Mysterious monolith removed from Nevada desert

LAS VEGAS (FOX5/Gray News) - A mysterious monolith that was recently discovered in a wildlife refuge north of Las Vegas has been removed.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said their Search and Rescue team discovered the strange formation near Gass Peak in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Gass Peak is one of the highest peaks in the area surrounding Las Vegas.

The police department posted on X Friday stating, “A lot of you have asked about the mysterious monolith that was recently spotted north of Las Vegas. Yesterday afternoon, we assisted with the removal of the item due to public safety and environmental concerns.”

Las Vegas police used the monolith sighting to remind hikers to prepare themselves before braving the wilderness. These include telling someone where they’re going, researching the weather beforehand and bringing additional food, water and light.

This is not the first time mysterious monoliths have popped out in the U.S. In 2020, a monolith was discovered in the Utah desert, another was found at the pinnacle of a trail in California and a third was found near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Others were found worldwide, including in Romania and at a Turkish World Heritage site, although that was discovered to be a gimmick by the Turkish government.

A majority of the monoliths were destroyed or removed soon after their discovery, with some vandals citing concerns over the impact foot traffic to see the oddity could have on its surroundings.