New Mexico is a bit of an oddball state. You’ll find towns with strange names, weird museums, and some unusual roadside attractions, not to mention all the stories about aliens and haunted places. However, there is one place in the state where something truly unexpected was discovered. Some folks even claimed that, due to its strangeness, it might be one of those infamously haunted New Mexico places we just mentioned. Is it? Maybe. Check it out:

This is Alamogordo, home to the Trinity test site, the world’s largest pistachio, and a secret burial that only recently came to light.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Actually, it’s located in the city’s landfill. Or, it was.
Major Nelson/Flickr
What is it? Well, we're glad you asked.
It was an absolute motherlode of 1980s Atari systems, cartridges, and more!
Association WDA/Flickr
In 1983, after the video game company faced some tough times, Atari’s El Paso plant dumped truckloads of critically panned games (such as the infamous E.T. game that was considered one of the worst video games in history) and other unsuccessful equipment into the Alamogordo landfill. Speculations quickly grew about which games could be found there and some assumed the numbers were in the millions. Eventually, a layer of concrete was added to prevent looting - and urban legends began circulating.

Related Stories

Spend The Night At New Mexico's Most Haunted Campground For A Truly Terrifying Experience

Spend The Night At New Mexico's Most Haunted Campground For A Truly Terrifying Experience

 The Sinister Story Behind This Popular New Mexico Scout Camp Will Give You Chills

The Sinister Story Behind This Popular New Mexico Scout Camp Will Give You Chills

 Take A Walk Through Historic Mesilla, New Mexico, Then Dine At The Haunted Double Eagle Restaurant

Take A Walk Through Historic Mesilla, New Mexico, Then Dine At The Haunted Double Eagle Restaurant
For years, people could only speculate about what was buried in the landfill.
Jason/Flickr
Rumors swirled that it was the site of a burial ground for humans. Maybe it was cursed! Oh, and did you hear that my cousin's friend saw a ghost there? Ideas about its spooky, legendary potential flooded in until 2014, when an official excavation was undertaken for a documentary called Atari: Game Over.
During this excavation, a fraction of the loot was indeed uncovered.
Major Nelson/Flickr
Around 1,300 cartridges, featuring games such as E.T, Pac-Man, Star Invaders, and more were discovered in the landfill.
While rumors claimed millions of games (and other things) were buried here, excavators estimated that number was closer to 700,000 (and nobody ever found any bodies).
taylorhatmaker/Wikimedia Commons
The remaining games are still buried in the landfill. The city granted the excavation rights as a one-time event for the documentary and it is not expected to do so again.
Following the excavation, some of the items were given to the city’s New Mexico Museum of Space History and to the Smithsonian. Others were sold at auction.
Major Nelson/Flickr
Was this something you were aware of? What other strange things do you think may be buried in the New Mexico desert? Did you ever hear any bizarre rumors claiming this site to be among the most haunted places in New Mexico? It's haunted, alright - haunted by the ghosts of all those games that were unceremoniously laid to rest here.

There are so many haunted New Mexico destinations, aren’t there? What did you think of the above destination? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! Want to check out some other weird things you’ll find in New Mexico? Read about some head-scratchers when you check out our list of one-of-a-kind museums in New Mexico.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Most Haunted Places in New Mexico

Tori Jane | November 23, 2021

What are some creepy New Mexico ghost stories?  

New Mexico is an underrated state in the American southwest full of outlaws, things that were, and things that would have been. It’s a strange place, considered to be a state filled with paranormal abnormalities and bizarre goings-on that don’t quite make the evening news (but the locals will be happy to tell you everything). Some of New Mexico’s creepiest ghost stories and urban legends include numerous haunted locations in Albuquerque, like the old Hotel Parq Central, which is now a luxurious hotel (but used to be a literal insane asylum). It’s said to be one of the most haunted places in the state! While you’re there, you’ll want to check out the KiMo Theatre, as well. In Cimarron, the St. James Hotel is said to be haunted thanks to shootouts and bad times way back in the day. Would you count aliens as “ghost” stories? Because if so... there’s always the Roswell Incident.  

Where can I go ghost hunting in New Mexico?  

New Mexico is a great state for ghost hunters! In fact, the state embraces its spooky status so much that even the New Mexico Tourism Department has lists of places you can totally go looking for things that go bump in the night. The department offers ghost tours, which not only take you to plenty of haunted places but also offer plenty of history to go with them. Other tours include the Ghosts of Taos tour, Santa Fe ghost tours, and even a ghost tour on a bicycle! New Mexico might be famous for its chilies and delicious local cuisine, vibrant art scene, and kind citizens – but maybe its downright creepiness should be added to that list! Curious about more? You might want to check out this awesome road trip through some seriously haunted New Mexico destinations. 
 

Related Articles

Explore New Mexico

Featured Addresses
Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA