Strange Arizona Places: These odd points of interest will make you glad to be in Arizona
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Monument ValleyIf your family has ever driven across the state of Arizona, you may have noticed some curious road signs inviting you to stop and see something that is out-of-this-world.

Boomer Bear has criss-crossed the state, and put together a list of his favorites for you and your family to check out this summer!

Raptor opening his mouthRattlesnake Ranch Sculpture Garden

Where might you see rust-colored dinosaurs taller than your parents? At Rattlesnake Ranch Sculpture Garden in Benson!   

Metal sculptures of dinosaurs, horses, snakes and Native American warriors are located on private property at 4655 E. Dragoon Road in Benson, AZ. There are markers that give credit to the artist who created the sculptures. There’s no admission fee, but there is a lockbox where you can leave a donation.

Don’t confuse this spot with another Rattlesnake Ranch in Arizona. There is also a private zoo in Cave Creek that houses live rattlesnakes!

Anthem Veterans Memorial

Veterans MemorialThis military monument is made of five pillars to represent the nation’s military branches: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Each pillar has an elliptical opening that slants downward towards the Great Seal of the United States. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 11:11 a.m., the sun shines through the elliptical and creates a spotlight on the Great Seal.

Brick pavers with the names of U.S. servicemen and women circle the pillars of the Veterans Memorial. The white pillars, red pavers and blue sky reflect the colors of the U.S. flag. The Veterans Memorial is located at 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, AZ. Find out more at onlineanthem.com.

Window RockDid You Know...

The Coronado Trail, Route 191, has been called the curviest road in the United States. It goes from Clifton to Alpine in Arizona.

 

 

London BridgeLondon Bridge

The London Bridge once spanned the River Thames in England. The bridge had to be repaired and replaced over the centuries. This version of the bridge was built in 1831, but by the 1960s it was sinking into the riverbed because of the weight of cars. So in 1967, the city of London decided to dismantle and sell it.

In 1968, businessman Robert P. McCulloch bought the bridge and relocated it to Lake Havasu. The bridge was shipped through the Panama Canal to California and transported by truck to Arizona. It took three years to rebuild the London Bridge. The bridge is located at 1340 McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ. Learn more about its history at golakehavasu.com/london-bridge.

Alien AcresAlien Acres

Flying saucers, spaceships, little green men, aliens and UFOs are located on this private property. The owner’s interest in aliens inspired him to decorate his yard with them.   

You can rent a camping site to pitch a tent or park an RV.

The location, close to the Petrified Forest National Park, is a great place to check out the stars while you think about visitors from outer space! Located at 9606 Sheri Road in Holbrook, AZ.

Bedrock City

Bedrock City is a playground park based on the 1960s cartoon “The Flintstones.” Your parents and grandparents probably remember this modern stone-age family, Fred and Wilma, and their friends Barney and Betty Rubble who lived in Bedrock. The inventive human-powered and dino-powered contraptions were fun trademarks of the show.

Now, kids of all ages can slide down the dinosaur slide, visit prehistoric houses, take photos in prehistoric vehicles and more. Bedrock City was built in the 1970s and is now part of the Raptor Ranch Campground. Located at 332 State Highway AZ-64, Williams, AZ. Admission is $10. Find out more at raptor-ranch.com.

Don’t forget to take lots of photos on your trip, because your friends will never believe you!

The Thing MuseumThe Thing Museum

If you have ever traveled on I-10 east of Tucson, you must have seen a billboard—or dozens of billboards—about “The Thing?” This mystery has been luring tourists off the highway for decades.

Thomas Binkley Prince opened his roadside attraction in the late 1960s. The museum has a collection of unusual items, but the star is The Thing.

The Thing Museum was updated and expanded in 2018.



The Thing Museum is located at 2631 N. Johnson Road, Dragoon, AZ. Take I-10 Exit 322 between Benson and Willcox. Find out more at bowlinsthething.com.

Havasu FallsStandin’ on the Corner Park

If you have seen “Cars,” then you have seen an animated version of some of the unique landmarks along historic Route 66. But seeing some of these iconic areas in person is worthy of a “Wow!” or a “Ka-chow!”

Bedrock CityOne fun spot along Route 66 opened in 1999 thanks to a song lyric. In the 1972 Eagles song “Take it Easy” there is a line that goes: “Well, I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.” The Standin’ on the Corner Foundation decided to build a park to commemorate the song and make it a tourist spot.   

The park is at the corner of Kinsley and E. 2nd Street in Winslow.

Even Stranger AZ!

Hoover DamHere are some other cool & unusual places in our state to check out:

The Dinos at Holbrook

Valley of the Moon in Tucson

Arcosanti in Mayer

No matter where your summer road trip takes you, just remember that there’s always one more THING to see!

Meteor Crater near Winslow

Walnut Canyon National Monument near Flagstaff

The Staircases in Bisbee

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