Buzz
We’ve previously discussed real-world places and objects that, if encountered in an open-world video game, would make you question the programmer’s intentions. Some are eerie, some are humorous, and others leave you in awe—all of them seem to exist solely to reward the “player” for discovering something unexpected in just the right spot.
Given how enjoyable our last hunt was, we decided to search for ten more—after all, the world has been a strange and mysterious place for as long as humanity has existed, and it’s bound to keep offering us material for lists like these for as long as we keep making them. Here are more hidden gems where coders left a little surprise for you:
10. The Narrow House
Along Hull Street on Boston's Freedom Trail, you'll find a series of fairly ordinary buildings—except for one, which stands out, though it’s so easy to miss. This is the “undisputed narrowest house in Boston,” commonly referred to as the Skinny House.
Several local myths try to explain the origin of this peculiar house, but most suggest it was constructed as a “spite house”—built with the intention of obstructing the view and sunlight of a neighboring property. One version of the story claims the house was built on land left to two brothers. While one was away at war, the other constructed a massive house that took up almost the entire plot, leaving only a tiny sliver. When the war-bound brother returned, he decided to build on that sliver of land, thereby ruining the scenic view from his sibling’s grand new house.
The four-story structure is barely more than ten feet wide at its widest point, narrowing to just over six feet at its thinnest. It's so narrow that an adult can stretch their arms and touch both opposing walls. The Boston Globe once featured the current owners, describing them as leading a “vertical life.”
9. The Tomb of Jesus
A curious and mysterious legend surrounds the only tourist attraction in the small Japanese village of Shingo—a large cross with a plaque claiming it marks the burial site of Christ. The Christ in question, however, is not the one traditionally thought to have died far from Japan, under completely different circumstances than those described on the plaque.
According to the legend, which originated with the discovery of the Takenouchi documents, purportedly written in Hebrew, by a local named Takenouchi in 1935, Jesus did NOT die on the cross as commonly believed. Instead, his brother took his place at Calvary, while Jesus himself fled to Japan, where he lived as a rice farmer, had several children, and eventually passed away of natural causes at the age of 106.
The Sawaguchi family of Shingo claims to be directly descended from Jesus, though they are Buddhists and appear to take the whole tale with a healthy dose of skepticism, as is typical among Buddhists. Additionally, the mysterious documents have vanished (sound familiar?) and have never been recovered. Allegedly, these documents also delved into topics like ancient aliens and Atlantis—just to add to the intrigue. Despite the unanswered questions, hundreds of curious tourists and journalists visit each year to investigate the grave of Japan's Jesus.
8. Giant Pink Bunny of Colletto Fava
While trekking through the Italian Alps, it’s easy to become entranced by the vast beauty of the landscape—rolling hills, verdant valleys, and crisp mountain air. It’s a famously stunning region. But it’s equally easy to be caught off guard when, cresting one of those hills, you come face to face with the jaw-dropping sight of a massive, stuffed pink rabbit sprawled across the hillside.
This giant bunny is the creation of the Viennese art collective Gelitin, who placed it on the mountainside in 2005, where it’s expected to remain until at least 2025, after which nature will have worn it down. The rabbit, filled with straw, stretches 200 feet in length—about two-thirds of an American football field. And yes, you’re seeing it correctly: its colorful, stuffed insides spill down one side of the hill, a feature that’s not the result of damage but part of its design. And no, we won’t question why.
Visitors are invited to climb over the massive, partially disemboweled pink rabbit and linger as long as they want—which, for us, would be a very short time. Why a giant rabbit? According to one group member, it’s to make you feel “as small as a daisy,” to which we respond: why a giant rabbit?
7. Ängelholm UFO Memorial
In a quiet park on the outskirts of Ängelholm, Sweden, a seemingly ordinary piece of playground equipment catches the eye. However, it's not just a play structure—it serves as a memorial to a UFO landing that occurred on May 18, 1946, witnessed by Gösta Carlsson, the founder of the Swedish pharmaceutical company Cernelle.
The structure is said to represent the actual UFO that landed at the spot, with the concrete tracks around it not merely decorative, but meant to represent the landing marks. Carlsson, believed to be the only witness, claims that the aliens provided him with recipes for medicinal remedies, which he used to improve his health and establish his company.
Despite the intriguing tale—and the memorial—it remains widely dismissed, even by UFO enthusiasts. Clas Svahn, who co-authored a book with Carlsson about the event, admits that there is no convincing evidence to support the story.
6. Boulder Flagstaff Star
For those living in or visiting the Boulder, Colorado area, a remarkable sight graces the landscape each holiday season. From November 19 until New Year’s Day, Flagstaff Mountain is adorned with a massive star visible to all in the city—a tradition that has continued every year since 1947.
