Buzz
Once more, we bring you our curated collection of peculiar discoveries that—if encountered in a sprawling virtual game—would instantly stand out as intentional oddities planted by developers to intrigue and surprise. Often tucked away in obscure or easily missed spots, these elements seem designed solely to make you pause and think, 'Well, that’s strange and fascinating.'
Without delay, here are more quirky secrets hidden across the globe, left behind by the playful, perhaps eccentric architects of reality itself.
10. The Salvador Dali Sundial
Salvador Dali, the surrealist genius, had a fascination with timepieces. While many link his name to dreamlike scenes featuring melting clocks draped over surreal objects, it’s no coincidence—time’s fluidity is a central motif in his art, which is deeply layered with symbolic meaning.
Art enthusiasts visiting or living in Paris will notice this unique piece—positioned above a bagel shop like a store sign—distinguishing itself from the city’s numerous sundials (and there are plenty). Inspired by Dali’s 'Self-Portrait Sundial,' it was personally designed by the artist and gifted to Paris in 1966. True to Dali’s style, it’s more artistic than practical, as it wasn’t intended to keep accurate time.
The artwork hangs above Rue Saint Jacques, a historic route for pilgrims traveling to Spain. Dali suggested that this journey was symbolically embedded in the piece’s design. While we won’t dispute his claim, we’ll let you interpret the symbolism for yourself.
9. The Surreal Elevator
In Long Island City, New York, there stands an unassuming office building that once served as a Macy’s warehouse. During its earlier days, the store attracted a distinctive clientele with a taste for surreal and avant-garde art, which once decorated its lobby and corridors. A remarkable example of this artistic legacy remains concealed in a rather surprising location.
At first glance, this freight elevator seems ordinary, but when its plain white doors open, they reveal a vibrant, psychedelic world filled with swirling colors and tiny mechanical figures peeking through openings in the walls. While the rest of the building has since been updated to a more traditional aesthetic, this striking relic of its past has been preserved for decades, serving as a tribute to a unique and bygone era.
Those searching for office space in this otherwise ordinary building might feel as though they’ve stepped into a scene from a Charlie Kaufman film. Another surviving art installation, located in a basement lobby, resembles a perpetually melting school bus. While equally bizarre and out of place, it likely doesn’t catch visitors off guard as dramatically as the elevator does.
8. The Garbage Goat Of Spokane
Spokane, Washington, is a city known for its commitment to environmental awareness. One of the most unusual expressions of this ethos can be found in Riverfront Park, which hosted the city’s Environmental Expo in 1974. More functional than decorative—and once a surprising source of debate—this large, metallic mechanical goat was crafted by Sister Paula Turnbull specifically for the expo. Designed to mimic the trash-eating habits of real goats, the sculpture features a recorded voice that asks for garbage. When a button is pressed, a powerful vacuum sucks the trash directly into the goat’s mouth. While charming, this quirky creation somehow managed to stir up controversy.
Local dairy farmers were less than thrilled about the portrayal of goats as mobile trash disposals. They argued that visitors were feeding garbage to their award-winning (real) goats and launched a campaign to educate the public about goats’ “refined dietary preferences.” Despite the garbage goat’s area being the cleanest part of the park, expo organizers temporarily deactivated the mechanical goat during the height of the dispute. Today, the goat is a highlight in Spokane’s efforts to woo Google; a promotional video features the goat while the narrator declares, “Spokane has a rich history of leveraging technology to enhance our community’s quality of life.” Best of luck, Spokane.
7. The Swing Of Eternity
A few hours’ hike from Banos, Ecuador, leads to a mountain where a simple tree house with a basic swing—made of two ropes and a wooden plank—awaits. However, this humble structure is more than it seems: it serves as a seismic monitoring station, strategically positioned near Mt. Tungurahua, a volcano that occasionally stirs to life.
The swing, however, is anything but ordinary. For thrill-seekers and those with a fear of heights, it’s the ultimate adrenaline challenge. There are no safety straps, and if you let go, there’s no safety net—just a sheer drop of thousands of feet down a cliff face. Locals refer to it as “The Swing At The End Of The World.”
This swing has become a major tourist draw, attracting visitors of all ages who take their nerve-wracking turn on the seemingly fragile wooden plank, swinging out over the vast chasm below. While no fatalities have been reported, and the panoramic views are undeniably breathtaking, we’d prefer to watch from a safe distance, palms sweating and hearts racing. After all, ropes can snap.
6. The Alien Postal Drop
If Nevada—home to the infamous Area 51—wants to shake off its reputation as a hub for extraterrestrial activity, it’s doing a poor job. State Route 375, located east of the renowned military base, has long been associated with UFO sightings and other unexplained phenomena. In 1996, the state embraced this reputation by officially dubbing it the “Extraterrestrial Highway.”
Along this desolate stretch of road lies the “Black Mailbox,” a name given by locals despite its white color. Originally a mailbox for workers at a tungsten quarry, it became famous for its enigmatic presence and for being the sole landmark on the 65-kilometer (40 mi) route between Alamo and Rachel. Robert Lazar, a controversial figure who claimed to have worked on alien spacecraft at Nellis Air Force Base in the late ’80s, added to the intrigue. Tourists flocked to Rachel (leading to the renaming of the “Rachel Bar and Grill” to “The Little A’Le’Inn”) to drink and then visit the Black Mailbox. It was rumored that UFOs could be spotted on Tuesday (or possibly Wednesday) nights, presumably making their deliveries.
