Exploring The Thing? - Arizona's Mystery of the Desert
The Thing? has been a roadside attraction on Interstate 10 in Arizona since the mid 1960s. Located east of Tucson, near Dragoon, The Thing? was created by Thomas Binkley Prince and was originally located in California's Mojave Desert until 1965 when it was moved to its current location in Arizona. You can find billboards for The Thing? for miles in each direction on Interstate 10, as far away as El Paso, TX.
In the last couple years the roadside attraction has undergone a renovation and now has an Aliens vs. Dinosaurs theme with greatly updated exhibits. Though a lot of the charm from the old The Thing? is still present.
To get an idea of how The Thing? prior to the updates to the Dinosaurs vs. Aliens theme, check out this video from 2016 by JustinScarred: • THE THING: What is it!...
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Пікірлер: 87
Thanks for this! I drive across country probably 4-5 times a year and always see these blasted signs, but always figured it was some souped-up silly attraction. Now, I see it's a souped-up pretty cool attraction, heh. Appreciate the coverage!
I went through the attraction in January of 2017 on my way to Tucson Az. It was the old museum then. I am now really curious to go back through and check it out again! It was only dollar at that time, lol. I also thought the rest of the exhibits were cooler than the Thing! Cool vid! Thanks just subbed!
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Yes, that's how we remember it as well.
@jackallen6261
3 жыл бұрын
@@SidetrackAdventures Cool!!
I love your videos. The music, the footage, your narration. Gives me a whole new appreciation for where Im from. (The American Southwest).
Well Steve, first trip out west in 1965 those signs were there!
In the grand canyon, a high up cave was found, they found mummys that they thought were Egyptian, hundreds of them. The story is, some one took one of the mummies and that's what the original roadside attraction was on I-40 from New Mexico to Flagstaff. That makes sense, because that stretch of highway was the original to California, the route 66. Flagstaff is right next to Grand Canyon . I seen the original The Thing, my family moved to Colorado from Phoenix Arizona, my dad stopped by in the 1970s ... It looked just like a mummy I later seen in documentaries and museums. That was such a good plot to draw tourists in, many shop owners did that, copy cat it.
Thanks Steve! I first saw these billboards while heading westbound to report for duty in San Diego in 1977. Last time seen was 1981 heading heading back to Houston for last time. Will definitely stop next time on I-10.
My girlfriend and I stopped there in the late 70’s,I had seen the signs when we’d drive cross country with my parents, but they wouldn’t stop. There was no one in there and we made our way back to the Thing in the back room. I leaned in close and thought it blinked….scared the s**t out of me! 😂
Where The Thing used to be on the 91 highway was called Midway (between Barstow and Baker) The site is now called the Clyde Kane Rest Area. I stopped at Midway in the early 1960's. Was a shabby tourist trap.
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
I was wondering where exactly it was located. The only address I could find was "Highway 91" which isn't very descriptive. Thank you for filling in that information.
The last time I was there...It was more than 20 years ago. It has changed from the crumbling attraction it used to be. Don't know if that's necessarily a good thing...
@michaelwegner7521
3 жыл бұрын
It is the same with me. Well over 20 years since I have been there. Such a great improvement over the old exhibit. I will have to stop by in the near future.
Visited on July 11, 2023. Interesting, can't wait to run across Interstate 10 again.
Interesting😮
Just discovered your channel... its so awesome. Wish i was with you on all these adventures! Mario from Sydney Australia.
Very cool! I need to get there for a visit.
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Well worth the visit if you are in the area.
I remember seeing the signs as my wife and I drove through on our way to Mexico to see her relatives.This was back in the 70s .We stopped once or twice out of curiosity and buy snacks A lot different from what it is now from what I see.
I haven't stopped in to see THE THING in decades....I need another roadtrip STAT!
new sub. ive seen a few of your vids pretty damn good!
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, we appreciate it.
Got to see it yesterday. Pretty neat
Thanks for showing the whole alien fortune teller thing -- you sacrificed your dollar so we don't have to now!!!
I was looking for it on my way to Dallas last time I drove out there, but I missed it, I guess because it was too late in the evening. I wanted to stop at the Dairy Queen. We stopped at The Thing on our way back from a Carlsbad Caverns, New Orleans & San Antonio trip a few years earlier. And I'm pretty sure we stopped there back in the 1960s when I was a kid and my folks took trips in their Cortez motorhome.
