Visited Area51 April 2010

Hello ATSers,

I've been a long time member but usually just a lurker as I never have much to add, but definitely appreciate the site and all the research that goes into things.

Recently my wife and I took our first trip to Vegas and I made her go with me to Rachel and to see the famed security gates of Area51. We rented a car from our hotel on the strip and took the 2 hour drive north.

Some observations:

- I thought Rachel would be much bigger. They have only 74 inhabitants and the entire 'town' (more like a village) could fit in one of the parking lots at my job

- It is high desert there - while it was 75 when we left the Vegas strip, it was in the high 40s near the gates

- Never in my life have I felt more isolated. Out in the middle of nowhere doesn't even do it justice

- The little AleInn is a great spot - very cool and they have tons of government conspiracy stuff all over the walls (pics of Jon Lear and some other folks I have read about on this site)

- We talked to several locals who said they believe the site has nothing to do with anything extra-terrestrial but that they have all seen things they can't explain. One lady gave us a great story about a craft that was jumping between locations, almost like it was on a track (her words). She said the object was not cornering like conventional aircraft but was 'jumping' across her field of view.

- If you get the chance to go there while in Vegas, do it! The drive is absolutely beautiful and peaceful. The people in Rachel were really friendly and were willing to talk as long as we stayed. We bought some souvenirs from the shop and had lunch there (the beer is cold as well!).

- The drive to the gates was exhilarating. Granted you don't see anything and the road is dirt, but just to think that you are somewhat close to where our most advanced aircraft was and is being developed is a rush. Not to mention all of the stories I've read here and TV shows about the place - for any conspiracy fan it was great (you'll need an understanding wife too which thankfully I have).

- The drive is 4 hours total and you will not have cell phone signal once you are 20 minutes outside of Vegas. Print out your directions or save them as a text in your phone. I don't know if navigation works as we had a rental.

- We were told that photographing the signs is no problem, but do not under any circumstances take pics of the camo dudes or the personnel. You will see in my pictures that I don't take a chance. Just know that on the ones from the front gate, there is the white truck that you've heard about and some have taken pictures of that is on the right side just off the frame. There were two men sitting in it with binoculars watching me the whole time. It was exciting and very eerie.

Here is the link to the part of our gallery that you can see the shots we took. I didn't embed them because there are a bunch. Thanks for looking and for all you guys do on the board. Nothing earth shattering here but I didn't see a good fit for this post in BTS.

Enjoy (click the right arrow to advance for those that haven't used Picasa)

Click Here for Pics

Luke

cool.

And sweet Kias get everywhere even area 51

wow that hotel is amazing. or casino even. meh i give up

[edit on 14-4-2010 by Luke.S]

Great pics! Thanks for posting them.

Wow...those were some pretty cool pics! Looks like you had quite an adventure. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for checking them out. It was our first time to Vegas (first for each of us ever) and it was an awesome time. The sidebar to Rachel was a blast for me and eventually she got into it when she saw the security around the facility and heard the folks from Rachel talking.

Seriously the AleInn is a trip. I wanted to get a room there and watch the skies but we had to fly home the next day to Florida.

I would so love to just go there and pass the gates xD
My curiosity is so big!

These pictures are just great. Sure, I've seen the restaurant and mailbox on TV, but the scenery is beautiful to me. Perhaps because I've never been to the desert.
Those long dirt roads are crazy.


Man, i really wanna visit Vegas.

Wow some great pic there mate, did you see anything strange lol?

Looks fun, thanks for sharing.

Saw some of your other pictures as well, Ultra is pretty bomb. You seen any of those pokeballs around?

lol - later

Great pictures it's just too bad that photography can't compare with the real thing. It sure is a loooonnnngg drive!

That was cool. Thanks for sharing. Venetian > Area 51!

Kind of funny...
I was stationed at 29 Palms for a little bit and it's funny how all the high desert areas look the same.

Now what's even stranger is:

While I was in 29 Palms, I went exploring and drove way off the beaten path. If anyone is familiar with 29...I was out past Camp Wilson. Now there are signs kind of like the ones you pictured at the Area 51 entrance, minus the US Air Force portion. I remember seeing a runway with a F-18 sitting on the flight line. The F-18 had NASA on the tail and was painted blue and white.

Like this:
NASA F-18

Within about 30 seconds of admiring this fine aircraft I was approached by the MP's and asked what I was doing. I showed them my military ID and explained I was stationed in 29 and decided to do a little exploring. He told me even with my secret security clearance I was not able to be there. I asked him what goes on out here and he told me it was classified. Now I am not sure if he was pulling my leg or not but he and another MP escorted me back to the main area of 29 Palms. One in front and one behind me as we drove.

If memory serves correct from my 29 Palms orientation brief...it is like 900 square miles (don't quote me on that, it was like 5 years ago). We have been back there for field operations but were strictly forbidden from travelling beyond a certain imaginary line set by those with the shiny stuff on their collars. So who knows what goes on out there.

Not sure if it means anything but those pictures brought back that memory.

we should get jesse ventura and his bunch to storm the gates

Originally posted by Danna
I would so love to just go there and pass the gates xD
My curiosity is so big!

Oh for sure. I thought of all kinds of ways to try to get better views, but they have done an excellent job of using the mountains as shields. I see now why they bought Freedom Ridge and made that off-limits.

Originally posted by KainRich
These pictures are just great. Sure, I've seen the restaurant and mailbox on TV, but the scenery is beautiful to me. Perhaps because I've never been to the desert.
Those long dirt roads are crazy.


Man, i really wanna visit Vegas.

It is really beautiful. I was surprised how pretty it was as I'm only familiar with forested mountains like in NC or CO. As touristy as it was I stopped and spent some time looking at different cactus plants because they were so different.

The other part that is crazy is the vastness of the land. You can clearly see where you are going but it takes so much longer than what your mind thinks it should. The West truly is spectacular

[edit on 4/15/2010 by Illuminus]

reply to post by Illuminus



Thank you for sharing that I really enjoyed the read and the photos!

Originally posted by Scope and a Beam
Wow some great pic there mate, did you see anything strange lol?

The strangest thing was the isolation. Having grown up in urban areas and lived in cities my whole life, it was very weird to be in a place with literally no other people or signs of civilization. It was both refreshing and lonely at the same time (granted my wife was there but she was sleeping for much of the drive).

The locals said that they see strange stuff all of the time but have learned if they wait a few years, they usually see the press release or see pictures of what they saw in action. One of the guys at the bar said that they loved seeing the Stealth before they knew what it was because it was so different. We didn't see anything in the air at all (it was Easter Sunday) but of all the places I have been - I don't think there is a better place to stargaze. The sky is huge!

Originally posted by GreenBicMan
Looks fun, thanks for sharing.

Saw some of your other pictures as well, Ultra is pretty bomb. You seen any of those pokeballs around?

lol - later

Ultra is a blast, bro. This is the first year we missed but we will be back in 2011. Thanks for checking out the galleries

Great photos. looks like a fun time.
Thanks for sharing

Thanks again to all of you for your comments and checking out the pics. We wanted to wait and see the white buses but without knowing what their schedule is, there isn't much to do to occupy your time out there.