By the time we were a half-hour north of Las Vegas, we hardly saw another car. Later on, we stopped at E-T Fresh Jerky —open daily—to use the restroom, check out the kitsch and buy supplies, and I had a new appreciation for how remote and inhospitable, not to mention de-populated , the area around Area 51 really is.
Here, between and —when President George H. Bush signed congressional legislation mandating a moratorium on U. Mushroom clouds from the atmospheric tests could be seen up to miles away in the distance. This led to increased tourism for Las Vegas, and throughout the s and early s the city capitalized on this interest. Many guests could see clouds, or bursts of light from hotel windows, and the hotels promoted these sights.
Calendars throughout the city also advertised detonation times, as well as the best viewing spots to see flashes or lights or mushroom clouds.
This airfield, where that ill-fated C had been headed, was used to develop the U-2 spy plane in the early s. In , under Operation Nougat, nuclear tests moved underground. Both of these attempts were relatively harmless and posed no real threat. In cases where there has been more of an immediate danger, deadly force has been used. According to an NNSS press release , he was promptly shot dead on the scene after disregarding commands by the guards.
In short, attempting to break into Area 51 or any military facility would certainly not be worth the memes or Instagram followers, to say the least. After you pass Alamo and Ash Springs where, if necessary, you have the last chance to refuel , you have to get on NV for a short stretch and then turn left almost immediately at the next junction.
You will know that you have taken the Extraterrestrial Highway when, at the side of the road, you will notice a strange building with a giant alien rising above it. This is the Alien Research Center and the actual starting point of the highway. After 40 miles, in the middle of nowhere — the only life forms you may encounter are some cows lost in the desert — you will arrive at Rachel , which is the main reference point for those who travel the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Outside, there is the ID4 Monument , a time capsule placed in Rachel by the producers of Independence Day , which will be opened in In case you want to try and spot aliens in the Nevada desert at night, you can also make reservations to stay here overnight. Before I tell you how to get to Area 51 — or rather, how to get close to Area 51 — there is something important you should know.
When visiting Area 51, bear in mind that it is not an amusement park ; rather, it is a highly classified military base. Therefore, you must comply with the warnings that indicate the restricted area, where it is absolutely forbidden to go by car or on foot.
Until , there was a white mailbox that was a visible reference point that made it easy to see where to turn on Mailbox Road. At one time, this mailbox was painted black. It was one of the most mysterious and fascinating attractions of the Extraterrestrial Highway, because, naively, it was thought to be the mailbox of Area It was actually placed there by Steve Medlin, owner of a ranch in the nearby Tikaboo Valley.
Currently, the closest you can drive to Area 51 keeps you more than 15 rugged, carefully monitored, and lethally defended miles away. In addition to ghost towns and potential alien sightings, there are plenty of things to do near Area While the visit does not offer the chance to tour Area 51 itself, you can definitely get a sense for its Martian-esque terrain while piloting your own vessel around the surrounding wilderness.
The day trips launch daily out of Las Vegas and include lunch, snacks, personalized photography tips, and more Area 51 stories and lore than you can shake your antennae at. The perimeter of the military base is marked with orange posts and patrolled by heavily armed guards with zero tolerance for would-be tourists or B.
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