Extraterrestrial

“Hey Alexa: Let’s see them aliens!” Visitors to Nevada make contact with a lot of odd things. Monster museums. A micronation in the middle of the state. Maybe even a haunted hotel or two. But all this extraterrestrial themed stuff… alien masks, jerky shops, music festivals… what gives? It all probably comes back to the fact that Nevada is the home of Area 51, the infamously (no longer all that) secret unit of the U.S. Government’s Nevada Test and Training Range that is rumored to house a fleet of extraterrestrial spacecraft and, as the internet jokingly (or otherwise) wondered in 2019, extraterrestrial life forms themselves. Curious? Pilot your vessel down Nevada State Route 375, otherwise known as the Extraterrestrial Highway. Whether you make extraterrestrial contact or not, you may still get into the lore or, better yet, have a close enough encounter with a story-telling local or two that you go home inspired to dig into some of the conspiracies yourself.

Explore Extraterrestrial Nevada

E.T. Fresh Jerky

Explore Extraterrestrial Nevada

Highlights

Road Trip the Extraterrestrial Highway
Area 51 & the Alien Research Center
The Little A’Le’Inn & E.T. Fresh Jerky

The truth is still out here. Those lights coming toward you might be a satellite or your buds stumbling in search of your campsite… but then again, they might not.

What is an Extraterrestrial?

THE TRUTH IS OUT HERE.

Season

All Seasons

Region

Central

So what is an extraterrestrial? Basically, that’s the original fancy science word for those little green dudes we call aliens. Remember the movie E.T.? That’s what it’s short for. (In fact, if you dig movies, you’ve definitely had some extraterrestrial sightings right here in Nevada—at least on-screen, in Independence Day, Paul, and Mars Attacks, to name a few.) But there’s another reason why it may not be all that surprising why—Area 51 aside—many visitors look to our skies and think they see, well, other types of visitors: Nevada’s night skies are among the darkest—and therefore brightest—in the nation.

So that flying object you can’t identify might just be a satellite. That bright spot you can’t take your eyeballs off might just be the center of the Milky Way galaxy. And those lights coming toward you might just be your buds stumbling in search of your campsite (it’s really that dark). But then again… it might not.

alien saucer on a crane at the aleinn motel — Little A’Le’Inn

motorcycle rider on extraterrestrial highway — E.T. Highway

Don’t be a space invader. Area 51 is real—it’s also part of an active military base guarded by some of the heaviest security on Earth. If you find yourself close by, obey all posted signs and don’t even think about trespassing.

Traveling the ET Highway to the town of Rachel today, whether you spy any unidentified flying objects yourself or not, promises some elbow rubbing with the folks who live these stories every day. You’re sure to meet some colorful characters at the Little A’Le’Inn (if not little green ones), as well as get your hands on some alien swag, investigate photographic evidence of “real” alien encounters in the region, and knock back an Alien Amber Ale to complement your Alien Burger.

Extraterrestrial Sightings in the Silver State

Nevada’s place in extraterrestrial pop culture can be traced to Bob Lazar, a former Area 51 Air Force staffer who told a series of colorful stories to Las Vegas television stations back in the 1980s, most notably recounting his experiences working on flying saucers and alien spaceships in the Tikaboo Valley, just south of the town of Rachel, Nevada. Though the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program—a study of aerial phenomena conducted by the U.S. Government—was a real thing, stories around here are less official but equally as intriguing.

woman taking a picture of giant alien statue at the advanced aerospace threat identification program — Alien Research Center

True Tales & Travel Tips

Do U(FO) Believe?

Beam Me Up

Whether you’re a die-hard alien enthusiast or need a little convincing on little green ones, the #ETHighway is the go-to place for seeking signs of extraterrestrial life. Set phasers to “fun” and beam yourself to some of our favorite outta-this-world spots.

#ETHighway

Had a close encounter with anything extraterrestrial in Nevada? Road trip with the aliens, and be sure to tag #ETHighway while you do. If we love your photo, you may find it featured here!

Extraterrestrial

What is an Extraterrestrial?

THE TRUTH IS OUT HERE.

Extraterrestrial Sightings in the Silver State

Do U(FO) Believe?

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