Over the years, the star has experienced many challenges and has faced the threat of permanent retirement several times—largely due to difficulties in preventing vandalism and concerns over energy consumption. Hundreds of light bulbs, carefully shielded from the elements and perched atop ten-foot steel poles, illuminate the mountainside.
Today, the star is entirely powered by wind energy. Many locals make a special trip to admire the star up close, but for most, it’s simply a glowing reminder that the holiday season has arrived once again.
5. The Devil’s Swimming Pool
Images like those seen above are often dismissed as hoaxes by those unaware of this curious feature at Victoria Falls, which straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. During the dry season, when water levels are lowest, a naturally occurring rock wall forms a calm pool in one section of the falls. This pool is safe to swim in, right up to the edge of a 328-foot drop.
To reach this pool, visitors must carefully navigate a rocky path across shallow pools. Alternatively, some choose to take a more adventurous route—by jumping in and allowing the current to carry them toward the falls at thrilling speeds. From a distance, it seems like an imminent death sentence, but as they approach the pool, the current slows, allowing guests to safely peer over the edge, as seen in the photos.
Though the pool is safe enough for children to enjoy, there are typically two types of visitors—those who leisurely wade in the water, calmly appreciating the surroundings, and those who can't help but scream in excitement.
4. Musical Roads
Most of us are familiar with the sound produced by raised pavement markers when we drive over them—the rapid vibration that can range from mildly annoying to downright unsettling, depending on your vehicle. Around the world, inventive engineers have harnessed the different tones created by varying marker heights, arranging them to turn stretches of road into a musical experience, where the rumbling sound of your car forms a melody as you drive across them.
The first musical road was created in Denmark in 1995, with Japan quickly following suit. A notable example of these roads is the one built for a 2008 Honda Civic commercial near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Though it features a different design, it uses grooves cut into the asphalt to play a segment of the “William Tell Overture”.
Only a few of these roads exist globally, and they are usually marked with signs or painted road markings to help drivers distinguish them—likely to prevent confused commuters from thinking they’re hearing things, or wondering if their car is playing the Lone Ranger theme.
3. Neptune Memorial Reef
The waters off Key Biscayne, Florida, are a well-known destination for scuba divers. Located three miles offshore, on a half-acre area 40 feet underwater, divers can find one of the most unique and ever-growing attractions—a massive Easter egg that continues to evolve.
Neptune Memorial Reef is currently the largest artificial reef in the world, with plans to expand it dramatically over the next decade. The awe-inspiring underwater landscape features statues, columns, and arches, each weighing several tons, as well as underwater pathways leading to a central area. Some of these structures truly embody the ‘memorial’ aspect of the name.
Neptune Memorial Reef is also marketed as an underwater cemetery or mausoleum. Within the cement of these impressive features lie the cremated remains of individuals who, in some cases, paid thousands of dollars for the opportunity to be part of the reef, with commemorative plaques accompanying each feature. When finished, the Reef is expected to span 16 acres and hold the remains of up to 125,000 individuals.
2. The Fire Falls Of Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is home to many extraordinary wonders, but one of its most remarkable sights is Horsetail Falls. At a very specific time of year, the 2,000-foot waterfall appears to be ablaze, creating a breathtaking and fiery effect.
The photos that appear to capture molten magma flowing down the cliff are actually the result of a natural optical illusion. At a specific time in February, just around 5:30 PM, the setting sun strikes the cliff face in such a way that the waterfall becomes momentarily indistinct, only to suddenly light up in a dramatic burst. This effect is so convincing that some visitors refuse to believe it isn't actual lava, even though they had just witnessed the waterfall moments before.
Interestingly, in the late 1800s, a hotel owner regularly pushed hot embers over the edge of the cliff to create a man-made light show for his guests. However, this was not only a fire hazard but also far less spectacular than the natural phenomenon that occurs today.
1. Morning Glory Spillway
The ‘Morning Glory’ spillway is, quite simply, the largest spillway in the world. Spillways are installed in dams to relieve pressure, and this one does so for the Monticello Dam, which holds back Lake Berryessa in California’s Napa Valley. This is the practical explanation behind the striking image of the spillway.
Just 200 feet away from the dam, the concrete spillway—locally referred to as the 'glory hole,' a name we won't delve into further—is 72 feet wide and capable of draining an incredible 362,000 gallons of water per second. To answer the obvious question—it has only happened once. In 1997, a UC Davis student tragically got pulled into the hole and drowned. Since then, no one has dared swim anywhere near it.
While it must be a breathtaking sight in person, photos of the spillway in action tend to resemble either a photoshopped image or the initial stages of a black hole forming beneath a lake.
Sources: http://daviswiki.org/Morning_Glory_Spillway http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/monticello-dam