I've been to this place coupe of times and I enjoyed the lil maze....
Lol I stopped here with my family about 15+ years ago and the thing was this little doll. I can’t really remember was was so bizarre about it but they also had like a taxidermy two headed cow and a two headed snake.
Wow!
Oh Boy! What fun! What if what if what if is like a kid repeating why why why and driving its parent(s) nuts. Works for the owners, though, and for the customers, so enjoy.
Hello, you have an awesome channel. Keep up the good work. :)
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words.
What do you think, Scully ?
Interesting 🤔
you should do some vids in the old santa susana stage road or the san fernando area historical roads
The Thing was on the Adams Family TV show!! It was a hand that they had as a pet! Yes-They would it on a leash!! They would tell it: GOOD WORK THING!! I thought after all that hype there would be a box in a room with a mirror in it!!😁😡🤦🏻♀️🙄
The Thing is on my bucket list! (I have a very strange bucket list!)
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Its definitely worth the trip. We passed by again the next day and I considered stopping a second time.
@stankygeorge
3 жыл бұрын
No, you have a very interesting 'bucket list'!
@mutmut2488
3 жыл бұрын
ហ្ហហហ្ហហហ្
@vivianemiguel3483
3 жыл бұрын
@@SidetrackAdventures if h0llo
I know for a fact my dad would love this
I just went today
In 2012 it was $1 admission to go in the museum.
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Thats what I remember too.
Church of logic sin and love. It's all I could think about when I saw the sign on the I ten west
My thing isn’t anywhere near as big as that thing.
This was a riot! We've been twice! First time was a bit of a bust because of some family and their most precious screaming poop-flingers.
Driven by many times over the years. Thanks for saving me $10.
I saw this before the alien conversion. This sounds like shit now! The fact that before you went into the paid area you walked along the path and saw a whole bunch of cool stuff then at the very end saw a sign that said the thing is right through this door and it just led you back into the gift shop was awesome!
@telesniper2
Жыл бұрын
It's always had that mummy in there.
why the hell would they change it Id rather go see the shed in the back with the old cars random shit and the thing.
The truly amazing "thing" is that they could weave such a tapestry of pure hokum and achieve serious success.
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, part of what makes it such a great place to visit.
@wesleytillman9774
3 жыл бұрын
@@SidetrackAdventures It's certainly a one of a kind place, and, I must admit, well laid out and clean looking.
I saw it in its original location, after 100 miles of seeing the signs my dad finally caved and took us to see the thing, good memories
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
That's really cool. If one sign doesn't get you, 100 will.
@freddavidson1031
3 жыл бұрын
Hitlers Cars Were All Mercedes Benz F. G. D.
@mahaalmissawi6294
3 жыл бұрын
@@SidetrackAdventures min cv
I wonder if the History Channel hosts of "Ancient Aliens" have had a chance to stop by there.
@SidetrackAdventures
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching.
I JUST PASSED THERE
I wish the mummie was real.
Stopped there in 1975
I live close to the thing 😂
I’ve been there
@aspygamer8984
3 жыл бұрын
We were taking a trip to go to Yucca valley then we took A Long almost half an hour detour with every step of the way having a sign that said what is the thing
You missed the older version of the Rolls Royce....back in the 70's the sign on billboards said "See Hitlers Rolls Royce". When you got there we saw a dummy sitting in the cars rear seat dressed like Hitler, uniform and all. Problem was the car was made in the 1950's. LOL..
@SidetrackAdventures
3 жыл бұрын
Maybe that's the one we saw a decade or so ago. Wish I took a picture of it.
The truth is out there.
They are closer to the truth on all points than you realize! The Thing looks like the drawings, statues etc. of 'The Gods', from forgotten times past!
Only Julie know what the thing is
Someone needs to do a DNA test! Lol
Owned by Wall Drug?
@qudratloyaqubjonov5727
3 жыл бұрын
хх
@emmarose4234
Жыл бұрын
Too bad Buc-ee’s isn’t involved somehow.
WHAT A BUILD UP TO NOTHING ?
Peppa pig
That's one hell of a dumb concept
ппапм
What if that is EXACTLY how the Bible came about?
The Thing was on the Adams Family TV show!! It was a hand that they had as a pet! Yes-They would it on a leash!! They would tell it: GOOD WORK THING!! I thought after all that hype there would be a box in a room with a mirror in it!!😁😡🤦🏻♀️🙄