it just takes a lot of will.
In 1998, Baugh bought 11 acres (4.45 hectares) of land in Dayton, Nevada, and promptly declared it the Republic of Molossia. Baugh, of course, is the president (full title: His Excellency President Grand Admiral Colonel Doctor Kevin Baugh, President and Raïs of Molossia, Protector of the Nation and Guardian of the People), his wife the First Lady, and his daughter, who serves as Chief Constable.
Baugh welcomes tourists, but visitors should make sure to empty their grocery bags, as spinach and onions are banned from the country. Why? Because Baugh doesn’t like them.
If you break the rules, you’ll probably be thrown in jail, which, along with the post office, bank, and space force, was created by and run by Baugh. Even though the country is not recognized by the United Nations (or any other officials of the world), you can get your passport stamped upon entry. And while you’re there, be sure to grab the official drink of Molossia, the Molossolini: It’s a Shirley Temple with pineapple juice and fruits.[5]
5 Climb Mount Tikaboo
About 120 miles (193 kilometers) from Las Vegas sits an area of the Nevada desert that is surrounded by barbed wire, electric fences, “no trespassing signs,” and armed guards.
The Nevada Test and Training Range, better known as Area 51, has long been the subject of otherworldly speculation. There are reports from as far back as the 1950s pointing out mysterious objects in the air, but the public’s interest was really piqued in 1989 when a man claiming to be a former Area 51 employee told the public he had been hired to reverse-engineer extraterrestrial technology.
There’s a lot of evidence that this man, Bob Lazar, may be lying, but in a lot of ways, it doesn’t matter. Area 51 and, by association, the state of Nevada have come to be synonymous with aliens and other supernatural creatures.
Obviously, you can’t actually visit Area 51 unless you’re looking to get shot (there are signs around the area warning that deadly force will be used if necessary). However, a nearby mountain called Tikaboo Peak offers a partial view of the testing site from afar. It has become a popular attraction and a legal way to try to catch sight of a few aliens.[6]
4 Visit the Simpsons
As weird as it is to build an exact replica of the house from the long-running adult cartoon The Simpsons, the story of how it came to be is even weirder.
In 1997, as a publicity stunt for the then eight-year-old sitcom, Fox and Pepsi teamed up to raffle off a life-sized version of the house that the titular Simpsons family lived in. The designers watched over 100 hours of the show, and each room is accurate, down to the tiny irregularities in the architecture and the shade of the wallpaper. Pink walls and an orange couch helped create the illusion that visitors were really in Springfield rather than Henderson, Nevada.
Unfortunately, the winner of the raffle lived in Kentucky and wasn’t willing to relocate. She opted to take the $75,000 cash prize instead, leaving the house empty. With the odd layout and unconventional furniture (not to mention the home was located in an otherwise normal-looking Las Vegas suburb), the house didn’t sell. It was only after being repainted to more muted, beige colors that the home was bought. Today, it looks about the same as every other building on the block, but it still retains the same design as the famous family’s home.[7]
3 Drive on America’s Loneliest Road
In 1986, Life Magazine dubbed the Nevada stretch of U.S. Route 50 the “Loneliest Road in America.” Even though it was meant as an insult, with the rest of the article stating the highway is “totally empty” with “no points of interest,” the state instantly embraced the nickname. Today, you can even see the title on official road signs and buy “survival guides” for the parts that Life recommended no one drive through “unless they’re confident of their survival skills.”
While Route 50 itself stretches over 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) across America, from Maryland to California, the 408 miles (656 kilometers) that go through Nevada are practically barren. Other than Carson City, the largest town the road goes through is Ely, with a population of less than 4,000 people. Other stops along the highway include near-ghost towns that once prospered as mining settlements or Pony Express stagecoach stops, many of which still have authentic Wild West saloons and other oddities.[8]
2 Go to the McFarthest Spot
No matter where you are in America (or most of the world), you can be sure you’re never too far from some McNuggets and a McFlurry. Unless you happen to be in Tonopah, Nevada, otherwise known as the McFarthest spot.
When you’re in Tonopah, you’re 120 miles (193 kilometers) away from the nearest McDonald’s, further than any other spot in the contiguous United States. South Dakota claimed the McFarthest spot until 2014 when Tonopah’s only McDonald’s closed for unknown reasons—but a quick look at the former location’s 1.6 Yelp review rating might give you an idea of why the remote town is now free of the fast food conglomerate.[9]
1 Stay at the Clown Motel
Scared of clowns? Then, stay far away from Tonopah, Nevada.
The Clown Motel was opened in 1985 by Leona and Leroy David. The clown theme came from their father’s love of clown memorabilia, which they proudly stored in the lobby of the motel. It’s since come under new management twice, but both with the stipulation that the clown museum stays right where it is.
