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| Extraterrestrial Hwy, Tonopah, NV 89049, USA (Hiko, Nevada)
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Nevada State Route 375
This desolate 98-mile stretch of two-lane highway in south-central Nevada has become a major attraction for UFO enthusiasts around the world, given the high amount of sightings of unidentified flying objects over the years. The road stretches from the city of Warm Springs on U.S. 6 to Nevada State Route 318 at Crystal Springs. It borders the Air Force installation known as the Nevada Test and Training Range (formerly known as Nellis Air Force Range) on its western side, which includes a remote patch of land named Groom Lake that is widely believed to house the infamous secret test facility known as Area 51. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, an average of 200 cars drive on the highway on a given day, which makes it "...one of the state's least traveled routes."
The Extraterrestrial Highway
Once known simply as Nevada State Route 375, the highway was officially renamed as "The Extraterrestrial Highway" by the Nevada Department of Transportation. The name was chosen given to the high amount of sightings of unidentified flying objects (which some to believe to be extraterrestrial in origin, while others believe they are nothing more than top-secret military aircraft) and due to its close proximity to the infamous Area 51. The re-naming was even given an official ceremony in Rachel, Nevada on April 18, 1996 with a dedication by then-governor Bob Miller. Also on hand were the cast and crew on the 20th Century Fox film, Independence Day, who used the opportunity to promote the film that opened later that July.
As part of the official declaration, new signs were availed that proudly declared State Route 375 as "Extraterrestrial Highway," along with "Warp 7" speed limit signs for any intergalactic visitors. Fox also donated a time capsule that contained such items as props from the upcoming film, pages of a shooting script for a new Star Trek movie from co-star Brent Spiner, models of stealth bombers, and a "universal gaming chip" for any extraterrestrials wanting a little action in nearby Las Vegas. The time capsule now sits in front of the world-famous Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel and is scheduled to be opened in the year 2050. Ironically enough, a local UFO research group protested the event because they believed the lack of seriousness took away from the true goal of welcoming contact with alien life forms.
The Groom Lake Park 'n' Ride
One of the many popular stops along the Extraterrestrial Highway is the so-called Groom Lake Park 'n' Ride, near the turn-off from Crystal Springs. The site is a popular photo spot for the now-famous "Extraterrestrial Highway" sign, which has since been further decorated with stickers and graffiti from visitors (presumably human-form) over the years. The spot gets its name since the adjoining lot reportedly is the location where workers of the infamous Area 51 park their cars in the comfy shade of a giant tree and are shuttled in to the facility.
Rachel, Nevada
Another popular stop is at the only town along the 98-mile stretch of highway. The town boasts a population of just below 100 citizens and is home to well-known Little A'Le'Inn - a restaurant/gift shop/inn that caters to UFO enthusiasts. In 2006, KFC constructed a 65,000 colored-tile version of their company logo in Rachel, touting it as the first logo visible from space. The logo was reportedly removed sometime after, but can still be viewed in the current Google Maps satellite images. Another popular feature of the town is the Rachel Alien Towing truck positioned just outside town, complete with a UFO saucer rigged up for tow.
The Black Mailbox
Located between mile markers 29 and 30 on the southwest side of the highway is the famous "Black Mailbox," which has become a popular gathering point for UFO watchers to keep an eye on the skies. The so-called "Black Mailbox" is actually now a white mailbox of a local rancher. He reportedly had to replace the original black landmark on March 27, 1996 with a white locked, bulletproof box, after finding some of those over-eager alien seekers going through his mail and/or shooting the box, filling it and his mail full of bullet holes. The enterprising rancher auctioned off the original black box for $1,000 to a UFO fan.
A road near the mailbox is reportedly the one that leads to Groom Lake and Area 51, but visitors can only travel so far down Groom Lake Road before they are met with signs warning against trespassing. The stated various penalties of passing that barrier include six months in prison, a $600 fine, and if those aren't enough to convince someone, there is always the ominous "Use of Deadly Force Authorized."
Back at the box, the area around it provides ample opportunity to pull over and keep a lookout for any unusual objects in the sky. It should be noted that parking in front of the mailbox or blocking the dirt road is not advised. However, this location is commonly used both day and night (some folks even camp here) to search the skies for UFOs and mysterious lights. According to reports, this is the best location for sky watching and there have been countless reported sightings from this spot over the years.
The Highway Today
There are reportedly no gas stations along the Extraterrestrial Highway today, so visitors are advised to fuel up before making the journey. It also not uncommon to find cattle crossing the road, so drivers should be advised to keep an eye on the road rather than the skies. As for the mysterious lights in the skies, there are still reported sightings of unusual aircraft in the area to this day and even strange encounters on the highway itself. Anyone who travels the road should be aware of the border that crosses over into Air Force property and do their best to avoid it. Trespassers that don't heed the warnings face the possibilities of fines, jail time, or something much, much worse. |
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| Related Sites |
Wikipedia: Nevada State Route 375
Wikipedia's entry on the famous Extraterrestrial Highway near the infamous Area 51 in Nevada and the site of many alleged UFO sightings. |
New York Times: Lonesome Highway to Another World?
An article from the New York Times about the 93-mile Nevada State Route 375 that is now officially known as The Extraterrestrial Highway, due to the large amount sightings of mysterious lights in the skies. |
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| See Also on TheCabinet.com |
| Blog: Extraterrestrials & Exorcisms (04/18/08) |
| Blog: The Black Mailbox on the Extraterrestrial Highway (03/27/09) |
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| Available from Amazon.com |
Empty Road Running through a Landscape, Route 375, Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada, USA Photographic Poster Print by Panoramic Images, 36x12 |
Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways. |
Travelers' Tales America: True Stories of Life on the Road (Travelers' Tales Guides) |
The Field Guide To UFOs: A Classification Of Various Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Based On Eyewitness Accounts (Field Guides to the Unknown) |
UFO Headquarters: Investigations On Current Extraterrestrial Activity In Area 51 |
Ufo Mysteries: A Reporter Seeks the Truth |
Extraterrestrial Highway |
Aliens in America: Conspiracy Cultures from Outerspace to Cyberspace |
Ghostly Encounters: True Stories of America's Haunted Inns and Hotels |
Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life |
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