Goldwell Open Air Museum

This is a nice detour to visit if you are staying in Beatty and have some time to kill in between trips to Death Valley. Definitely recommend checking out the outdoor sculptures. The desert makes for a nice backdrop when taking photos

I randomly stumbled upon this place on my drive to the Tom Kelly Bottle House. It’s located in Rhyolite and is a unique art project worth checking out! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be respectful of the art! This is such a cool spot that needs to be preserved. The museum accepts donations and has free pamphlets explaining all of the artwork. You are able to take photos/videos for personal use, but need permission from the museum for commercial use. Such a random museum in the middle of Nevada that you need to checkout if you’re passing through!

Goldwell Museum is the kind of place you walk into, look around, and instantly understand why the entrance fee is zero. The only thing you pay here is your time, and even that feels like a bold investment. There are literally four things to see. First is the giant blonde statue that looks like a cursed LEGO minifigure doing a dramatic proposal pose. Then you get a row of bleached Nazguls standing around like they are waiting for Frodo to clock in.. None of it is terrible, but none of it is interesting either. It feels like someone started an art park, quit halfway, and just left everything out in the desert to sunburn for a decade. The best thing about the Goldwell Museum is absolutely the price. Free. You look, you shrug, you leave. The scenery around it is nicer than the art itself, which is never a great sign. Worth a quick walk if you are already in Rhyolite. Not worth detouring for.

Unique art experience out in the desert. Before you do quick research about the different pieces of art displayed to understand their significance. It will make a big difference in how you experience the displays. There is a small visitor center but we did not go in.

Its cool to see. I only wish there was more art :). The shop keeper was really sweet and information about the art being sold. Theres beautiful prints and post cards of the local sky's and structures.

For me, the statues are the reason for stopping. The statues with the Ryolite ruins, makes for a fun visit if you like such things. You can throw the Bullfrog Cemetary in for good measure, but not much there.

Really interesting ghost town. Lots of information, the museum is really neat. Everything is free.

Great place for some unique art. Interesting concepts and really well done for photo ops. There is a lot of nature around, so dress accordingly. As for times, it's up to you, find a point where the photos will look great.

I can't believe I never reviewed this museum. I was there so long ago but anyways here are some details. My husband woke me up for a surprise visit to Rhyolite Ghost Town, this museum and a quick drive thru of Death Valley on a Saturday morning. It takes a little over an hour and half to get here from Las Vegas on US 95 North. The museum is free and open This museum consists of seven large scale sculptures and installations. It was created in 1984 by a group of artists. This includes the work of the late Albert Szukalski's - The Last Supper. The Last Supper is almost haunting the way the figures are posed. There have been six additional pieces added from Belgian artists since the creation of this museum. All the sculptures are very unique and interesting standing out here in the harsh desert of Amargosa Valley. They are well preserved even with the elements striking them all year long. Some of the older sculptures include Ghost Rider - 1984, Lady Desert the Venus of Nevada - 1992, Tribute to Shorty Harris 1994, Serving Ghost 1984, Medicine Wheel which is a labyrinth. Since I have been there, other permanent sculptures and installations have been added so I guess a return trip is in order. Only in Nevada do we have these unusual places to visit! Check it out!

This open are art museum is right next to the disappointing (for me at least) Rhyolyte ghost town. It feathers several outdoor installations that are juxtaposed against the starkness of the desert. I found them to be quirky and interesting and it made for good photography. The small office was closed but you can wander to your hearts content. It is really hot however, in direct sun most of the time with little shade and aside from the close town of Beatty, there are no services here.

Middle of nowhere outdoor museum [Beatty NV] We took a little detour on our way to Las Vegas to revisit the ruins of the Rhyolite Ghost Town. If there's one place Nevada stands out are the very cool and accessible ghost towns. Our first time here was 11 years ago in 2013. The open air art gallery is a nonprofit organization located just below the remains of Rhyolite and is free to visit. Seemed like such a weird location to find giant sculptures but It was a perfect place at the same time with no distractions. The small old building stood in the middle and was open at that time we first came here but this last visit the museum was closed. The sculptures are still well preserved. A group of prominent Belgian artists, led by the late Albert Szukalski, created the outdoor sculptures. Today, there are seven outdoor sculptures (about a dozen total art installations) around the museum including the famous ghostly life-sized figures called "The Last Supper" and the ghost with the bike called "Ghost Rider.". Also, the circular labyrinth is still intact. Review #3528

OMG! This is the most amazing place. This was the first time we have been there but it won't be the last. We so enjoyed looking at all the displays. Be sure to go inside the information building. There are pictures for sale that were taken by local resident ( that is also the volunteer) at the museum. They are magnificent we bought 2 .

