There are loads of traditional attractions all over Wyoming, from the Grand Tetons to our magnificent national parks and forests. However, we also have quite a collection of unique, unusual, and, well, downright weird things to see, too. From sand dunes that sing to half-skinned dinosaurs, here are 11 bizarre and fascinating things you'll see Only In Wyoming.
1. Killpecker Sand Dunes, Red Desert, north of Rock Springs
It may be surprising enough to find a desert oasis in the mountainous state of Wyoming, but that's not even the half of it. The sand dunes in this desert sing. The grains of sand in the Killpecker dunes are smoother than your everyday run-of-the-mill sand. As the round, polished grains move against each other, either when people walk on them or the wind blows over them, it produces a whistling sound. It's a phenomenon that happens in only 7 locations in the world, and Wyoming is one of them.
2. Boar's Tusk at the Killpecker Sand Dunes
As long as you're at the Killpecker Dunes, you may as well check out the other oddity the site has to offer. Boar's Tusk is one of the few variations of the mostly flat terrain of the desert area, so you're not likely to miss it. It looks like a giant tooth (thus, the name), but it's really what's left of an extinct volcano.
3. World's Biggest Jackalopes, Douglas
The residents of Douglas are particularly fond of Wyoming's unofficial state mammal, so much so that they've erected not one but two of the largest monuments in the world to the arguably mythical creatures.
4. Another Big Jackalope, Dubois
With Douglas and Dubois on opposite sides of the state, you have equal opportunity to see a big jackalope no matter where you are. The one in Dubois is a huge stuffed creature inside a convenience store. It's sporting a saddle so visitors can climb aboard and have their pictures taken for posterity.
5. Double-Decker Outhouse, Encampment
Encampment (aka Grand Encampment) used to be a booming copper mining center. Today the small town is mostly a historical park and museum where visitors can take a step back in time to learn about Wyoming's mining history. One of the popular attractions here is the two-story outhouse, built to make it easier to "go" when the snow was particularly deep back before the days of indoor plumbing.
6. Prairie Dog Village, Devil's Tower
The Devil's Tower is one of Wyoming's most unusual attractions, but this another case where your visit gets you a two-fer one. The entry road leading up to the tower is flanked by fields filled with prairie dogs. Many tourists find them distractingly adorable, and some even claim the little critters are the best part of the visit.
7. The Disappearing River, Sinks Canyon State Park
The Popo Agie River runs through Sinks Canyon, but it does more than flow. It actually disappears into a cave where it seems to end abruptly. It took scientific tests to find out that the river doesn't truly vanish, but re-emerges some distance away in a huge pool known as the Rise. There's still an unsolved mystery, however. The Rise gets filled with more water than comes out of the Sink, and no one has yet figured out where the excess water comes from.
8. Tree in the Rock, Buford
Right along I-80, near where the railroad was built by the tiny town of Buford, is an oddity over a century old. It's there where railroad workers found a tree growing out of a crack in a boulder. It was fascinating enough back then for the crew to alter the railway path slightly to allow the determined little tree to continue growing where Nature had planted it, and it's still there today.
9. Half-Dressed Life-Sized T-Rex, Casper
Outside the Tate Geological Museum is a 15-foot-high bronze statue of a Tyrannosaurus. One side appears covered with reptilian skin, and the other side is an open skeleton. Originally, the insides were illuminated with LED lights, but it's been several years since visitors have seen this dinosaur glow.
10. World's Largest Antler Arch, Afton
The stretch of HWY-89 that serves as the gateway to Afton is marked by the largest elkhorn arch in the world. Rising 18 feet high and spanning 75 feet across, it took more than 3,000 antlers to create this iconic Wyoming attraction.
11. Solitary Big Boy, Wapiti
Out in the middle of nowhere, along North Fork Highway near Wapiti, stands a Big Boy statue. No one knows where it came from or why. It simply appeared in the summer of 2013, concrete pedestal and all, with no explanation.
Which of these oddities have you seen? Is one of them your favorite?
What other weird attractions have you visited in Wyoming?
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