Raygun Gothic Rocketship.

Raygun Gothic Rocketship

In 2009, artists Sean Orlando, Nathaniel Taylor, and David Shulman oversaw the construction of a 40-foot-high shiny, silver Flash-Gordon-style "Raygun Gothic Rocketship" for Burning Man. 65 artists and craftspeople worked to build the ballistic sculpture. Desert-baked attendees could climb a gantry and walk inside the three decks; they could see aliens in tubes among other exhibits.

The rocket was sealed up, disassembled, and exhibited in the San Francisco Bay Area for a few years, making appearances at Maker Faire, NASA Ames for Yuri's Night, and landing along the Embarcadero near Pier 14. In 2017, the retro-futurist folly found a permanent home outside the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver.

Although its Burning Man origin was all about anti-commodification, today the rocket is perched on the roof of a stand selling ice cream.

At least it wasn't bulldozed for scrap or fired onto the sun.

Raygun Gothic Rocketship

Rocket Ice Cream

Address:: 7557 E. Academy Blvd, Denver, CO
Directions:: Rocket Ice Cream. East side of the city. I-225 exit 9. Turn west onto CO-30/6th Ave. Drive four miles. At the third traffic circle bear right onto Rampart Way. Drive to the stop sign and turn right onto Academy Blvd. You'll quickly see the shiny rocket on the left, just before you reach the giant airplane.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, Denver, CO - < 1 mi.

16-Foot-Tall Blue Chair on Three Legs, Aurora, CO - 2 mi.

Tribute to Eminent Poles, Denver, CO - 3 mi.

In the region:

Where Grids Collide, Denver, CO - 5 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Colorado

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Colorado.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.