Free open air museum. It's a nonprofit organization and some interesting art? Ghostly statues depicting the last supper... it's something interesting to look at to pass the time. It is worth a stop and look at if you're heading to Rhyolite...

small open air art museum/ art installation in the desert. Free but accepts donations. There are sculptures and ghost town and house made from glass bottles all in this area. We flew into Vegas and were driving to Lake Tahoe which is a long drive but googled what there was to do along the way and this caught my eye. The white sculptures were so haunting ... somewhere between creepy, interesting and beautiful. They don't mind you getting close even touching or posing inside the sculptures ... which i was surprised. I would figure there would be signs up saying to not touch the art for fear of damaging it. The surrounding mountains and desert were lovely backdrop ... and close by wild donkeys roomed around ... so cute wish Id had food to offer them.

This was an awesome open air museum that my wife and I got to experience while we were in the area. I didn't really know what to expect. I just know it was hot and sandy in the middle of nowhere desert. And came across all these cool statues in public are displays and it was awesome.

This is an excellent stop when visiting the Death Valley or even a visit on its own. It is very easy to access and free ! Here you can find a "maze" on the ground made by rocks. The ghostly figures, a huge metal miner figure, a large "Lego" like figure, a colorful chair and some other sculptures. Definitely recommend to anyone to visit. Well worth it !!

Just outside Beatty, NV is a unique, creative place that is a MUST see if you are visiting or passing through - just make a point of coming to see The Goldwell Open Air Museum. Open 24/7 and FREE this self-guided outdoor art exhibit will have you frolicking about the hillside as you hop from one piece to the next. Off the beaten path is exactly what this 15-acre site was dreaming of when they placed these larger than life art pieces here. We had the best time capturing our photop moments with Charles Albert Szukalski pieces The Last Supper and Ghost Rider, 25 foot Lady Desert: The Venus of Nevada made of cinder blocks, 24 foot miner & penguin (waddle-waddle) anddd lounging on Sit Here! the mosiac tile couch absolutely exquiste and unique little things we found laid permenantely in it to include Mickey Mouse lol Definitely a FUN, playful stop that is a MUST! Enjoy the beautiful art pieces and get some unique photographs.

If you're going to visit a Ghost Town (Rhyolite), why not have a Ghost Museum just before city limits? The ghostly creations contrast well with the barren high desert, and it's easy to wander around and admire the various sculptures. One even has a passing resemblance to The Big Cheeto.

If you visit Rhyolite and see some beautiful sculptures in the desert near by, wonder no more! It's the Goldwell Open Air Museum! Check it out! It's open 24 hours, 7 days a week and it has a small parking lot. Free to visit, pick up a pamphlet for a self guided tour! Check their site for more info! The Visitor center is closed due to Covid! I love art and art installation in the desert and I was eager to check it out and visit it! The sculptures are big, beautiful unique. You see a modern, creepy version of "The Last Supper" by Belgian Artist Albert Szukalski (who also created "The Ghost Rider", a "Venus of Nevada" by Hugo Heyrman with the Amargosa Valley as a background. Places like these are unique and we need to cherish them. Creative people with cool ideas turned empty, remote areas like this one into a cool destination. If you visit Beatty and/or Death Valley, make Goldwell Open Air Museum a stop on the itinerary alongside Rhyolite! Breathtaking vistas and art, a match made in heaven!

Shout out to Yelp Elite Extraordinaire, Terri C., whose review and photos are what prompted me to plan a trip out here. We loaded up on audiobooks and podcasts for the roughly three-hour round trip drive from Vegas, and this museum was the highlight. This museum on it's own isn't likely to take more than half an hour to tour, so stop by the nearby Ghost Town up the road (separate review). First, stop by the museum store. Even if it's not open, grab a brochure from the mailbox by the door to guide your visit with more info about each work. If you decide to take photos with the art, be respectful of the piece and do not touch it, try to finish quickly if others are waiting, and move aside so you're not in other visitors' photos. Would love to see them expand and add other works here.

