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All the United States Arizona Holbrook The Plotz Plot

The Plotz Plot

For those going through a life transition, a place to leave behind a piece of your former self.

Holbrook, Arizona

Added By
Joshua Foer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The reconstructed Plotz Plot, now accepting contributions.   Joshua Foer
The reconstructed Plotz Plot, now accepting contributions.   Joshua Foer
The original Plotz Plot was destroyed in a windstorm and has since been replaced.   Joshua Foer
  Joshua Foer
David Plotz’s backpack.   Joshua Foer
The note on Plotz’s backpack.   Joshua Foer
06/09/2020 – Something has gone wrong.   bdboardman / Atlas Obscura User
Atlas Obscura community members involved in the reconstruction of the Plotz Plot.  
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the shed.   cheryltyler2020 / Atlas Obscura User
The shed.   cheryltyler2020 / Atlas Obscura User
Plotz at the Atlas Obscura Eclipse Festival in 2017.   davidplotz / Atlas Obscura User
Current contribution wall, November 2021.   greatbrit / Atlas Obscura User
  Yolpo0602 / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the shed. It’s a place of transformation, leaving the past behind. Things will be different.   ickaimp / Atlas Obscura User
The Plotz Plot is easily spotted on the horizon line.   gavendaandrew / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful spot!   ericarhenke / Atlas Obscura User
Panoramic of the Plotz Plot.   wilimina / Atlas Obscura User
Building, August 2023.   maryfarisandrade / Atlas Obscura User
Inside, August 2023.   maryfarisandrade / Atlas Obscura User
Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.   cheryltyler2020 / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the shed.   cheryltyler2020 / Atlas Obscura User
July 27th 2022.  
  bonnymoore / Atlas Obscura User
Sign on the door to the Plotz Plot.   WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
The current Plotz Plot with the old Plotz Plot scattered in front of it.   WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
Current contribution wall, November 2021.   greatbrit / Atlas Obscura User
Temp. problem - broken handle, USE CAUTION OPENING   lnadams / Atlas Obscura User
Don’t forget to sign the guest book.   haileynrogers / Atlas Obscura User
New sign on door 3-29-2025   lnadams / Atlas Obscura User
I-40 seen from Plotz Plot   lnadams / Atlas Obscura User
New shelves added Mar., 2025   lnadams / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Doug Wright 02-25-2025   dougdubya / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In 2020, to honor outgoing Atlas Obscura CEO David Plotz and his five years of service to the company, his colleagues purchased 1.18 acres of land in the middle of the Arizona desert on eBay. Located a mile from Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park, and 2,500 feet from historic Route 66, the Plotz Plot is the first place in the Atlas Obscura database created by Atlas Obscura itself.

Visitors to the Plotz Plot will discover an orange metal shed with a sign that reads: “For those experiencing a life transition: This is a place to leave behind a piece of your former self.”

Inside, shelves hold objects donated by members of the Atlas Obscura community who find themselves in the midst of personal transformation, and who wish to cast off a bit of their old lives. The first contribution to the Plotz Plot came from David Plotz himself. Its tag reads:

This Deuter Giga Bike Backpack represents the time I spent as CEO of Atlas Obscura. For more than five years, I commuted from my home in Washington to our headquarters in Brooklyn. I would say goodbye to family early Monday morning, board an Amtrak train, and return home late each Wednesday night. This backpack was my constant companion during those years. Now, I am leaving Atlas Obscura—and this backpack—behind to take my next adventure. —David Plotz, February 2020

The Plotz Plot is a pilgrimage site for people navigating major life transitions of all kinds. We invite those who find themselves in the midst of a personal transformation to cast off a symbol of their old lives, and leave it behind as a memento inside this growing museum. All are welcome to contribute.

We ask that any contributions be appropriately tagged. The code for the combination lock is “4444.” Please re-lock the door upon leaving.

Update: The original Plotz Plot shed was knocked down in a windstorm in 2020. In August of 2021 several members of the Atlas Obscura community met up in Holbrook, Arizona, to rebuild the Plotz Plot inside of a refurbished shipping container.

Further Update: In January 2025, Season 19 of the TLC show Sister Wives featured a visit to the Plotz Plot.

Listen to an episode of the Atlas Obscura Podcast about the Plotz Plot.

Related Tags

Atlas Obscura Deserts Route 66 Collections

Know Before You Go

The Plotz Plot is accessible from Adamana Road, off of I-40 exit 303, at 35.025639, -109.8195.

Community Contributors

Added By

Josh

Edited By

wilimina, DutchCello, emmahallg, davidplotz...

  • wilimina
  • DutchCello
  • emmahallg
  • davidplotz
  • WhiskeyBristles
  • ickaimp
  • maryfarisandrade
  • greatbrit
  • haileynrogers
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • gavendaandrew
  • bdboardman
  • lnadams
  • vsbrinkman
  • bonnymoore
  • velvetfpmanage
  • lailstock64
  • cheryltyler2020
  • ericarhenke
  • Yolpo0602
  • dougdubya

Published

March 2, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Plotz Plot
Holbrook, Arizona
United States
35.025639, -109.8195

Nearby Places

'Highway of Dreams' 1932 Studebaker

Holbrook, Arizona

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Petrified Forest National Park

Holbrook, Arizona

miles away

Arizona Sake

Holbrook, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Holbrook

Holbrook

Arizona

Places 7
Stories 1

Nearby Places

'Highway of Dreams' 1932 Studebaker

Holbrook, Arizona

miles away

Petrified Forest National Park

Holbrook, Arizona

miles away

Arizona Sake

Holbrook, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Holbrook

Holbrook

Arizona

Places 7
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

22 Unusual Things You Can Find in the Desert

List

By Jonathan Carey

The Plotz Plot

Podcast

By The Podcast Team

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