Roswell, New Mexico: Explore Earth’s Most Infamous UFO Hotspot

In 1947, a pilot named Kenneth Arnold claimed to have spotted a silver flying disc that was not of this world. Arnold’s alleged brush with the extraterrestrial ignited a wave of UFO sightings, including a highly publicized UFO “crash” just outside of Roswell, New Mexico.

In 1947, military officials stated in a press release that they had recovered a flying disc of extraterrestrial origin from a nearby ranch. In the days that followed, the powers that be were quick to revise their official statement and instead claim that they had recovered a boring old Earthly weather balloon.

Ever since the infamous “crash” of 1947, countless conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts have descended upon Roswell to research and explore what they believe is the most significant encounter human beings have ever had with beings from outer space.

The residents of the sleepy town of Roswell were initially embarrassed and perturbed by the influx of UFO hunters, but in recent years the town has embraced its interstellar legacy, Upon entering Roswell, visitors are greeted by a sculpture of a human family eagerly welcoming a green alien family to Earth created by artist John Cerney in 2013.

Statues of little green men emerging from silver spaceships can be found in several spots throughout the city of Roswell. The local McDonald’s is even flying saucer-shaped. If you pop in for a Big Mac and fries, you can have your picture taken with a spacesuit-clad Ronald McDonald.

UFO skeptics and enthusiasts alike are invited to visit the International UFO Museum and Research Center. The UFO Museum features artifacts, text, and audio recordings related to “The Roswell Incident.” Visitors can also attend guest lectures by enthusiastic UFOlogists who are up to date on the latest theories about what really happened at Roswell.

Visitors searching for a more immersive experience can visit the Roswell UFO Spacewalk to view out of this world space-themed art. If you’re a fan of lava lamps, the trippy neon planets of the Roswell UFO Spacewalk will bring you untold joy. Nearby Spaceport Roswell offers a virtual reality tour of Roswell, the Apollo 11 mission, and the red planet Mars.

No all-American road trip is complete without a visit to one of America’s most quirky and mysterious towns. If silver flying disc fever grips you, Roswell is home to plenty of gift shops where you can purchase your very own pocket-sized little green man.