Weird, Wacky, and Wonderfully Unexpected: Simi Valley’s Quirkiest Attractions

Think Simi Valley is all sunshine and suburbia? Think again. Beneath its scenic hills and peaceful neighborhoods lies a treasure trove of the weird, the wacky, and the wildly unexpected. From bottle-built art villages to presidential aircraft and smiley-face hillsides, this town has some serious surprises up its sleeve.

Ready to get weird in all the best ways? Let’s go.

Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village: Where Trash Becomes Treasure

Let’s start with an icon of artistic eccentricity: Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village. This folk-art wonderland was handcrafted by Tressa “Grandma” Prisbrey starting in the 1950s, using thousands of recycled bottles, doll heads, and other cast-offs.

The result? A maze of shrines, walkways, and buildings that feel like they were pulled straight out of a surrealist dream. There’s a Doll Head Shrine. A Leaning Tower made entirely of bottles. And enough colorful glass to rival a kaleidoscope factory.

It’s a place that celebrates creativity, resourcefulness, and unapologetic weirdness. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places—which means the U.S. government agrees: this place is cool.

Pro tip: Tours are available by appointment only, so plan ahead!

Corriganville Park: Where Cowboys (and Aliens) Roamed

Long before Simi was suburbia, it was movie magic. And nowhere is that more obvious than Corriganville Park.

This outdoor set was once a full-blown movie ranch owned by actor and stuntman Ray “Crash” Corrigan. From the 1930s to 1960s, it was the backdrop for hundreds of Westerns, action flicks, and even sci-fi stories.

Today, the dusty trails and crumbling set pieces make for an eerie, cinematic hiking experience. You can almost hear the hoofbeats and gunfights echoing through the canyons.

Wear your boots. Bring your imagination.

Skateboarding Hall of Fame & Museum: Where Legends Live On Wheels

Tucked inside the Simi Valley Town Center, the Skateboarding Hall of Fame & Museum is anything but chill–it’s a full-on stoke-fest for skate fans. The 10,000-square-foot museum features over 5,000 vintage boards, throwback photos, and decades of memorabilia—it’s like walking into a time machine fueled by griptape and adrenaline. You’ll spot gear from legends like Tony Hawk and Stacy Peralta, flip through a massive archive of skate mags, and maybe even catch a demo or event. Visitors can even test their skills on an indoor mini-ramp or participate in skateboarding lessons for beginners aged 4 and up. Bonus: admission is totally free. Whether you’re a diehard shredder or just skate-curious, this place kicks tail.

Happy Face Hill: A Highway Landmark with a Smile

Driving along the 118 freeway, you might notice a massive yellow smiley face staring back at you from a hillside. That’s Happy Face Hill, a 150-foot-wide grin made from wild mustard and carefully trimmed brush.

Created in 1998 by a local landscaper as a prank, the happy face stuck around—and the community fell in love with it. Volunteers now maintain the hill’s joyful expression, making it one of Simi Valley’s most unexpected (and cheerful) landmarks. It’s even got a music festival named after it!

Happy Face Hill is random. It’s cheerful. And it’s completely Insta-worthy.

Strathearn Historical Park: History with a Side of Haunting

This one’s for the ghost hunters. Strathearn Historical Park is home to some of the oldest structures in Simi Valley—including a few that are said to be haunted.

Visitors and volunteers have reported unexplained noises, flickering lights, and mysterious cold spots. Whether you believe in ghosts or just love old buildings with great stories, Strathearn is worth a visit.

Plus, the beautifully preserved Victorian homes and pioneer-era buildings make for a charming stroll—even if you don’t run into any spectral residents.

Hollywood Haunt: The Poltergeist House

Horror fans, get ready: Simi Valley is home to the real-life house from the 1982 classic Poltergeist. Yep, that house. The one where things moved on their own. Where the TV had… issues. (And the less we say about the pool, the better.)

Located in a quiet residential neighborhood, the house still draws curious fans and paranormal enthusiasts. It’s even been featured in an episode of Ghost Adventures, where investigators reported creepy activity eerily similar to what happened in the movie.

No, you can’t go inside (please respect the residents), but it’s still a fun drive-by for film buffs or thrill-seekers.

The House of the Book: Architecture Meets Sci-Fi

Ever feel like you’re walking through a dystopian movie set? At the House of the Book, you are! Located at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute campus, this futuristic structure has starred in multiple sci-fi films and TV shows, including Star Trek VI and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Its brutalist-meets-space-temple aesthetic makes it one of the most bizarre buildings in Ventura County. You can’t always tour the inside, but even the exterior is worth a visit if you’re into wild architecture and movie history.

Seriously—this place is part space station, part synagogue, and 100% Simi surrealism. Don’t forget your lightsaber!

The Reagan Library’s Quirky Side

You might not expect a presidential library to show up on a list like this, but trust us—the the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum has its share of big, bold, and just plain unusual attractions.

Air Force One Pavilion

Step inside a 90,000-square-foot hangar and walk through the actual Air Force One that carried Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, and W. Bush. Suspended 25 feet in the air, with panoramic views of the valley,  it’s surreal and impressive. And yes—it’s weird (but amazing!) to stand where world-changing decisions were made… over airline peanuts.

Marine One and the Presidential Motorcade

Next to the plane, you’ll find the actual Marine One helicopter used during the Johnson era, plus Reagan’s limo, Secret Service vehicles, and more. It’s like stepping into a high-security flashback.

The Ronald Reagan Pub

If that’s not strange enough, how about this: there’s a real-deal Irish pub inside the library. Reagan once visited it in Ballyporeen, Ireland. They liked the story so much, they bought the whole bar and rebuilt it on site.

Come for the plane. Stay for the pint glass souvenir.

Bonus: The Dead Sea Scrolls (Yes, Really)

This one’s not exactly wacky, but it is wildly rare. Until September 2, the Reagan Library is hosting a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit: the Dead Sea Scrolls—some of the oldest known biblical manuscripts on Earth.

The exhibit includes fragments of ancient scrolls, biblical artifacts, and immersive displays that bring the world of 2,000-year-old desert scribes to life. It’s deeply historic, incredibly cool, and yes—a little mystical.

If you’re into ancient secrets and Indiana Jones vibes, this one’s for you. Is it quirky? Maybe not. But it’s definitely unexpected. And totally worth a look.

Keep It Quirky, Simi

So there you have it—Simi Valley’s unexpected, offbeat, and totally delightful side. It’s the kind of place where you can walk through a house made of bottles, wave at a giant smiley face, and step aboard a presidential jet—all in one weekend.

Whether you’re looking for funky photo ops or unforgettable stories, Simi Valley’s weird wonders are ready for you to explore.