More than a million people have signed up to storm Area 51, the United States Air Force Facility in Nevada that has been widely associated with top secret alien activity in pop culture

For decades, the secretive US military base has been a target for alien conspiracy theories. Now, everyone’s talking about Area 51 thanks to a satirical Facebook event “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us“, where more than a million people have since RSVP’d to “see them aliens” and another million who have indicated their interest.

What is Area 51?

Located in south Nevada and about 240 kilometres from Las Vegas, Area 51 is highly classified active military base of the United States Air Force. It’s publicly known as a flight testing facility, but conspiracy theorists believe that crashed extraterrestrial unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and alien specimens are stored at Area 51, due to reported sightings over the decades.

Who is Storming Area 51?

Created on 27 June 2019, the page creators indicated their plans: “We will all meet up at the Area 51 Alien Center tourist attraction and coordinate our entry. If we naruto run, we can move faster than their bullets. Let’s see them aliens.” (Naruto run is a running style popularised by the Japanese anime where the character sprints with his arms stretched behind him.)

Of course, the viral event ignited all sorts of memes with animations, videos, and illustrations of how to rescue, care for, and even simulations of living with aliens. Celebrities and prominent figures, including Miley Cyrus and Elon Musk, have also contributed their share to the meme pool on Twitter. Viral rapper Lil Nas X even released an Area 51-themed music video of his latest remix of “Old Town Road”.

The Internet joke was quickly picked up by mainstream news outlets BBC, CNN, Forbes, ABC and many more, with Fox News recently reporting it on live TV.

The United States Air Force has since issued an statement against the overblown joke, stating that Area 51 “is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces.”

Can I Visit Area 51?

Well, the US Air Force has made it clear that Area 51 is not open to the public (again, it’s a highly classified military base!), but the nearby area are popular among sci-fi fans and travellers looking for an out-of-this world experience. Here are some of the places you can visit near Area 51:

1. Extraterrestrial Highway

Officially known as Nevada State Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway is a 158-kilometre stretch that runs parallel to Area 51. Many travellers who have driven through the Extraterrestrial Highway claimed to have seen strange lights and UFOs. If you’re looking to explore extraterrestrial activity too, remember to have extra petrol in your car boot!

Location: SR 318 at Crystal Springs (South end) / US 6 at Warm Springs (North end)

2. Rachel, The UFO Capital of the World

The tiny town of Rachel only has a population of about 40 residents, but they’re always kept busy by travellers looking to explore the mysterious Area 51. Rachel’s local restaurant, Little A’Le’Inn, is also a bar and inn! It’s the only place to stop along the Extraterrestrial Highway, so don’t miss the opportunity to stretch yourselves and replenish on supplies. Plus, there are lots of alien-themed souvenirs for you to get your hands on.

Location: 9631 Old Mill Rd, Alamo, NV 89001, USA

3. Alien Research Center

For more alien merchandises, head over to the Alien Research Center! Apparels, mugs, hats, magnets, books, you name it. You don’t have to worry about locating the Alien Research Center, because the humongous metal alien is hard to miss!

Location: 100 NV-375, Hiko, NV 89017, USA

4. ET Fresh Jerky

If you’re looking to relieve yourself after a long drive, ET Fresh Jerky promises the cleanest restrooms in the area. The eclectic store provides free beef jerky samples of various flavours (could be alien meat, who knows?), including “Turkey Terrestrial Teriyaki” and “Hell Hole Hot”, before you decide on your favourite one to buy. Candies, drinks, dried fruits and nuts are also available here. Souvenirs are aplenty, but its life-size alien murals outside the store are probably the most popular among travellers.

Location: 12600 US-93, Hiko, NV 89017, USA

5. The National Atomic Testing Museum

Located in Las Vegas, The National Atomic Testing Museum organises Nevada National Security Site tours near Area 51 where you can access an old, restricted nuclear-testing area of 400 kilometres. Expect to see remnants of a constructed town, a radioactive waste complex, and one of the largest man-made craters on Earth.

Location: 4V72+MJ Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

👽 If you’re storming Area 51, let us know what currencies are accepted beyond Earth! We may just add it on to the 150+ currencies we support on this planet. 😜

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Enjoy a worldwide fees-less travel experience!