The Goldwell Open Air Museum is both captivating and terrifying as you experience sculptures placed in the middle of the desert, near the Ghost Town of Rhyolite. I have to say, making this drive out here was WELL WORTH the effort and had plenty more to see once we finished up. Location? The nearby town of Beatty is just a hop-and-skip away from the museum and right next to Rhyolite, a ghost town that did it's best to fight against the tides of time but failed miserably. The town, now left in ruins, has this museum at its entrance so you literally can't miss it. If you're coming from Vegas, just take the 95 northbound... and continue northbound for an hour or so till you see Beatty. Stop there, grab some snacks, and head on over. The Museum Can somebody say, FREE? Because it is, day-in and day-out. Bring lots of space and battery so you can take pictures with the sculptures because you'll find them incredibly strange. I have to say, it feels creepy as though you are looking at dementors from Harry Potter and they've invaded life as we know it. There are several other pieces to be seen such as the Lady of the Desert Venus. Be respectful and enjoy the backsplash of endless desert while you peruse the different artworks. The Verdict? A MUST-SEE! The drive is a bit far off from civilization as we know it, but I would highly recommend making this a National Park trip as well seeing as Death Valley National Park is located right next door (Seems to fit the atmosphere, wouldn't you say?). Bring water, a good camera, snacks, and prepare to read also about some of the inhabitants of a city lost to the world. Excellent display of the past that captures the creepy essence of people during an era that thought it had more to offer to the world but fell short to the harsh realities of life; war.

Fun little place in the middle of nowhere. I was entertained and really enjoyed the exhibit. If you're going to the ghost town, stop here too and make a friendly donation also!

This is an absolute must see! I'll admit, I'm not normally drawn to art or museums of such. However, a friend of mine wanted to check this out, along with the "ghost town" next door, on our way home from a camping trip out at Death Valley. So I went along for the ride, and I'm glad I did. These pieces or art (some created since before I was born) were very unique and cool to check out.

Touristy and strange, this open air museum is in the middle of nowhere-- a pleasant thing, certainly, when you're enjoying the open areas around Death Valley. Our big group of men, women, and children mobbed this spot on our way to the nearby ghost town. The ecclectic art, featured in stark contrast against the backdrop of the desert, actually caught the attention of my kids. A bizarre "Last Supper"-like sculpture of ghosts was climb-worthy, and the kids ran all over the place without any parental worry that they would break something or set off a proximity alarm. The proprietor played some kind of native flute inside a small building on the property, while we wandered around looking g for photo ops. Kudos to the visionary artists who sculpted the cinder block goddess... years ahead of their time, and similar digital art in the Minecraft and Roblox realms. Yo can skip this and it wouldn't ruin your life. Or stop by and grab a few pics... maybe get a Yelp check in. Honestly, my favorite "feature" was the old metal objects--oil cans, furniture, etc.-- weathering in a strangely beautiful way in the extreme desert conditions.

What a great stop. Fascinating art and great walk. Definitely will visit again. The small museum showed how the art was put together while using locals.

Really fun to admire the sculptures in the desert, and it is next to a ghost town! It's eerily quiet here but we bumped into other visitors near the end of our visit.

I have visited this open air museum several times over the past few years, and it gets better and better! I love the modern, quirky art pieces in the middle of the desert and Ryolithe Ghost Town and the way some of them stand out against the desolate landscape is truly unique.

Cool Place! Its definitely a Go for Road Trips My family love it and enjoyed the place.

Mood - something different Just a simple drive from Vegas. Under 2 hours on the 95 north. The musuem is free for all to enjoy, it is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Upon entering, your coming up thru a gravel road and then you see the large picturesque statues for your eyes to feast on. Depending on the time you arrive the visitor station may be closed, as it is closed on Sundays. There are several trails and paths to walk to enjoy all of these amazing pieces. The museum first started in 1984 with the creation of The Last Supper by artist Albert Szukalski. These are life size sculptures all thru out the designated area, plus additional pieces that have been added thru the years. The museum encourages you to get up close and personal with sculptures, however be mindful as this is art meant to be enjoyed by everyone and not destroyed. I would def recommend Location is Beatty, NV - ample parking

