12 Unusual Roadside Attractions In New Mexico That Most Tourists Miss
New Mexico’s highways hide quirky treasures most visitors zoom right past. While White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns get all the attention, the Land of Enchantment has a wilder side filled with giant roadside oddities, bizarre art installations, and peculiar monuments.
Ready for a road trip that’ll have you hitting the brakes and grabbing your camera? These offbeat attractions will make your New Mexico adventure unforgettable.
1. Apple Boy (High Rolls)
Ever wondered what a 20-foot apple-headed boy looks like? This charming giant welcomes fruit-seekers to High Rolls Mountain Park with his enormous grin and apple-shaped noggin. Local orchards created him as their cheerful ambassador.
His wooden frame and hand-painted features have weathered decades of desert sun, giving him character lines that tell stories of countless passing travelers. Kids especially love posing beneath his massive outstretched arms.
2. World’s Largest Chile Pepper (Las Cruces)
My jaw dropped when I first spotted this 47-foot-long fiery red monument gleaming in the desert sun. Las Cruces proudly displays this massive chile pepper as a tribute to New Mexico’s most famous crop.
Created from recycled materials by local artist Segundo Barela in 1993, this spicy landmark has become a mandatory photo stop. The giant chile even lights up at night, casting a red glow that’s visible from the highway.
3. Cowboy Ruckus (Corona)
If you’re cruising through Corona, you might think your eyes are playing tricks on you. A wild scene of life-sized metal cowboys engaged in an old-fashioned saloon brawl suddenly appears alongside Highway 54!
This detailed metal sculpture depicts flying fists, overturned tables, and even a cowpoke getting tossed through swinging doors. Created by a local rancher with a sense of humor, this freeze-frame of frontier chaos makes for an unexpectedly delightful roadside stop.
4. Fox Cave (Ruidoso)
Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t just some hole in the ground! Fox Cave combines natural wonder with bizarre tourist trap charm that feels gloriously stuck in the 1950s.
Once a genuine hideout for Billy the Kid, today it’s packed with an eccentric mix of geodes, arrowheads, and inexplicable oddities like two-headed snake displays. The gift shop sells everything from turquoise jewelry to alien-themed keychains. Their homemade fudge alone makes this quirky cavern worth the detour!
5. Connie’s Photo Park (Madrid)
Hidden in the artsy former mining town of Madrid sits a wonderfully weird playground for your camera. Connie’s Photo Park features dozens of life-sized cutouts where you can stick your face through and become everything from an alien to a cowgirl.
The creator, local artist Connie Mayhew, continuously adds new photo opportunities based on current events and visitor suggestions. My favorite is the UFO abduction scene complete with a dangling pair of legs disappearing into a flying saucer!
6. Recycled Roadrunner Statue (Las Cruces)
You’ll slam on your brakes when this 20-foot-tall bird comes into view along Interstate 10. Made entirely from discarded items collected from the local landfill, this magnificent roadrunner is environmental art at its finest.
Artist Olin Calk constructed his feathered friend using everything from old shoes to computer parts. Look closely at the body, you might spot vintage toys, license plates, or even a toaster! After dark, the bird’s eyes glow thanks to solar-powered lights, creating an eerie sentinel effect.
7. VW Spider (Alamogordo)
Arachnophobes beware! This eight-legged oddity will either delight or terrify you. A classic Volkswagen Beetle transformed into a giant spider lurks beside White Sands Boulevard, ready to surprise unsuspecting drivers.
Local artist David Livingston welded metal legs onto the vintage bug, painted it black, and added menacing red eyes that glow after sunset.
Rumor has it the creation was inspired by a nightmare he had after watching too many monster movies. Whatever the origin, this mechanical arachnid makes for an unforgettable photo op.
8. Chevy On A Stick (Albuquerque)
Imagine a classic 1950s Chevrolet impaled on a 25-foot pole, tail fins pointing skyward. That’s exactly what you’ll find outside Reincarnation Inc., an auto parts store with a flair for the dramatic.
The owner claims he wanted something more interesting than a traditional sign to attract customers. Mission accomplished!
This gravity-defying automobile has become one of Albuquerque’s most photographed landmarks since its installation in 1991. At night, strategically placed spotlights create an almost otherworldly glow around this automotive oddity.
9. Walter White’s Tombstone (Albuquerque)
Breaking Bad fans, rejoice! Though the character may be fictional, his granite headstone is very real and waiting for your visit at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
After the show’s finale, devoted fans held an actual funeral procession and ceremony for the chemistry-teacher-turned-kingpin. The tombstone features Walter’s name, birth and death dates from the show, and the memorable phrase “Beloved Husband, Father, Teacher.”
Cemetery staff initially removed it due to controversy but reinstalled it after fan protests.
10. Echo Amphitheater (Near Abiquiú)
Mother Nature created the ultimate sound system in this massive natural amphitheater carved into red sandstone cliffs near Ghost Ranch. Your voice bounces back with surprising clarity, making even whispers audible from remarkable distances.
Local legends claim the eerie echoes are actually the cries of massacred settlers whose blood stained the stone walls. While historians dispute this dark tale, the rust-colored mineral streaks certainly create a dramatic backdrop.
A short paved trail leads from the parking area to the amphitheater’s acoustic sweet spot.
11. Fort Union National Monument
Fort Union National Monument stands as a testament to the past, preserving the remnants of a once-prominent military post. Located on the Santa Fe Trail, the fort played a crucial role in the region’s history during the 19th century. The adobe ruins, silhouetted against the expansive prairie, evoke a sense of nostalgia and reverence.
Visitors can wander among the crumbling walls and imagine the bustling activity that once filled the grounds. Informative displays provide insights into the lives of soldiers and settlers who forged their paths in the American frontier.
The fort’s strategic location and historical significance make it a captivating stop for history enthusiasts and casual travelers alike. It’s more than just ruins, it’s a gateway to understanding New Mexico’s rich and diverse heritage.
12. Grave Of Ham The Astrochimp (White Sands)
Few visitors realize they can pay respects to a genuine space pioneer at White Sands. Ham, the first chimpanzee to rocket into space, rests beneath a modest memorial at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
In 1961, this brave primate paved the way for human spaceflight by surviving a suborbital mission aboard Mercury-Redstone 2. His grave features a small plaque and is often decorated with bananas left by admirers. The museum’s garden setting provides a peaceful final frontier for this unsung hero of the Space Race.
