Tales of extraterrestrial encounters and alien arrivals have long had a place in the folklore of American cities big and small, but over the last few years, Americans have found more reasons to believe there's life beyond Earth.
The latest came at a congressional hearing last week, when a former US intelligence officer — the same one who once claimed the Vatican was part of a 90-year alien cover-up — said under oath that the government possesses evidence of "nonhuman," alien life.
More than than 40% of Americans believe at least some recorded UFOs have been alien aircrafts visiting Earth, according to a 2021 Gallup poll — up from 33% in 2019.
The growing belief in the extraterrestrial translates into big dollars for some of the hottest UFO tourism spots nationwide.
In Roswell, New Mexico, the city's annual UFO Festival in 2022 had an estimated economic impact totaling $2.19 million, despite the festivities only costing the small town just over $212,638 dollars, according to estimates from Roswell's Public Affairs Department.
If you're feeling a sense of intergalactic wanderlust, here are some of the most popular UFO tourism sites in the US: