In 2015, a pair of ufologists named California the state with the most unexplainable night-sky sightings. In honor of World UFO Day (July 2), we reminisce on a few tales from the desert’s extraterrestrial hot spots.
For more on World UFO Day, visit worldufoday.com.
Joshua Tree Retreat Center
More than 100 witnesses reported a bevy of fast-moving, colored lights in the sky over this center during the 2016 Contact in the Desert UFO festival. jtrcc.org
Integratron
George Van Tassel built this domelike white “tabernacle” in 1960. He claimed the construction plans came to him telepathically from a Venusian alien. integratron.com
Edwards Air Force Base
President Eisenhower detoured here in 1954 while vacationing in Palm Springs, reportedly to visit a group of jetlagged ETs. edwards.af.mil
Cultus Camp
Curious reports led Travel + Leisure to send a writer UFO-hunting at this Pioneertown Airbnb. However, she only glimpsed the space station. cultuscamp.com
San Gorgonio Pass
In 1952 — 30 years before the wind farm was built — four eyewitnesses observed a glinting blue-and-yellow diamond and a red flashing light fly through the mountain pass.
• See related story: Whitey Strieber tells about being abducted by aliens.