The ExtraTerrestrial Highway
In search of the phenomenon
The star system of Zeta Reticuli is unknown to most. Located 39.3 light years from Earth, it is a Binary star system. On clear nights when viewed from the southern hemisphere it is visible to the naked eye. It is from this dark corner of the universe that it is believed we are being visited by another intelligence. This is the stuff of late-night television and endless Youtube videos that have created a rabbit hole of the UFO phenomenon that I have fallen into more than once.
I didn’t bring my tinfoil hat on this trip but instead choose to keep an open mind as I turned onto the ExtraTerrestrial highway that heads west from Las Vegas. This area is home to the infamous Area 51 US Military base and has a long history of conspiracy theories regarding the possible existence of UFOs.
For a place so wrapped in a mystery, it was nothing special. But then again why should it? Being here gave me lots to think about as I followed the empty desert road that stretched long out beyond the horizon. What actually does go on here? Being an alleged hotbed of UFO activity that also happens to be next to a secret military base seems like pretty easy math for me. Although there are many hotly contested conspiracy theories that argue otherwise. I continued to drive along occasionally looking up into the sky half hoping to see something.
The town of Rachel Nevada with a population of 48 is the only town along lonely highway 375. Due to its proximity to Area 51, it has been the site of many films and a frequent destination for aircraft and UFO enthusiasts alike. I had to stop and check this place out.
The Little ÁléInn is the only restaurant that serves the ET highway. It has, as one would imagine an alien-themed interior with plenty of photos of UFOs, as well as the many celebrities that have visited there.
I met and chatted with the restaurant's quirky owner and browsed the photos and alien memorabilia that decorated the walls. I’ve always found the topic of life in other parts of the universe fascinating. Being there it felt as if all my favourite sci-fi films had secretly come to life. Over the years this place has gained cult-like status and being here now I could understand why. The place itself was something out of a movie and I loved how they embraced the wonderful weirdness that is the UFO phenomenon.
After a quick lunch, I said goodbye and headed out so I could do some exploring. The views of the surrounding landscape were incredible. I could understand why people would want to live out here. Endless open sky framed in by distance mountains. I walked around the few roads that made up the small town before feeling the urge to head back out on the highway.
Continuing on, I drove in silence as I thought about some of the questions regarding life outside our universe. Prominent NASA scientist, Carl Sagan once famously stated that ‘Great discoveries, require great proof’. As much as I want to believe in the existence of life visiting us from other worlds, grainy photos and a lack of concrete evidence don’t leave me especially convinced. Perhaps one day we will get to see one of the aliens being interviewed on Oprah. Though, as much as that would be good for ratings, I don’t think it’s going to happen.
Driving through the day I eventually arrived in the town of Tonopah. I stopped here for the night and took some time to walk around after a long day on the road. I continued to think about where I had been that day and the stories that made the place so famous. Whether there is any truth to the UFO phenomenon or not may never be known in our lifetime.
Regardless, my time driving the Extraterrestrial Highway brought me into a world where such things could exist and allowed me the freedom to imagine what might be out there.
