Stretching for 98 miles across Nevada’s nearly empty Great Basin, the Extraterrestrial Highway is one of the West’s least traveled roads. On a typical day only about 200 cars travel along this road and Rachel, the only town on the highway has a population of 54 hardy people (and an undisclosed population of aliens.) But this rarely used road can boast more stories and more rumors than any of the congested freeways in LA. The nearest entrance to Area 51, the former site of the “Black Mailbox,” and the nearly daily UFO sightings have attracted the curious, conspiracy theorists, adventurous tourist, those with a sense of humor, believers , and sometimes outright nuts to this spot in the desert.
Area 51. That simple phrase conjures up images of conspiracies, little green men, UFOs and government agents in black suits and dark sunglasses. Regardless of what it really is, there is no longer any dispute that it is there. Is it just a military base developing and testing cutting edge aircraft, or is it where the government took the bodies of aliens and the remains of their spacecraft after crashing near Roswell, New Mexico? Whatever is going on out there we aren’t supposed to know, and it is that forbidden fruit that piques our interest and creates curiosities so strong that it attracts visitors from around the globe to the boundaries of Area 51 just miles down a dirt road off of the Extraterrestrial Highway.
The Black Mailbox that was located just to the west of the highway was rumored to be the mailbox for the nearby Area 51. The real purpose is nothing so nefarious as a clandestine drop spot for the most secretive military installation in the world. Instead, it is (or more accurately was) simply the mailbox of a nearby rancher. The notoriety of the mailbox led not only to his mail being stolen out of the box, but eventually the box itself being stolen. Even though the mailbox itself is no longer there, it is still a popular spot for UFO watchers to gather at night waiting to catch of glimpse of something that proves there is life out there beyond the stars.
So next time you are out wandering the back roads of Nevada, make sure to take a trip down the Extraterrestrial Highway. Who knows? Maybe you will have your own close encounter that will make you a believer.
Rachel, Nevada June 2012
I love this type of stories related to UFO. I’m a fan, very good job! The cover with the skull is amazing!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Through my job I have been out to the desert many times and seen some strange things including alien skulls (even if they aren’t real.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great story with added touch of humor. I’ve always meant to visit this place when I was in Nevada, it’s a shame I didn’t get the chance. Thanks for sharing this article, I truly enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. We’re glad you enjoyed it and hope that that when you make it back to Nevada you’ll have a chance to drive the ET Highway.
LikeLike
Really like this type of stories 🙂 They are really fascinating, thans for sharing
LikeLike
Thanks. We’re glad that you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Nice one. UFO stories are always interesting. I would love to go try to catch some aliens, haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you are in the middle of the desert you never know what you might see.
LikeLike
Haha! This story can be the perfect start of a Scooby Doo episode. I’m already picturing it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t thought about it that way. I loved Scooby when I was a kid so many it subconciously worked its way into my story.
LikeLike
wow it’s not often you come across a UFO story. And this that skull real?! nice work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It’s not real, but I keep looking for the real thing every time I’m in the desert.
LikeLike
I watched a couple of documentaries on area 51 and I think it was in a Men In Black movie too! I never imagined driving down the extraterrestrial highway! Next time I do a road trip and I go through Nevada I’ll arrange my route to pass area 51!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh this is interesting. I am very interested in this kind of stuff and I’d looove to come out there and check out these places. Love a good UFO investigation
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope one day you will be able to. There are many odd and interesting things on the highways of the American west.
LikeLike
Haha yes was fun to read, I am still wondering which kind of letters this rancher must have received during the time the mailbox was there 🙂
I really pity now that we missed this spot on our road trip last year also through Nevada.
I was always fascinated by Area 51 and read a lot about this. For the next tip west / mid of US I will make sure to also check out this Extraterrestrial Highway, for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That means that you have a reason to make another trip back out to Nevada. We also seem to need to make return trips whenever we go somewhere because there is never enough time to do everything.
LikeLike
I’m not entirely sure I believe in aliens and all the stuff that happens out there. But, I think I’d probably avoid that area just to be safe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh! Always love stories associated with UFO! “The truth is out there” recalls my memory of watching The X Files 🙂 Amazing cover photo of the skull, btw 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The name Extraterrestrial Highway conjures up all types of other-worldly images. Even though I don’t believe that aliens actually exist, I still reading about UFO’s and watching UFO documentaries. Exciting stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s fun to think about what might be out there. I think it would be cool to explore this area to see what you could come up with. Looks like you had a good time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a lot of fun. No sightings, but that just gives us a reason to go back one day.
LikeLike
oh now i wanna travel this road. Not because of the ufo stories actually, but just because is one of the less travelled roads. I like this weird things 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks straight out of X files. I’m a bit cautious about going to places like these because you never know what you may encounter. However, I can understand why travelers remain intrigued by this location because it’s so mysterious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard of the black mailbox! I used to love the show Roswell and I really wanted to check out Area 51. I had forgotten about it until your post! What a fun area to explore! It’s so mysterious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so cool. I am a huge fan of X-Files and extra-terrestrial life that the whole Area 51 mystery is so much a part of growing up. Going to Nevada to witness this and maybe have an encounter would be high up in my list of wanna have life experiences.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! I love these kind of mysteries. Really intriguing post. I’d like to go there and check it out in real life. Very tempting 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember watching Roswell, X-Files and MIB with my sister before. This would be an interesting roadtrip for us! Just to relive those days and yeah, who knows, we might encounter something. Haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice stories with humorous touch. Such mysteries added great adventure. I was in naveda but did not encounter any such thing. Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person