WHAT IS AREA 51?
“Area 51″ is a block of government land about 95 miles north of Las Vegas. It is surrounded by the Nevada Test Site and the Nellis Air Force Range. The name “Area 51″ supposedly came from a designation appearing on an old map of the Nevada Test Site. Inside Area 51 is a large Air Force base, near the shore of Groom Dry Lake, that the government does not publicly acknowledge. The airspace around the base is off-limits even to most military pilots and is referred to on aviation frequencies as “Dreamland.”
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE GROOM LAKE BASE?
The base at Groom Lake has traditionally been America’s testing ground for the latest generation of secret aircraft. The U-2, A-12, SR-71 and F-117A were flight tested here long before being
made public. Since the government won’t acknowledge anything about the base, it’s hard to be know what is going on there now. Common rumors suggest two possible new aircraft, an ultra-high speed spy plane known as “Aurora” and a smaller version of the B-2 which purportedly might replace the F-117A. Most projects at Groom are probably more mundane, though, and of interest only to hard-core military buffs.
WHERE DO WATCHERS GO?
About 130 miles from Las Vegas, at Mile Marker LN 29.5 on remote Nevada Highway 375, is a lone mailbox used by a local rancher. Since this “Black Mailbox” is the only landmark on this stretch of
the highway, this is where the true believers come. Many visitors claim to have seen flying saucer here, although the rancher himself claims to have seen none. There is a lot of intense
military war games activity in this area that produces a lot of flares and other interesting lights in the sky–great “UFOs” if you want to see them.
There used to be two viewpoints on public land close to the border–White Sides and Freedom Ridge–where a visitor could legally view the secret Air Force base. These areas were closed
by the Air Force in April 1995. You can still see the base from a distant mountain, Tikaboo Peak, but it requires a strenous 1-1/2 hour hike from a remote dirt road.
WHAT ARE THE “CAMMO DUDES”?
That’s the nickname for the anonymous private security force that patrols the military border. They wear camouflage fatigues without insignia and drive white Jeep Cherokees with government
plates. They keep close watch on any visitors that come within a few miles of the border, but they are under orders to avoid contact.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF VISITING THIS AREA?
The greatest danger is wandering across the unfenced military border, which would result in your immediate arrest and a fine of up to $600. Wherever a road crosses the border, it is marked by
clear “Restricted Area” signs which should not be crossed. In the desert, the border is marked by orange posts every 50 yards. It is unwise to hike near the border at night because the posts
become invisible.
Another major danger, when driving, is getting stuck on an remote, unmaintained dirt road that your vehicle cannot handle.
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