Project Faultless Atomic Explosion Site

Warm Springs, Nevada

In the 1960s Las Vegas began complaining that underground atomic explosions at the nearby Nevada Test Site were jiggling their casinos (which was bad for the roulette wheels and craps tables).

The U.S. military, always sensitive to the needs of its Sin City neighbor, opened a second Nevada Test Site further away from Las Vegas, detonating a one-megaton nuke a mile underground on January 19, 1968. Unfortunately the explosion created a shallow crater of about 4,000 square feet. This upset the local population even more than the casino owners, and all further tests were canceled. The shaft was plugged, creating an unintentional "monument" on which a memorial plaque was later affixed. It also warns against any digging, or taking away any dirt or rocks for souvenirs.

Project Faultless Atomic Explosion Site

Address:: US Hwy 6, Warm Springs, NV
Directions:: From the intersection of US 6 and the western end of Hwy 375 ("The Extraterrestrial Highway"), travel east on US 6 until you see a sign to Moore's Station near mile marker 76.5. Turn left (north) onto the dirt road for about 12.5 miles. When you come to the stop sign, continue straight for another 1.5 miles to the Monument. You will need a vehicle with high clearance for this last stretch, and this is a remote location, so be prepared to survive an emergency in case you go.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Lunar Crater, Great Basin, NV - 19 mi.

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The Little A Le Inn: Bar and Motel, Rachel, NV - 73 mi.

In the region:

Extraterrestrial Highway Sign, Rachel, NV - 73 mi.

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