This Scottsdale tourist attraction and museum is closing next month

One of Scottsdale’s most unique and unusual attractions is about to vanish. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the oddities-filled museum located at the tourist-friendly Arizona Boardwalk, is set to close its doors on Aug. 3.

Unbelievable, but true.

News of Ripley’s closure was announced by an Arizona Boardwalk spokesperson on Tuesday. A reason was not specified, and there's no word on what will replace it.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not first opened at the Arizona Boardwalk complex near the Loop 101 freeway and Via de Ventura Boulevard in 2021. Touted for its “astounding collection of the strange, surprising and seriously unbelievable” items, the museum was packed with curiosities galore.
The 5,000-square-foot attraction was packed with dozens of unique displays, most of them of a delightfully bizarre nature. Some of the highlights include a statue of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man who stood a towering 8-foot-11, as well as two-faced calf, the massive jaw of a megalodon shark and even a portrait of Albert Einstein made entirely from burnt toast.

Elsewhere, there’s a giraffe sculpture made from oil barrels and a picture of Tom Cruise from “Top Gun: Maverick” created with cigarette ashes.

The attraction's final special exhibition is "Hair Raising: The Unruly World of Strands," a new exhibit that debuted earlier this summer which features a bizarre and fascinating exploration of all things hair-related, from weird beauty rituals and cultural oddities to record-breaking feats.

"Hair Raising" features more than a dozen follicle-focused displays straight from Ripley’s global collection, including Hoss the Human Hairball, made from the hair of more than 3,000 people; hair from Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, JFK and other cultural icons; pants made of human hair; and much more.

“This is one of the most unique and conversation-starting exhibits we’ve ever hosted,” Ran Knishinsky, managing partner at Arizona Boardwalk said in the closure announcement. “It’s the perfect grand finale for Ripley’s here in Scottsdale.”