Owner Steve Medlin fueled the fascination by padlocking the mailbox and painting “ALIEN DROP BOX” on its side. Enthusiasts from as far as Japan gather to speculate about what extraterrestrial goods might need to be delivered to this remote location by Wednesday noon.
5. The Church In The Basement
When Pat and Diane Farley, along with their son Gareth, settled into their new home in Shropshire, UK, they anticipated some quirks. The house, dating back to the mid-1700s, undoubtedly had a rich and varied history. What they didn’t expect was to discover that their home had once served as a secret Catholic church. This revelation came to light only after Gareth and his uncle, during a tipsy exploration, stumbled upon something extraordinary.
Near the couple’s bathroom was what seemed to be a heating vent, but beneath it lay a hidden passage leading to a cellar. When Gareth crawled through, he was greeted by a massive, decaying wooden cross in the center of the room. Rough brick benches were arranged like pews, hinting at the space’s past as a covert chapel. But the eerie discoveries didn’t end there.
The cellar also contained moldy trunks filled with books and newspapers from the early 1900s, untouched for decades. Adding to the mystery were hooks dangling from the ceiling, suggesting the space might have doubled as a slaughterhouse at some point. It’s unclear whether the Farleys transformed the cellar into a stylish recreation room or started offering spooky tours to local children around Halloween (a move we’d wholeheartedly endorse).
4. Wreck Of The Ghost Boat
In the late 1960s, Donald Crowhurst, an Englishman and sailing enthusiast, faced financial troubles with his electronics business, which sold marine navigation equipment. To boost his company’s reputation, he entered the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aiming to sail solo around the world and showcase his products.
Crowhurst mortgaged his home to buy a 12-meter (40 ft) sailboat named the Teignmouth Electron. However, he couldn’t fully equip the boat before the race deadline. Compounding his problems, he had secured funding from a local millionaire, a substantial amount he’d have to repay if he didn’t finish the race.
Despite his lack of preparation, Crowhurst set sail. He soon realized he had left critical equipment behind, making parts of the journey impossible. After falsifying his position reports and then going silent for 111 days, his family’s fears were confirmed when the Teignmouth Electron was discovered adrift in the Atlantic, with Crowhurst missing. His final log entry read, “There is no reason for harmful . . . ” before cutting off abruptly. No trace of him was ever found. The boat eventually washed ashore on Cayman Brac in the Caribbean, where it remains to this day.
3. The Center Of The World
While the center of the Universe remains a mystery, the center of the world has a definitive location: Braceville township, Ohio. As the sign proudly declares, this small Ohio town claims to be the world’s epicenter.
Legend has it that in the 1840s, Randell Wilmot, a wealthy businessman from Pennsylvania, arrived in town and constructed a complex featuring a general store, saloon, and stagecoach station. To draw attention to his new venture in an otherwise quiet area, he boldly labeled it the “Center of the World.” Unfortunately, his plan failed to attract the crowds he had hoped for.
When Wilmot’s venture failed to thrive, he relocated his operation to Cortland, renaming it “The End of the World.” (Despite being from Pennsylvania, Wilmot seemed to believe Ohio represented the entire world.) Fittingly, he passed away there shortly after. Although the Braceville township sign has been stolen multiple times, local authorities continue to replace it—without it, we might all lose our sense of direction.
2. The Country Singer’s Memorial
Country music fans faced their own tragic moment on March 5, 1963, when a private plane crashed near Camden, Tennessee. The plane carried rising stars Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and the iconic Patsy Cline. At just 30 years old, Cline had recently achieved one of country music’s most unforgettable hits with her rendition of Willie Nelson’s “Crazy.”
Near the crash site, at the base of a hill where one of the plane’s engines buried itself, a plaque honors the four lives lost, including pilot Randy Hughes. Located deep in the woods, this memorial has likely startled many hikers who unexpectedly came across it. Until recently, there were no trails or signs to direct visitors to this tribute to one of country music’s most legendary figures.
In 2011, local authorities added a small pathway to improve access to the site, with plans for a more extensive memorial in the works. The initiative includes selling commemorative bricks, with proceeds potentially funding a performing arts center. For now, this plaque—honoring one of the 20th century’s most iconic voices—remains a hidden gem, discovered only by those who seek it out or stumble upon it by chance.
1. The Forevertron
Just south of Baraboo, Wisconsin, along a quiet stretch of State Highway 12, lies the unexpected home of the Forevertron. What exactly is a Forevertron? It’s hard to define. Is it a theme park? A museum? A functional spacecraft? According to its creator, it’s all of these things. However, one might question the credibility of a man who goes by “Dr. Evermor.”
Dr. Evermor, the alter ego of Tom Every, a former industrial demolition expert, began building this colossal structure in 1983. Weighing over 300 tons and standing more than 15 meters (50 ft) tall, the Forevertron is a patchwork of industrial relics. Neon signs, theater speakers, and even Thomas Edison’s dynamos coexist with spiral staircases and intricate walkways. The monument incorporates nearly every type of industrial equipment from the past century, all assembled without blueprints—Dr. Evermor simply builds and builds.
One of the most surprising elements of the sculpture? Components from the Apollo moon mission’s decontamination chamber, including autoclaves that once processed genuine moon rocks. These pieces might prove useful if the Forevertron ever manages to launch—though we wouldn’t be shocked if it did.
