Atari video game burialAtari video game burial at a Glance
About Atari video game burial
The Atari video game burial refers to a private landfill site in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where the company Atari disposed of unsold game cartridges in 1983. The event became an urban legend and a notable story in video game history.
The burial site was the focus of a documentary-led excavation in 2014 that recovered a number of cartridges and packaging material, providing physical confirmation of the 1983 disposal. The recovered items included copies of the famously maligned E.T. game among other titles.
Atari arranged for the disposal of unsold inventory in 1983 following commercial and financial difficulties, a fact documented in contemporary reports. The 2014 excavation drew media attention and artifacts from the site have since been studied and exhibited.
The burial occurred at a municipal landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico; the site is not a conventional tourist attraction and access is restricted as it is on landfill property.
- 2014 excavation: A documentary-led excavation in 2014 exhumed large quantities of Atari cartridges and confirmed the long-standing local account of the 1983 burial.
Best Time to Visit Atari video game burial
If researching the Atari burial story, pair visits to local museums in Alamogordo and plan for cooler months to avoid summer heat.
Weather & Climate near Atari video game burial
Atari video game burial's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 35°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | -3° - 13° | 2° | 11 mm | mostly sunny | 48% | 3.1 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.1h |
| February | Excellent | -1° - 17° | 6° | 9 mm | mostly sunny | 44% | 3.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 10.9h |
| March | Excellent | 2° - 21° | 12° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 37% | 4.3 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Ideal | 6° - 26° | 16° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 29% | 4.5 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.9h |
| May | Ideal | 11° - 31° | 21° | 10 mm | mostly sunny | 26% | 4.2 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 13.7h |
| June | Ideal | 17° - 35° | 26° | 20 mm | mostly sunny | 27% | 3.7 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 14.1h |
| July | Ideal | 19° - 35° | 27° | 40 mm | some cloud | 41% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 13.9h |
| August | Excellent | 18° - 33° | 26° | 47 mm | some cloud | 44% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 13.2h |
| September | Excellent | 14° - 31° | 22° | 35 mm | mostly sunny | 45% | 2.9 m/s | 1.9 very high | 12.2h |
| October | Ideal | 7° - 25° | 16° | 23 mm | mostly sunny | 43% | 3.0 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.2h |
| November | Excellent | 0° - 19° | 8° | 10 mm | mostly sunny | 45% | 3.3 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.4h |
| December | Very Good | -3° - 14° | 3° | 16 mm | some cloud | 49% | 3.0 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 9.9h |
How to Get to Atari video game burial
The original burial was in the Alamogordo landfill near White Sands; the exact landfill location and public access are restricted and there is no public monument. For context and exhibits, visit local museums in Alamogordo and the area’s historical societies.
Tips for Visiting Atari video game burial
- There is no public memorial at the burial site - the original Atari burial took place in a local landfill and was long considered urban legend until parts were excavated in 2014.
- Visit the Alamogordo Museum or related exhibits in New Mexico for context on the 1983 burial and the excavation project.
- If you're interested in the story, read up on the 2014 excavation which confirmed and recovered many cartridges and consoles.