Unbelievable Places in Bakersfield, CA That Feel Out of This World
Bakersfield sits in the heart of California’s Central Valley, a city better known for oil fields, country music, and Basque restaurants than offbeat attractions.
But look a little closer, and you’ll find a mix of the quirky, the surprising, and the downright strange.
From a giant shoe-shaped repair shop to a park with sweeping views of oil derricks, there’s no shortage of unusual things to do in Bakersfield, CA.
Some places are tied to the city’s history—like Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, which blends live music with a museum dedicated to the Bakersfield Sound.
Others, like the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, reveal secrets buried beneath the region’s soil, including fossils of ancient whales and prehistoric sharks.
Then there’s Wind Wolves Preserve, a massive stretch of land where tule elk roam, and the landscape shifts from rolling grasslands to rugged mountains.
Even everyday spots have their oddities. You can take a photo in front of a towering red barn at Murray Family Farms, walk through an urban park with a historic pedestrian bridge, or visit a zoo dedicated only to California wildlife.
If you’re in the mood for something interactive, an escape room experience at Puzzle Effect will test your problem-solving skills in a setting straight out of a movie.
Bakersfield’s lesser-known attractions might not be on every travel list, but that’s what makes them worth visiting.
Whether you’re drawn to roadside curiosities, hidden nature escapes, or unexpected museums, the city has plenty of ways to keep things interesting.
1. Big Shoe Repair – A Boot-Shaped Landmark
Why It’s Unusual
Buildings shaped like everyday objects were once a trend in roadside architecture, but few still stand today. Big Shoe Repair, located at 931 Chester Avenue, is one of the last of its kind.
The shop, which has been in business since the 1940s, operates inside a structure shaped like a giant boot. Its curved walls, sloped roof, and oversized laces make it impossible to miss.
While the outside is a quirky attraction, the inside remains a fully functional shoe repair shop, carrying on a decades-old trade.
Why It’s Unique
This boot-shaped shop is a rare example of mid-century “programmatic architecture,” a style where businesses designed their buildings to look like the products they sold.
While many of these novelty structures have been demolished or repurposed, this one still operates as a working shoe repair shop.
Instead of becoming a museum or a trendy café, it has stayed true to its original purpose, which adds to its charm.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Taking photos of a towering, boot-shaped building.
- Watching skilled artisans restore worn-out shoes using traditional techniques.
- Stepping inside a piece of Bakersfield’s history that still serves its original purpose.
2. Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace – More Than a Music Venue
Why It’s Unusual
Buck Owens, one of country music’s biggest names, built Crystal Palace in 1996 as a mix of concert hall, museum, and restaurant.
Unlike most music venues, it doubles as a showcase of the Bakersfield Sound—a genre that Owens helped define.
The building itself resembles an Old West-style saloon, with wooden beams, chandeliers, and memorabilia covering every inch of the walls.
A life-sized statue of Owens greets visitors at the entrance while his red, white, and blue guitar sits on display inside.
Why It’s Unique
Crystal Palace isn’t just a concert venue—it’s a living tribute to the Bakersfield Sound. Buck Owens designed every detail himself, creating a place where fans could enjoy live music while surrounded by artifacts from his career.
The restaurant serves classic American dishes, and the stage continues to host country artists, keeping the spirit of the genre alive.
Unlike a typical museum, this space blends history with entertainment, making it an interactive experience rather than a static exhibit.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Eating dinner while surrounded by country music artifacts.
- Dancing to live performances from well-known and up-and-coming artists.
- Seeing Buck Owens’ guitars, suits, and awards up close.
3. Murray Family Farms’ Big Red Barn – More Than a Fruit Stand
Why It’s Unusual
Most farms sell fruit from a small roadside stand, but Murray Family Farms took a different approach. Their “Big Red Barn,” located off Highway 58, is a massive attraction in itself.
Visitors can pick fresh produce, wander through themed mazes, or explore a petting zoo that features everything from goats to exotic birds.
The farm, which has been in operation since the 1980s, grows a mix of traditional and lesser-known fruits, including pluots and yellow watermelon.
Why It’s Unique
Unlike a typical farm, Murray Family Farms is designed as a hands-on experience for visitors. The Big Red Barn isn’t just a place to buy fruit—it’s a landmark that invites people to explore agriculture in a fun and interactive way.
The farm grows unique produce that isn’t widely available in grocery stores, offering seasonal specialties that change throughout the year.
With a mix of pick-your-own orchards, educational activities, and seasonal festivals, the farm is more than just a stop along the highway.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Picking your strawberries, cherries, or peaches, depending on the season.
- Navigating a corn or sunflower maze in late summer.
- Feeding and petting emus, tortoises, and other farm animals.
4. Buena Vista Museum of Natural History – Fossils in an Unexpected Place
Why It’s Unusual
Most people associate marine fossils with coastal areas, but Bakersfield sits on an ancient seabed. The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, located on Chester Avenue, focuses on local prehistoric finds.
Many of its fossils were uncovered in Sharktooth Hill, an area just outside the city known for its abundance of Miocene-era remains.
The museum houses everything from massive whale bones to a reconstructed megalodon jaw, offering a glimpse into a time when the Central Valley was underwater.
Why It’s Unique
Few museums focus so specifically on fossils from a single region, but Buena Vista Museum showcases prehistoric discoveries found right in Kern County.
The Sharktooth Hill collection includes one of the largest Miocene-era fossil deposits in North America, featuring skeletons of ancient whales, sharks, and other marine creatures that once swam in a vast inland sea.
