This Nevada Spot Is A Hidden Wonder: Tourist Gem Or Trap?
Nevada is home to many kooky and out-of-the box things.
We’re truly a state like no other. From the old mining towns to the glittering casino lights dotted around the state’s borders, it’s not surprising that some whacky tourist traps live here.
But, have you ever wondered about the hidden gems in our state? Stacker compiled a list of each state’s “hidden wonder,” and Nevada’s is pretty peculiar.
According to Stacker, one of the “hidden wonders” of Nevada is the Atomic Survival Town.
Now, what exactly is the Atomic Survival Town? Well in 1995, there were a series of 14 nuclear test explosions done in the Nevada desert — specifically at Yucca Flat, according to AtlasObscura.com. This was called Operation Teapot.
The testing site happened about 65 miles north of Las Vegas, according to TravelNevada.com. But the eerie element to these testing facilities is the “simulated towns.”
Throughout these nuclear test sites, the Federal Civil Defense Administration built “typical American communities.” These fake communities had houses, utility stations, cars, appliances, packaged food and even mannequins, according to Travel Nevada. During the test “Annie,” which was one of the first televised nuclear test, the mannequins even wore J.C. Penney clothing.
Scientists wanted to understand what happens if a “typical home” was exposed to an atomic blast, and “if a nuclear blast would affect the engine of the vehicles parked outside.” Overall, researches wanted to see how nuclear radiation and an atomic blast would change civilian life and “every-day goods.”
If you’re interested in checking out these former historical sites then you can actually take a tour of them! You just have to be OK with a little radiation. The Nevada National Security Site Tour is an official tour by the organization that takes participants to historical nuclear sites like Mercury, Frenchmen Flat, the Sedan Crater and other “atomic testing towns.”
Unfortunately all of the spots for 2023 are filled. But, be sure to check the website toward the end of the year for 2024’s opening spots.