The motel offers regular rooms or clown-themed rooms. It makes patrons acknowledge that “By visiting The Clown Motel, you may encounter interaction with spiritual and/or unexplained phenomena” and states that “The Clown Motel will not be held liable for any bodily injury, damage to personal property, emotional distress, death or other harm caused by the former.”
Even if you’re not afraid of clowns, the Old Tonopah Cemetery, which is attached to the motel, will definitely send shivers down your spine.[10]
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — An adoptable pet is in the spotlight for “Furever Home Friday,” with Amy from the Nevada SPCA featured in a segment highlighting an animal available for adoption today.
The Nevada SPCA encouraged viewers looking to add a pet to their family to consider adopting.
Alex LaRosa hit for a .262 batting average in 50 plate appearances for the Bishop Gorman baseball team through its 32 games played entering Thursday.
But with a chance for the Gaels to punch their ticket to the Class 5A state tournament, LaRosa came up with the biggest swing of his season.
LaRosa hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning and broke a tie game, which proved to be the deciding run in Gorman’s 8-4 win over Centennial on Thursday night at Durango High in a 5A Southern Region winners bracket final.
The Gaels (28-6) have qualified for the 5A state tournament, which begins May 14 at Las Vegas High. The Gaels also advance to Saturday’s 5A Southern Region title game at 10 a.m. Saturday at Durango.
“My teammates, they just push me to be better in everything to do,” LaRosa said. “I know if I get on, they’re going to to get the job done and score me. My job, hitting in the bottom of the lineup is making sure I get on base anyway I can. I just put a good swing on the ball and it got out.”
Centennial falls to the losers bracket final and will play either Arbor View or Palo Verde at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Durango to determine Gorman’s opponent for Saturday and the South’s second spot in the state tournament. Arbor View and Palo Verde play in an earlier elimination at 4 p.m. Friday at Durango to determine Centennial’s opponent.
”It feels good, we fell short the last couple of years (of reaching the state tournament),” LaRosa said. “It just feels good to finall be in it and hopefully we keep going and win it.”
LaRosa’s blast was much needed after a disastrous bottom of the fifth inning for Gorman. The Gaels led 4-0, but Centennial (25-10) cut into the deficit when Jaxon Burr singled which scored Chase Hurley, who led the inning off with a triple.
Then Jake Turner hit a fly ball to left-center field, and as Gorman center fielder DeMari Hall and Logan Grubbs dived for the ball, they collided and the ball went all the way to the wall for a two-run, inside-the-park home run.
Four batters later, Gorman catcher Austin Argenta threw to first base to pick off runner Trevor Henson, but Argenta’s throw was wild and sailed into left field, scoring Kane Barber from second, tying the game.
“I had just given a speech right before we went out to hit that we were good, we weren’t losing this game,” LaRosa said. “We’re still in this game and the dugout went crazy. We just exploded after that.”
LaRosa, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, followed up with his home run in the top of the sixth, which hit the top of the left field fence. That caused a brief discussion between the three umpires before they confirmed it was a home run.
“I was just looking for a fastball to drive into the gap so my teammates could drive me in, but I got lucky, back spun it and it got out of here,” LaRosa said. “At first, I thought it was gone and then I looked up and the ball bounced back in the field.
“Then the (umpire) told me it was a home run and I kind of blacked out. It was a surreal feeling.”
Grubbs added an RBI single in the top of the seventh for Gorman. Chase Wilk was 2-for-4 with a home run in the second, a run scored during a three-run Gorman fourth inning and an RBI on a ground out in the seventh.
Justin Rodrigues had a two-run double in the fourth capped off the fourth inning for Gorman, which put the Gaels ahead 4-0. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 and recorded the final three outs on the mound for the Gaels.
Hurley and Burr each had two hits and a run scored for Centennial.
“It feels good, just returning to a national powerhouse that we were,” LaRosa said. “It’s the standard to be in the state tournament every year and compete for that state championship. So it feels good to bring the culture back to Gorman.”
Other 5A baseball results
No. 2S Arbor View 11, No. 2M Faith Lutheran 3: At Durango, Devin Martin’s two-run home run capped off an eight-run fourth inning for Arbor View, which helped the Aggies (30-7) roll past Faith Lutheran (16-15) in a 5A Southern Region elimination game.
In the fourth inning against Faith Lutheran, the Aggies scored twice on bases loaded walk, a wild pitch, a two-run single from Rhett Bryce and an RBI single by Angelo Ugarte before Martin hit his home run.
Martin finished with three RBIs and Ugarte added two RBIs. Rookie Shepard and Kingston Kela each recorded an RBI for Faith Lutheran.
