UFOs are going mainstream. Here are 5 spots to visit if you're looking for aliens.
- A former military officer testified at a congressional hearing last week that the US has evidence of alien life.
- The country's fascination with aliens and UFOs has translated into big money for some tourism sites.
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:
The most fitting place to start a UFO tourism journey may be Roswell, New Mexico, the site of what many consider America's first UFO controversy.
Visitors who drive into the town of under 50,000 residents are greeted by a welcome sign that nods at Roswell's history.
Roswell's UFO lore dates back to 1947.
That year, speculation quickly spread that an alien spacecraft made landfall after an unidentified aircraft crashed in the town.
Now, Roswell is home to the International UFO Museum, which has collections of information dedicated to the 1947 incident and "other unexplained phenomena related to UFO research."
The incident's legacy lives on through Roswell's annual UFO festival.
This year's festivities, which took place in July, included laser shows and a moon-themed maze, according to the festival's website.
If you're looking for smaller-scale attractions, start in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, where, in 1965, locals alleged an acorn-shaped object lit the night sky before crashing into the woods.
The town also holds an annual UFO festival, with this year's iteration including a UFO-themed parade and hot dog eating contest, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
Those looking to see UFOs themselves can head to the UFO Watchtower in Hooper, Colorado.
In an area known for supposed UFO sightings, visitors can camp under the stars and have a view that owner Judy Messoline says "best places on the planet to view flying saucers," The Denver Post reported.
If you're ever driving through the southern half of California, stop at the Alien Fresh Jerky supermarket.
The location typically isn't associated with UFO encounters, but you can still have an alien-themed shopping experience at this supermarket.
The family-run business has big aspirations to transform the small town into a hotspot for UFO enthusiasts.
The shop's selection of beef jerky, including flavors such as "BBQ on the Moon" and "Abducted Cow Pineapple Teriyaki," are perfect for the road, according to the shop's website.
But it's hard to top the (gravitational) pull Area 51 has on UFO tourists. To reach it, take a trip on the Extraterrestrial Highway.
In 1996, Nevada's state government dubbed the highway with the cosmic name, and the state's then-governor even recommended the signs be laid flat for aliens to land on, The Los Angeles Times reported at the time.
Area 51 is a military base in the Nevada desert, and reports of UFO sightings near it date back to 1955.
What people really saw were top-secret US military aircrafts being tested, but the US government explained most of it away as "natural phenomena." Thus, the legend of Area 51 — and many alien-themed gift shops and businesses — was born.
Area 51 gained popularity again in 2019 when a Facebook event titled "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us" garnered millions of users to sign up for the raid.
Barely anyone showed up to actually storm Area 51, but the hype and public media attention it sustained showed that millions of Americans can be swept up in fascination of the unknown.
Popular Right Now
Advertisement