Rhyolite/Beatty, Nevada. The Goldwell Museum is on the path to Rhyolite Ghost Town/Mine. The wicked exhibit features unique statues with Jesuit/Catholic impressions such as the monk attire and last supper motif. The Last Supper per Da Vinci's mural painting in Milan not so much an accurate description of Jewish table etiquette. The faceless statues can be eerie, but, jolly with the props & colors. Really wicked. They also have some witchcraft looking circle to symbolize something. For you people who have half a brain, walking in a specific manner, self mutilation or praying some sequential mantra over and over again won't do anything. Those antics are just foolish and it's basically hypnosis, or a placebo. Access/Roads: C Roads are mostly paved with some rough spots. Parking: C The separate parking lot for this exhibit is rough as hell. Distance: F Located in the mid point of Beatty, NV & Furnace Creek area of Death Valley NP, CA. Las Vegas, NV - 120 miles South @ 3 hours. Tonopah, NV - 100 miles north @ 1.5 hours. Bishop, CA - 160 miles west @ 3 hours. Stuff is far as hell as you can see. Beatty is a puny town with a gas station, casino, overpriced/crap food, and burros. Costs: A Free. Nearby Attractions: F Dirt. Donkeys/Burros. and more dirt. The Rhyolite Ghost Town/Mine is walking distance. Conclusion: A Unique exhibit in the middle of UFO country. What else can you ask for?

Rhyolite Ghost Town is a neat little spot just a few minutes outside of Death Valley. This open air museum is the reason why I wanted to check out Rhyolite. You have all kinds of different art pieces scattered throughout the area, and you have one gentleman who runs the museum that can answer all any questions regarding the masterpieces, and even the history of Rhyolite. He can even play a mean flute too! Take a drive, explore another spot in Nevada with a group of people, and you can take lots of cool pictures here. Kinda has that "Hills Have Eyes" feel to it. ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 5

What: outside art installation consisting of several cool, creepy sculptures. Great picture opportunities. Good place to take visiting family. Location: From Henderson, go 15 North, to 95 to 374. We followed Google Maps and for some reason off the 95 it cut us through some Airport Rd. which goes by a small airport to get to 374. Do NOT go this way! The road is unpaved and it was unnecessary to go this way. Just stay on 95 until it connects with 374. You will see the sign for Rhyolite and just turn right in. Took us about 2+ hours. Bathroom: Cleanest pit toilet ever! Go past the museum, located in Rhyolite Ghost Town across from the train station at the end of the road. There's signage. Don't be scared! Note: There are 2 different places near each other - Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Open Air Museum (the outside art installations) so do 2 different reviews people! We spent about an 1 hour total seeing both sites (they are right next to each other.)

Highways, sprawl, modern and historic ghost towns, abandoned vehicles, legal and illegal dumps, canals, mining operations, and roaming livestock are just a few of the many indicators of human relationships to landscape and space. The Goldwell Open Air Museum offers an alternative to such market-driven mark making. In urban environments, it's not unusual to see large-scale art at the entrance to municipal buildings and shopping centers. Often called plop art, these works serve mostly financial and space-filling purposes, plopped into random locations free of meaningful spatial context. They do not typically address, nor are inspired by the environments they occupy. While some succeed in doing so much more than others, the site-specific works you'll encounter at the Goldwell Museum directly implicate their surroundings, and would be completely empty if not for the desert context in which they exist. This is work about space and place, a space and place that happens to be nuzzled up against an historic ghost town at the edge of an unrelenting, sky-filled void, with an atmospherically crisp quality of light. The free, self-guided outdoor museum presents permanent works and installations spread across nearly 8 acres. It seems the well-curated collection of work grows in spurts every few years. If it's been a while since your last visit, the new Portone by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya is a stunner, dancing in color and shadow rhythm with the arcing sun. Other reviews, especially those of Rhyolite, would lead you to believe the Goldwell Museum is in some way an extension of Rhyolite. It most certainly is not. Rather, the Goldwell Open Air Museum is Rhyolite's counterpoint. If Rhyolite provides a glimpse into the past, the Goldwell Museum asks questions of our future- among them, can art change the world? While it may be too early to tell, what is clear is that the Goldwell Museum presents the possibility to better understand the responsibilities we carry as we interact with the spaces we occupy. That may not in and of itself be change, be it's a solid start.

One of the most unique places I have ever travelled to! I work diligently at finding "off the beaten path" places to explore on our adventures and this place did not disappoint! We made it here near dusk and I will say that some of the displays were a bit creepy in the shadowy afternoon. This is a gem of a place in the Nevada desert. Well worth the stop. Plan for about an hour or more if you really want to read and explore. And don't forget to head over to the historic buildings in the ghost town of Rhyolite which is right next door!

We finally took the 120 mile drive from Vegas out to Rhyolite Ghost Town to visit this unique open air sculpture park. I've had it bookmarked for a long time and I'm so glad we made the trip. This outdoor museum was founded by Belgian artist Albert Szukalski in 1984 with his creation of "The Last Supper." The ghostly figures are a striking piece of art with the Amargosa Valley as the backdrop. Over the years, three other Belgian artists have added more pieces, as well as a Dutch artist who did "Beauty of Decay," plus a piece created as part of an artist-in-residence program by the Lied Discovery Children's Museum ("Sit Here!). My favorite piece is "Ghost Rider," another shrouded figure with a bicycle created by the late Szukalski. The other works are "Lady Desert, The Venus of Nevada," a take on Venus de Milo, the "Serving Ghost," "Tribute to Shorty Harris," a legendary Rhyolite prospector, "Sheet Metal Origami Crane," and "Icara," a female version of Icarus. The museum is free to the public and open 24/7. Make sure to take time to walk to what remains of Rhyolite, a mining town that saw its most active years in the early 1900s.

Sculpted by Albert Szukalski in 1984, this sculpture still stands at the edge of the Rhyolite Ghost Town. We stopped the car just outside the structure and took photos during a close walk up. Place this under the categories of interesting, folk art, quirky, Americana.

What a super different experience and just 2 hours away from Vegas. Old coworkers and I were off for the day and decided to take a day trip somewhere. We didn't want to drive to Zion so, we searched high and low on Instagram and found this gem. Drove couple hours and ended up, literally, in the middle of the desert with art pieces nestled between a couple mountains. It was very surreal. Add the clouds and blue sky to this, it was amazing! My favorite piece, surely, was The Last Supper. This art installation consists of ghostly life-sized forms arranged like Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' painting. Artist Albert Szukalski used plaster soaked burlap over live models until the plaster dried enough to stand on its own. it was beautifully eerie. Really felt like one of the "molds" would jump out. Szukalski has a couple other ghostly art installations there but, nothing as dramatic as The Last Supper.

The outdoor museum was open, very interesting to walk and read the brochure in self guided tour. The small building was closed. Take an hours and walk into old ghost town of Rhyolite NV and read about the towns history, among the ruins and enjoy lunch at picnic table. Beijing hiking boots and hat, it would be sunny and hot in summer. Worth the self guided visit!

Worth a stop, in my opinion, although I'm partial to quirky attractions. If you're in the Death Valley area, I'd recommend checking out the ghost town of Rhyolite, NV, just outside of DV National Park, which was once a thriving mining community. There are a few ruins scattered about in Rhyolite and this open air museum is the first thing you'll see before you get to the ruins. I had no idea it was even there so it was a pleasant surprise. + Cool photo opportunities here. + Interesting art especially the ghostly interpretation of The Last Supper by Albert Szukalski. + Beautiful backdrop. + Free. + Museum is always open although the gift shop building was closed when we went (it was a Sunday afternoon).

The art is fun but nothing I'd go out of my way for. My girlfriend really liked it though and we got some fun pictures.

Interesting site, and worth seeing. I loved the art in the middle of no where. Right by a ghost town that is cool to see.

Random & quirky! Talk about a fun time! Maybe this isn't for everybody & some might say this isn't art but the best thing about art is that ~ perception of beauty is subjective. Out in the middle of nowhere you'll find yourself wondering about the artist & people who put these things out here. Seeing things like this surrounded by the desert & mountains makes them even more special. The museum began in 1984 and the first sculpture to go up was "The Last Supper" by Albert Szukalski. It's a beautiful & moving piece and the backdrop of the Nevada desert is perfection. Located just feet away from the ghost town of Rhyolite (another interesting spot) visiting both locations is a very cool experience. The museum is open 7 days a week & 24 hours a day. For my Vegas yelpers, it's a 2 hour drive and just 10 mins away from Death Valley which is another amazing national park worth visiting. There isn't enough time in one single day to see everything but a weekend getaway would be perfect for all three sites. Get out & explore. Most importantly have fun...