The museum also features exhibits on Native American artifacts and the extinct North American camel, which once roamed California.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Standing inside the jaws of a prehistoric megalodon.
- Seeing a nearly complete fossilized whale skeleton found near Bakersfield.
- Learning about California’s ancient past through interactive exhibits.
5. California Living Museum (CALM) – A Zoo Without Exotic Animals
Why It’s Unusual
Unlike traditional zoos that feature animals from all over the world, CALM focuses solely on California’s native species.
The facility, located at 10500 Alfred Harrell Highway, serves as a sanctuary for injured or non-releasable animals. Instead of elephants and lions, visitors will find mountain lions, black bears, and golden eagles.
Opened in 1983, CALM also houses a large reptile collection and one of the state’s most extensive displays of native birds.
Why It’s Unique
CALM stands out from other zoos because it doesn’t feature exotic animals. Every species in the park is native to California, making it an educational experience rather than a typical zoo visit.
The animals here are not bought or bred for display—they are rescued and rehabilitated, often after being injured in the wild.
This focus on conservation gives visitors a rare chance to see mountain lions, condors, and other native creatures up close while learning about their role in California’s ecosystem.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Watching a bald eagle that was rescued after being injured in the wild.
- Walking through an aviary filled with owls, hawks, and vultures.
- Visiting during December to see the zoo transformed with thousands of lights.
6. Panorama Park – A View of Oil Fields Instead of Mountains
Why It’s Unusual
Most parks offer views of lakes, forests, or city skylines. Panorama Park, however, looks out over one of the largest oil fields in California.
Located along Panorama Drive, this stretch of parkland runs along the bluffs overlooking the Kern River Oil Field, an industrial landscape dotted with hundreds of oil derricks.
While the setting may seem unusual for a public park, it provides one of the best vantage points in Bakersfield, especially at sunset.
Why It’s Unique
Panorama Park is one of the few green spaces in Bakersfield that directly overlooks the oil industry that helped shape the city.
The contrast between the grassy bluffs and the dense network of oil rigs below creates a rare scene for a public park.
The trails along the edge offer wide, uninterrupted views, and the location has become a popular spot for walking, jogging, and photography.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Watching the sunset over a sprawling oil field.
- Walking along trails with panoramic views of the Kern River and surrounding industrial sites.
- Seeing the intersection of nature and industry from a unique vantage point.
7. Wind Wolves Preserve – A Vast, Untamed Landscape
Why It’s Unusual
Located about 30 miles south of Bakersfield, Wind Wolves Preserve covers over 93,000 acres, making it one of the largest nonprofit nature preserves in California.
Unlike typical parks, this area contains a mix of rolling grasslands, oak woodlands, and seasonal wetlands.
The landscape constantly changes with the seasons—green fields in the spring, golden hills in the summer, and misty valleys in the winter. Despite its size, it remains relatively unknown to many visitors.
Why It’s Unique
Wind Wolves Preserve stands out because of its sheer size and diverse terrain. It serves as a habitat for endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox and tule elk, animals rarely seen in other parts of California.
The land, once home to Native American tribes, contains historical sites and ancient trade routes. The preserve offers hiking trails that lead through untouched wilderness, making it a rare escape from city life.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Hiking through remote grasslands with no signs of modern development.
- Spotting tule elk, foxes, and rare birds in their natural habitat.
- Walking through areas once traveled by indigenous tribes.
8. Bakersfield Museum of Art – An Unexpected Cultural Gem
Why It’s Unusual
Bakersfield is more often associated with agriculture and oil than fine art, but the Bakersfield Museum of Art has been displaying regional and national works since 1956.
Located in downtown Bakersfield, the museum features rotating exhibitions, a sculpture garden, and a permanent collection that includes pieces by early California artists.
The space blends contemporary and classical styles, offering a contrast to the city’s industrial reputation.
Why It’s Unique
Few people expect to find a well-curated art museum in a city known for blue-collar industries.
The Bakersfield Museum of Art brings a different side of creativity to the area, hosting exhibits from California-based painters, photographers, and sculptors.
The museum’s outdoor garden adds another layer to the experience, featuring large-scale sculptures set against a peaceful landscape. With new exhibits introduced throughout the year, the collection constantly evolves.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Viewing paintings and sculptures by California-based artists.
- Attending artist-led workshops and gallery talks.
- Walking through an outdoor sculpture garden in the middle of the city.
9. Kern County Basque Block – A Cultural Experience Unlike Any Other
Why It’s Unusual
Bakersfield is home to one of the largest Basque communities in the United States, and the Kern County Basque Block preserves this unique heritage.
Located along East 18th Street, this district features historic Basque restaurants, social clubs, and events that celebrate a culture not commonly found in most American cities.
Dining here isn’t like a typical restaurant experience—it follows the traditional Basque style, with long communal tables, hearty family-style meals, and menu items like oxtail stew and pickled tongue.
Why It’s Unique
Very few cities outside the Basque Country in Spain and France have such a well-preserved and active Basque community.
Bakersfield’s Basque Block is home to historic eateries like Wool Growers Restaurant and Noriega’s, which have been serving traditional Basque food for decades.
The area also hosts festivals, including the annual Kern County Basque Festival, where visitors can watch traditional dancing, handball matches, and strongman competitions.
What Unusual Experiences Can Be Obtained?
- Eating an authentic Basque meal with strangers at a long communal table.
- Watching or participating in a Basque handball game at a local club.
- Attending the Kern County Basque Festival, held every May.