The mystery of the "Extraterrestrial Highway"

Do you want to see aliens? If so, this highway is definitely a place to note! Deep in the Nevada desert, a lonely stretch of highway runs from State Route 318, famous for the "ghost town" of Crystal Springs, to US Route 6 (Warm Springs). It's known as Nevada State Route 375 – the "Extraterrestrial Highway" – because countless people claim to have witnessed UFOs along this route.

Nevada State Route 375 runs along the vast Nellis Air Force Base, home to the Nevada Test Site – Nellis Air Force Base, where many of America's top-secret missiles, aircraft, and weapons were tested since the 1950s. Even today, as you drive along America's "Highway of Extraterrestrial Life," you might occasionally hear a sound comparable to that of an F18 fighter jet taking off.

Route 375's notoriety, often dubbed "outlandish," stems from the mystery surrounding a facility known as Area 51—a highly classified military site of the U.S. Air Force—located within this Nevada test area. The area's official name is Homey Airport or Groom Lake, named after a large salt lake situated there.

This area, spanning hundreds of square kilometers, was primarily used for test flights of the Lockheed U-2 aircraft and several other projects afterward. But its notoriety doesn't lie there; it revolves around conspiracy theories involving flying saucers, alien landings, and UFO sightings.

Numerous "conspiracy theories" have been put forward by those interested surrounding Nevada State Route 375. In the mid-1950s, military aircraft flew below 12,192 meters, but when the Lockheed U-2 began flying above 18,288 meters, an unintended "side effect" was a surge in UFO sighting reports. Those who had seen them often claimed the phenomenon occurred most frequently in the early evening, as pilots flew westward, the U-2's silver wings reflecting the setting sun, giving the aircraft a shimmering appearance. Similarly, projects like OXCART (a reconnaissance aircraft known as the A-12) and NERVA (a thermonuclear rocket engine) at Area 51 inadvertently led many to believe they had seen UFOs, fueling numerous other rumors.

In 1989, an engineer named Bob Lazar fueled the UFO conspiracy theory by claiming on national television that he had worked on an alien spacecraft inside Area 51. As soon as his claim became public, a wave of curious people flocked to the site hoping to see a real UFO. Since then, the area has attracted many adventurous and curious individuals eager to uncover its supernatural "secrets."

Seeing the tourism potential, U.S. officials announced in February 1996 that Nevada State Route 375 would be named the "Extraterrestrial Highway." The small town of Rachel, the only settlement along this route, suddenly became a popular tourist destination.

A public ceremony honoring the Extraterrestrial Highway was held, attended by executives from Twentieth Century Fox and the leading stars of the then-current film “Independence Day”.

Since then, restaurants, hotels, and advertising signs in the area have all incorporated "extraterrestrial" themes as a way to attract tourists. Businesses in Rachel have flourished around the alien theme, with establishments like "The Little A Le Inn" (pronounced somewhat like "Alien") serving alien burgers. "The Little A Le Inn" became so famous that it even appeared in several "alien" movies, such as The X-Files and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Pat, the owner of Little A'Le'Inn, has lived in Rachel for 63 years. She consistently maintains that Area 51 conducts alien experiments and claims to have seen UFOs. "I actually saw a flying saucer about 15 years ago. It moved very strangely and at high speed. I think we live and work with aliens here every day. It's hard to prove, but I feel it clearly," she asserts.

To the west of Area 51 is Geocaching – an outdoor adventure game for treasure hunting, which also attracts many tourists because it has over 2000 hidden treasures along the highway and is an extremely exciting experience for visitors.

In addition, there are other "quirky" tourist attractions such as: the Alien Research Center, the Space Man Statue, and the Black Mailbox.

My Tong