I just love this place. Been there now twice and it's always a magical feeling. I love how the art compliments ​the fantastic landscape it is surrounded​ by and how it opens up conversations among visitors. One day I would love to spend some more time there, just me, the desert and its ghosts. If you're on the way to the death valley, it is worth to stop here for a bit, visit the ghost town and enjoy the displayed artworks.

A very interesting place located right between the ghost towns of Rhyolite and Bullfrog. The visitor center is not always open, but since it is an "open air" museum, you are able to visit anytime. Please keep the sites separate in your reviews and in your mind, they have little to do with each other...It is free though, so I will keep most of my complaining to a minimum. :) There are several art sculptures scattered around a small piece of land for you to explore. I'm honestly not sure this place would be worth going to explore if it weren't for the very close by additional attractions. It's not that I don't enjoy art, I just did not see anything here that "blew me away" in any visual or experiential way. We were also a little weirded out by the man who oversees the art. He was sitting on a chair right outside the door to the little building/visitor center. We walked around the art, took some pictures and then got back in our car and left. As we were getting into our car to leave, he took out his camera and took pictures of us getting into our car. It was a very odd experience. Check it out if you're at Rhyolite anyway, but it's not worth a special trip of any kind in my opinion. 2016 Yelp 100 Review Challenge #45

If you are visiting Death Valley NP it is worth making an easy half day visit to Rhyolite. This fascinating museum and the Rhyolite ghost town can be combined with lunch in Beatty for a fun afternoon.

Quirky art meets beautiful surroundings! Though the gift shop was not open when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon, outdoor brochures were available to learn more about the art installations. A great place to see something unique and grab more than a few selfies unlike most your friends will have. Check out the giant desert Venus looks like something right out of pixels or Minecraft!

What a beautiful place to visit. Arts of work in the open for people to enjoy. There's a story for each piece. The gentleman that works the trailer was very friendly and had an abundance of information about the artwork. He also plays the flute beautifully! I love this place I would highly recommend visiting. Also you can drive around the little ghost town.

Somewhere between Death Valley, Area 51, and Las Vegas stands a woman. She's blond and naked, about twenty five feet tall, and looks to be made of Lego's. No, really, I don't make this stuff up. The Goldwell Open Air Museum defines iconic: the perfect mix of "WTF?" and "This is awesome!" Situated just below Rhyolite (perhaps the world's most photogenic ghost town) is a collections of sculptures and art pieces placed right on the desert floor. No shelter, no tour guides, no entry fees. Just Lego chick, Jesus and his disciples, a giant penguin, and various other three dimensional oddities. There is a small house that serves as a visitors center, but it was closed when I visited. Chances are you won't run into many other people while out here, which adds to the character. When I visited, there was a group of three guys chilling on the back of their SUV, plucking an acoustic guitar and working leisurely through an ice chest of cold beer. It's that kind of place.

Before I start the review...The Goldwell Open Air Museum is right next to the ghost town of Rhyolite...it is not actually in Beatty, but just a few miles outside. Its summer, so that means I am thinking of traveling. One of the best day trips from Vegas is to Rhyolite and the Goldwell Open Air Museum. The museum itself, as the name implies, is an outdoor art gallery. The primary works at Goldwell are by the late Belgian artist Albert Szukalski. The different pieces are all very unique. The museum also houses visiting artists and they have events listed on their webpage if you want to experience those artists. The museum is staffed by volunteers, and on our trip, we chatted with the two volunteers for about 3 hours before we headed back to Vegas. It was one of my most memorable times I've had since moving out here. There is a small shop at the museum that has some unique pictures of the pieces, as well as other items. Art is very subjective, so you may not like what Goldwell has to offer. I enjoyed the art, for its whimsy and mysteriousness. This is definitely on my list of places to take visitors, and I am excited for my next trip out this way.