No. 3M Palo Verde 7, No. 2D Desert Oasis 5: At Durango, Stone Amsden’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run seventh inning to give Palo Verde the lead, and the Panthers (26-8) held on to beat Desert Oasis (26-8-1) in an elimination game.
Desert Oasis, the Desert League’s No. 2 seed, led 4-0 entering the seventh. Owen Anderson and Matthew Simmler each had an RBI single, and Kyle Johnson scored in a wild pitch before Amsden’s homer put the Panthers, the Mountain League’s No. 3 seed ahead.
Amsden finished 2-for-4 for Palo Verde. The Panthers had just six hits.
Lincoln Guillermo was 2-for-4 with a home run for Desert Oasis, and Brody Griffith was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Landon O’Dell had an RBI single for the Diamondbacks and Aidan Smith added an RBI and a run scored.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Another platform is coming under fire by the State of Nevada over alleged unsafe conditions for children.
On Wednesday, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford filed a lawsuit against Discord, which is a communication platform that facilitates instant, text, and chat messaging as well as voice and video calls. Users are also able to share media, including photos and videos.
“Discord’s popularity with minors also makes it popular with a much more dangerous cohort: child predators, who seek to groom and exploit minor users,” the 100-page complaint reads in part. “Discord knows that the children on its platform are at risk, and further knows that children and their parents and guardians are afraid of malicious actors on the platform. Yet Discord has done very little to protect these children, and has refused to implement safety features that it knows would greatly ameliorate the risk.”
The complaint lists several cases as alleged proof that the platform is dangerous:
- In 2023, a Las Vegas man was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a minor and producing child pornography of his victim, whom he groomed on Discord.
- In 2024, a Reno man was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime supervised release for grooming a minor on Discord.
- In 2025, a sting captured eight individuals who had used Discord — among other communications platforms — to solicit sex from law enforcement agents posing as children.
According to the complaint, a group called 764, which was located on a Discord server that contained violent videos and “how-to” guides on sexually exploiting and extorting minors online, “has acknowledged a presence in Nevada”. The FBI’s Las Vegas field office is part of one or more of the agency’s 250 investigations into the organization.
Ford’s team also alleges that Discord has several flaws in its design, which is putting children at risk. For example, insufficient barriers for strangers contacting children, misleading and/or ineffective filters, parental control issues, and an “absence of age or identity verification in the account creation process.”
In February 2026, Discord tried to implement a requirement where users had to authenticate their age “with a face scan or by uploading a form of ID if they want to access adult content.” However, the complaint states that after user backlash to that announcement, “Discord immediately went into damage control mode and walked backed its commitment.”
According to the complaint, Ford’s team is seeking civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation of the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act and up to $25,000 for each violation directed at a minor.
Discord has denied the claims made in the complaint and sent Channel 13 the following statement:
“The lawsuit’s characterization of Discord does not reflect the platform we have built or the investments we have made in user safety. Discord is a communications platform built to connect people around playing games. Users join Discord communities intentionally, based on their interests, and unlike social media, the platform has no algorithmic feed, infinite scroll, or public “likes” pushing content to mass audiences.
Our safety systems combine advanced technology and human-led investigations, alongside user reports to help identify accounts or spaces engaged in harmful activity, including exploitative and child sexual abuse materials. We require all users to be at least 13 to use Discord and also provide teen users and their parents and guardians with important privacy and safety tools, including Teen Safety Assist and our Family Center. We look forward to collaborating with policymakers in working toward a safer online experience for all users on Discord and across the internet.”
Discord Spokesperson
This is not the only platform that is facing lawsuits in Nevada.
Last month, Ford announced the State of Nevada had reached a settlement with the online gaming platform Roblox.
In addition to abuse concerns, 13 Investigates partnered with ABC News Investigates to tell you how teenagers were being recruited on Roblox to become hackers.
WATCH: 2023 cybersecurity incidents lead to Nevada Gaming Control Board changes
2023 cybersecurity incidents lead to Nevada Gaming Control Board changes
As part of that settlement, Roblox officials agreed to several changes to make the platform safer, including age verification, content control, enhanced parental controls, and agreements to spend $2.5 million for online safety awareness campaigns as well as workshops and training for law enforcement.
APRIL 2026: Nevada reaches settlement with gaming platform Roblox
FULL PRESSER: State of Nevada reaches settlement with online gaming platform Roblox
Ford’s office has filed similar consumer protection lawsuits against TikTok, Snap, Meta, YouTube, and Kik, all alleging harmful design features and a lack of common-sense online safety measures for children.
According to Ford’s office, they’re set to go to trial against TikTok and Snap next year.
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