Nevada is rich in colorful history, but many of the most colorful stories aren’t taught in school. From a dancing robot to a “botched” burglary, here are 12 insane things that happened in Nevada—and you won’t find this stuff in your history books.
- Michael Jackson almost built an enormous moonwalking robot in the desert.
Pixabay / janeb13 While living in Las Vegas, Michael Jackson gave his gloved thumbs up to plans to build a 50-foot-tall robot that would moonwalk through the desert and advertise his comeback tour, according to MTV.
- Three drunk dudes allegedly killed one of the rarest fish on earth.
Flickr / Pacific Southwest Region USFWS Earlier this year, three men on a drunken bender allegedly killed an endangered pupfish. The men trespassed on Devil’s Hole in the Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge (a detached area of Death Valley), littered the area with beer cans, vomit, underwear and 10 rounds of bullets, and possibly killed at least one of the tiny, blue pupfish. Evidence includes footage from an underwater pupfish cam.
- Someone cut down the beloved Middlegate shoe tree.
Wikimedia / Famartin Roadside attractions everywhere weeped when the Giant Shoe Tree was chopped down. The unknown vandal who toppled the beloved cottonwood was never apprehended. Fortunately for those driving along U.S. 50, the “Loneliest Road in America,” a new tree has become the keeper of footwear (pictured above). It’s located about 60 feet from the original.
- A dog was elected mayor of Reno for the day.
Facebook / SPCA of Northern Nevada The city elected a former SPCA of Northern Nevada shelter dog named Everett mayor for the day on Feb. 11, 2016, in order to bring attention to the plight of homeless animals. His day involved being shuttled around via limousine for photo opportunities around town. Everett was sent home with a doggie bag containing 60 pounds of dog food, food bowl and deluxe dog bed.
- Prostitutes endorsed Hillary Clinton for U.S. President.
Flickr / Marc Nozell They went Pimpin’ for Paul in 2008 and 2012 when they endorsed Libertarian Ron Paul for president. Now the workers at Nevada’s Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel in Mound House are Hookers for Hillary, endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
- A man had a heart attack at the Heart Attack Grill.
Flickr / Curtis Garbutt A regular customer at the downtown Las Vegas Heart Attack Grill died of an apparent heart attack outside of the restaurant on Fremont Street. Heart Attack Grill’s slogan is “a burger to die for.”
- A KFC marketing ploy was seen from outer space.
Wikimedia / Bill Olen In 2006, the fast-food fried chicken joint claimed to have the first company logo visible from space when it created a giant version of Colonel Sanders out of snap-lock tiles in Rachel. It was removed in 2007. 8. This
Water defied gravity at the Hoover Dam in Boulder City. 9. And this A bear at Animal Ark in Reno played tether ball like a champ.
- Mob victims were possibly buried in the unofficial Boulder City pet cemetery.
Flickr / Miss Shari No one is quite sure when this unofficial cemetery in the middle of the desert off U.S. 95 was established, though some attribute its creation to a 1950s-era Boulder City veterinarian named Marwood Doud. The cemetery was illegally built in the middle of federal land, now owned by Boulder City. It is rumored to be a burial ground for Mafia victims masquerading as dead pets.
- A man captured a UFO in the Nevada desert.
Flickr / maxime raynal In 2011, a man caught a shiny unidentified flying object while hunting in a rural area of western Nevada. It turned out to be a broken JP Aerospace high-altitude balloon meant to carry a science experiment to space.
- “Vegas Chips” truck was held up by clueless burglar.
Wikimedia / Evan-Amos Vegas Chips were delicious. They also had a clever name. Apparently too clever. In 1992, a story broke about two burglars who robbed a Vegas Chips truck thinking it contained gaming chips. Everybody laughed at the silly burglars. Sadly, this turned out to be a hoax perpetrated by the driver, according to the AP.
If you enjoyed reading about these 12 insane things from Nevada’s history, you might also enjoy The 13 Weirdest And Strangest Things That Have Ever Happened In Nevada.
Pixabay / janeb13
While living in Las Vegas, Michael Jackson gave his gloved thumbs up to plans to build a 50-foot-tall robot that would moonwalk through the desert and advertise his comeback tour, according to MTV.
Flickr / Pacific Southwest Region USFWS
Earlier this year, three men on a drunken bender allegedly killed an endangered pupfish. The men trespassed on Devil’s Hole in the Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge (a detached area of Death Valley), littered the area with beer cans, vomit, underwear and 10 rounds of bullets, and possibly killed at least one of the tiny, blue pupfish. Evidence includes footage from an underwater pupfish cam.
Wikimedia / Famartin
Roadside attractions everywhere weeped when the Giant Shoe Tree was chopped down. The unknown vandal who toppled the beloved cottonwood was never apprehended. Fortunately for those driving along U.S. 50, the “Loneliest Road in America,” a new tree has become the keeper of footwear (pictured above). It’s located about 60 feet from the original.
Facebook / SPCA of Northern Nevada
The city elected a former SPCA of Northern Nevada shelter dog named Everett mayor for the day on Feb. 11, 2016, in order to bring attention to the plight of homeless animals. His day involved being shuttled around via limousine for photo opportunities around town. Everett was sent home with a doggie bag containing 60 pounds of dog food, food bowl and deluxe dog bed.
Flickr / Marc Nozell
They went Pimpin’ for Paul in 2008 and 2012 when they endorsed Libertarian Ron Paul for president. Now the workers at Nevada’s Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel in Mound House are Hookers for Hillary, endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
Flickr / Curtis Garbutt
A regular customer at the downtown Las Vegas Heart Attack Grill died of an apparent heart attack outside of the restaurant on Fremont Street. Heart Attack Grill’s slogan is “a burger to die for.”
Wikimedia / Bill Olen
In 2006, the fast-food fried chicken joint claimed to have the first company logo visible from space when it created a giant version of Colonel Sanders out of snap-lock tiles in Rachel. It was removed in 2007. 8. This
Water defied gravity at the Hoover Dam in Boulder City. 9. And this A bear at Animal Ark in Reno played tether ball like a champ.
8. This
9. And this
Flickr / Miss Shari
No one is quite sure when this unofficial cemetery in the middle of the desert off U.S. 95 was established, though some attribute its creation to a 1950s-era Boulder City veterinarian named Marwood Doud. The cemetery was illegally built in the middle of federal land, now owned by Boulder City. It is rumored to be a burial ground for Mafia victims masquerading as dead pets.
Flickr / maxime raynal
In 2011, a man caught a shiny unidentified flying object while hunting in a rural area of western Nevada. It turned out to be a broken JP Aerospace high-altitude balloon meant to carry a science experiment to space.
Wikimedia / Evan-Amos
Vegas Chips were delicious. They also had a clever name. Apparently too clever. In 1992, a story broke about two burglars who robbed a Vegas Chips truck thinking it contained gaming chips. Everybody laughed at the silly burglars. Sadly, this turned out to be a hoax perpetrated by the driver, according to the AP.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