Our main destination on our trip to Rhyolite was the nearby ghost town, but we had seen pictures of this quirky little sculpture garden and of course we needed to stop by. I saw the other lukewarm and even negative reviews about this place, which I find rather curious. I mean, consider where you are - you're not in San Francisco or New York or Paris. You're in the middle of the high plains of Nevada. To have this kind of high quality art in this location is a treat. Sure, it's small, but we still spent a long time just examining the sculpture and discussing how they were created. The building was closed when we visited - not sure when the hours are, but we were there on a weekday morning. I definitely recommend a visit to this place if you're in Death Valley, with the Rhyolite ghost town as the other destination. it's part of the history and culture of a fascinating part of the United States.

I loved this little museum. I wanted to see the ghost last supper so we made the trek from Vegas. About an hour and 50 minutes to Rhyolite ghost town. Definitely worth the drive if you are a fan of ghost towns or installation art pieces. There's actually a lot of individual things to see here. We spent about 2.6 hours exploring the area and taking pictures. The man at the visitors center played the flute which was a great experience and the sculptures are beautiful. On our way to the graveyard we even encountered a herd of wild donkeys. The old buildings are a great site and there is plenty of information about the town and the buildings to wet those with historical appetites. Overall a fantastic experience.

If you are down for a 2hr drive from Las Vegas to here than go for it! This is absolutely great for a family adventure. The good thing about this is that it's never packed because not so many people like to be out in the sun or heat depending around what time you go. It is free for the public but please be kind and keep it clean. I enjoyed reading about its history and the creativity behind it. This for sure is crossed out of my bucket list.

This place is a photgrapher's dream. Another "Weird Las Vegas and Nevada" book discovery I've made, the "museum" is about an hour and a half north of Vegas. The place is near Beatty, and just down the street from the local brothel one one side, Death Valley on the other. I love ghost towns. There's something just so inherently cool about exploring the ruins of a locale long since passed. And there are a ton of oddities here. As for Ryholite, the town itself only lasted about 15 years. From the Atari 2600/Lego naked lady sculpture, to the oddly decorated couch, the ghosts with bicycles, the bottle house, and the miners with their pet penguin, you won't be at a loss for the surreal. There are also a ton of run down houses and buildings out here (some creepier than others), and it can take a few hours to properly explore everything, so be careful on those hot days, bring water, and know in advance cell phone reception gets weird (the phones of my friends and I were automatically set two hours fast by unknown forces until we left Ryholite). What is nice is that one can explore at their own pace. Admission is free, no tour to stick to, and there is some literature that tells a little more about the unusual sculptures here. So come for the artwork, stay to also explore the little town that was and its adjoining graveyard (One person is 105 in there, so they really hung in for a while). It's definitely something to do if you're tired of all of the "Strip" fare, and want to try something that's undeniably unique.

Made a stop at Beatty, and had to see this open air museum. I stopped by around 12pm, and there were a few parked cars, so it wasn't busy. You could enjoy taking as many photos as you wanted without feeling rushed. There are really great and interesting art pieces located here. Sadly the store wasn't open when I was there, although they have a little mail box that had the museum pamphlets that described each art piece, who made it and what year. It's worth a stop just to see the uniqueness of this museum, and hey, it's free!

With only 7 outdoor sculptures, this was like a touristy roadside diversion in the middle of nowhere that took about 20 minutes to walk around. The experience was not much different than seeing the photos on Yelp. The museum is located alongside Rhyolite Ghost Town via an unpaved rocky road. The sculptures are always open, but the tiny museum building has regular business hours.

Strange.... that's not a word that begins to sum up this museum. When we came out to see the ghost town, this is what greets you first. A giant open air museum. No admission fee, no staff around. There are are like caster images of people with various props around, on a table, bicycles. There is a sitting chair from Las Vegas that looks like it was removed from Liberace's porch. You'll see this giant structure of a nude woman, with her privates very emphasized. I don't begin to fully understand it. I saw it last year, and I think there is a pamphlet or some papers that explain this unusual museum. Somehow it all fits out here, the edge of Death Valley, with the ghost town of Rhyolite beautifully perched off to the side. This place is worth a detour when traveling through.

Stopped by during a visit to rhyolite. Quirky, fun - a nice little diversion. Spent about 15 minutes here. There was a stone spiral path - I thought it was a labyrinth, but after a couple of revolutions, I realized it was just a spiral.