Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Palm Springs Robo Lights

Robo Lights

An outdoor sculpture park of giant pink robots and post-apocalyptic Christmas scenes.

Palm Springs, California

Allison profile photo
Added By
Allison Meier
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Mike Souza
  Curtis Gregory Perry
  Erin Johnson / Atlas Obscura User
  Erin Johnson / Atlas Obscura User
  Curtis Gregory Perry
  Mike Souza
  Mike Souza
  Erin Johnson / Atlas Obscura User
  Mike Souza
  rocor/Flickr
  rocor/Flickr
  rocor/Flickr
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
  Yendon / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  jondi letnap / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
Robolights, Palm Springs 12/31/2018   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Robolights, Palm Springs 12/31/2018   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Robolights, Palm Springs 12/31/2018   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  sophiestjacques / Atlas Obscura User
  sophiestjacques / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
Artist: Kenny Irwin. You must make a reservation with him prior to entry  
  Kristin Whitlow
  Kristin Whitlow
  Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
circa 2017   Avoiding Regret
  darrelmw / Atlas Obscura User
  darrelmw / Atlas Obscura User
  darrelmw / Atlas Obscura User
circa 2014   Avoiding Regret
circa 2014   Avoiding Regret
Robo lights and beyond  
  Kristin Whitlow
  James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
  James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
  James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
  James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
  James Ricci / Atlas Obscura User
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
circa 2014   Avoiding Regret
  jlord7 / Atlas Obscura User
  WickedRunR / Atlas Obscura User
  WickedRunR / Atlas Obscura User
October 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  jondi letnap / Atlas Obscura User
  jondi letnap / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
  joeypesto / Atlas Obscura User
Robolights, Palm Springs 12/31/2018   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
  Findingbalance18 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Towering robots and strange Christmas scenes constructed from discarded electronics swarm this Palm Springs estate.

Since 1986, Kenny Irwin Jr. has been building the sci-fi holiday spectacle which has turned into a year-round event viewable from the street, although it's during the winter season that Robo Lights really comes to life with millions of lights and public access to the whole celebration.

There's a post-apocalyptic scene with "nuclear elves" in the tennis court, and Santa's sleigh, aka his "battlewagon," is pulled by a team of 12 robotic reindeer, while nearby the wise men come laden with microwaves. One robot stands 50 feet tall, and others have microwaves or other bits of found materials embedded in their chests in this ever-growing alien landscape of outside art. 

Update as of December 2019: The Robo Lights will not be running this year but may return in 2020

Update as of November 2020: Robolights is open but by appointment only.

Update as of December 2022: Robolights isn't open to going in anymore but parts can be viewed by walking on the street. It is not lit at night anymore.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Related Tags

Outsider Art Robots Sculptures Christmas

Community Contributors

Allison profile photo

Added By

Allison

Avoiding Regret profile photo R rebeccamleib1 profile photo tjmuehleman profile photo sophiestjacques profile photo

Edited By

Avoiding Regret, rebeccamleib1, tjmuehleman, sophiestjacques...

  • Avoiding Regret profile photo Avoiding Regret
  • R rebeccamleib1 profile photo rebeccamleib1
  • tjmuehleman profile photo tjmuehleman
  • sophiestjacques profile photo sophiestjacques
  • L LCinLA profile photo LCinLA
  • Erin Johnson profile photo Erin Johnson
  • Y Yendon profile photo Yendon
  • James Ricci profile photo James Ricci
  • jondi letnap profile photo jondi letnap
  • In Search of the Perfect Sunset profile photo In Search of the Perfect Sunset
  • Keri Kilgo profile photo Keri Kilgo
  • F Findingbalance18 profile photo Findingbalance18
  • W WickedRunR profile photo WickedRunR
  • J jlord7 profile photo jlord7
  • joeypesto profile photo joeypesto
  • K karaincal profile photo karaincal

Published

August 29, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.tackylighttour.com/lights/ROBOCHRISTMAS
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/garden/pink-robots-at-the-gate.html?pagewanted=all
  • http://www.avoidingregret.com/2016/12/photo-essay-upon-christmas-robot.html
Robo Lights
1077 Granvia Valmonte
Palm Springs, California, 92262
United States
33.831792, -116.535039
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Ruddy's General Store Museum

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Lee R. Baxandall Bridge

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Palm Springs

Palm Springs

California

Places 17

Nearby Places

Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Ruddy's General Store Museum

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Lee R. Baxandall Bridge

Palm Springs, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Palm Springs

Palm Springs

California

Places 17

Related Stories and Lists

16 Real Places That Look Like They're From the Future

science fiction

By Eric Grundhauser

Celebrate the Singularity: Robotmas is Invading the American Visionary Art Museum

By Allison Meier

Related Places

  • ‘La Grande Assiette Brisée’ (‘The Large Broken Plate’)

    La Louvière, Belgium

    ‘La Grande Assiette Brisée’ (‘The Large Broken Plate’)

    This surprising work of art reminds us that La Louvière was once home to one of Europe’s most famous stoneware factories.

  • ‘Black Holocaust Memorial’

    Savannah, Georgia

    ‘Black Holocaust Memorial’

    Papier-mâché folk art recognizing horrors of slave trade.

  • Gene Frankel Theater

    New York, New York

    'Dreams of Hyperion'

    A unique collection of figures perform down the facade of the Gene Frankel Theatre.

  • Gulliver's Foot

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Gulliver's Foot

    This giant foot is all that remains of a massive concrete play structure that once stood on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

  • Kovozoo (Metal Zoo)

    Staré Město, Czechia

    Kovozoo (Metal Zoo)

    Hundreds of "animals" created from scrap metal, alongside a collection of other oddities.

  • Fun!!

    Chickasha, Oklahoma

    Chickasha Leg Lamp

    A 50-foot-tall replica of the infamous lamp from 'A Christmas Story' illuminates this small town.

  • Two Spirits Carving

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    Two Spirits Carving

    A mysterious sculpture is hidden in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

  • Concrete Creations

    Brooklyn, Nova Scotia

    Concrete Creations

    A long and winding trail through an ancient forest of imaginative sculptures hidden behind a garden center.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.