ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

What actually happened at Area 51?

Sep 21, 2019, 4:14 PM | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 10:27 am

About 80 people gathered at the back gate of Area 51 at 3:00 a.m. on September 20, 2019 to 'See the...

About 80 people gathered at the back gate of Area 51 at 3:00 a.m. on September 20, 2019 to 'See them Aliens.' Colby Walker

BACK GATE OF AREA 51, Nevada — Floodlights lit up the 80 or so dedicated UFO and paranormal enthusiasts shortly after 3 a.m. on September 20th. That’s the time that the viral Facebook post written by Bakersfield California native Matty Roberts called on the internet to storm the secretive US Military base located in the remote Nevada desert.

Roberts though wasn’t one of those that was gathered in the cold this September morning. His party happened in downtown Las Vegas on the 19th after safety concerns were raised about what might happen if tens of thousands of believers and internet meme lovers descended on the small town of Rachel, Nevada.

The Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel Nevada just a few miles from Area 51.
Colby Walker

Even without the man who started the whole thing, spirits were high among those gathered at the back gate of Area 51 . They chanted “let them out” and some raised their signs that read things like, “run faster than their bullets” and “locked up for why?”

Sgt. Orlando Guerra with the Nevada Department of Public Safety was one of the law enforcement officers tasked with making sure things didn’t get out of hand throughout the course of the celebrations that happened this weekend. His investigative unit is based out of Carson City, Nevada more than 300 miles away.

“We’re out here assisting the Lincoln County Sheriff, he asked for help and so our division came out to help,” Sgt. Guerra said.

Guerra, along with his team, was just a small part of the massive law enforcement presence that was scattered throughout rural Nevada.

A few weeks ago both Lincoln County, where the majority of Area 51 sits, along with its neighboring Nye County declared states of emergency.

Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee said that designation allowed the county to gain resources from the state to help before the onslaught of curious travelers visited his county.

Units from across the state responded to help. One-hundred fifty additional police officers from across the state were brought in. They came from places as far away as Reno and Las Vegas, as well as other state and federal agencies like the BLM and the State Parks Service.


What it was like hunting memes outside Area 51


Though there weren’t the 30,000 people that they planned on coming to “see them aliens” Sheriff Lee said he was glad that things were mostly uneventful and that those in attendance were well behaved.

Utahns made up a good portion of those that were there in the middle of the night to look for answers and “see them aliens” as well.

A group of students from SUU left Cedar City at midnight to meet up with other stormers at the Back Gate of Area 51. Caroline Clements, Caycee Goodwin, Darren Smith, Jada Chepkwurui all said they’ve been interested in UFOs and figured this might be the place to find answers.

 

“I know aliens are real, but I wanted to see what Area 51 was actually like,” Chepkwuri said. “I’m not seeing anything but a gate though, and that’s better than nothing,” she continued.

The four said if they were to come back if this happens again, though they’d come more prepared. Most of them were dressed in shorts and t-shirts braving the 40-degree weather.

The SUU students were not the only Utah students in attendance.

Brennan Streader, Samuel Hallewell, Kevin Tatum, and Ashley Rookstool were also out visiting.

“We’re trying to find aliens,” Streader said.

Unfortunately, they didn’t find any aliens, but they did find plenty of people that said they’ve seen the aliens inside as well as some top-secret countersurveillance technology.

“It’s definitely been not something that I expected,” Rookstool said. “But it’s just funny to see the different kinds of people that are here and how different and weird everybody is. It’s fun.”

There were lots of tinfoil hats, a few inflatable aliens, and about 20 people who did actually try and Naruto Run towards the gates. They stopped just short though not actually wanting to see if they could outrun the bullets from those standing guard.

 

A Naruto Run refers to a form of running that involves spreading one’s arms behind the back. In an anime series, “Naruto,” this form allows a person to run faster than a bullet.

In total, out of the 80 or so people who were there eight of them, not including myself, were from Utah, which means that 10% of those that actually showed up were representing the Beehive state.

All in all, Sgt. Guerra said that things went well.

“They came in to see what they wanted to see and they left. It went good, everybody was cooperative and everybody listened to instructions and they got to see what they wanted to.”

About 80 people gathered at the back gate of Area 51 at 3:00 a.m. on September 20, 2019 to 'See them Aliens.'

Colby Walker An Area 51 stormer seen holding a sign that says 'run faster than their bullets' September 20, 2019. (Colby Walker) An Area 51 stormer seen dressed in a space suit. September 20, 2019. (Colby Walker) An Area 51 stormer seen holding a sign that says 'locked up for what?' September 20, 2019. (Colby Walker) The Black Mailbox outside Area 51

September 19, 2019. (Colby Walker) A note left in the 'Black Mailbox' near Rachel Nevada and Area 51. September 19, 2019. (Colby Walker) Matty Roberts was the creator of the Facebook event Storm Area 51.Seen here on September 19, 2019 at an Alienstock event in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Colby Walker) Road Closed sign leading to the back gate of Area 51. September 20, 2019. Colby Walker A KSL NewsRadio vehicle parked outside the back gates of Area 51 September 20, 2019. Colby Walker A visitor from California posing in front of the back gate of Area 51 on September 19, 2019 (Colby Walker) Another gate to Area 51 with visitors September 20, 2019. Colby Walker The Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel Nevada just a few miles from Area 51.

Colby Walker

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Arts + Entertainment

Flags fly in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (Spenser Heaps/Deseret News)...

Tammy Kikuchi

SLC organization to host Pride Festival at the end of June

SLC Pride will host Pride Festival at The Gateway at the end of June. The event director said their main goal is to ensure that everyone feels welcome. 

16 hours ago

FILE - The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo, on Sept. 28, 2020. US lawmakers are concerned about Be...

Laura He, CNN

Analysis: Is TikTok really Chinese?

U.S. lawmakers say they worry TikTok could share data with the Chinese government, what is the evidence that supports these concerns?

18 hours ago

Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers blocks a shot during the second half of a game against Ohio St...

Issy Ronald, CNN

March Madness: Here are the top seeds for the men’s NCAA basketball tournament

The top four seeds are the Connecticut Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, North Carolina Tar Heels and Houston Cougars.

1 day ago

An array of hats decorated for St. Patrick's Day is displayed at a park in New Orleans during an Ir...

KEVIN McGILL Associated Press

When it’s St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans, get ready to catch a cabbage

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The grandly colonnaded old city hall was designed by an Irish architect. A neighborhood near the wharves is still known as the Irish Channel. Landmark towers and spires of Catholic churches built for Irish immigrants dot the skyline. New Orleans is well known for a culture that evolved from early French […]

2 days ago

An aerial view of a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, on March 15 ...

Cheri Mossburg and Alli Rosenbloom, CNN

Cara Delevingne’s Los Angeles home destroyed in fire: ‘My heart is broken today’

A house fire devoured the Los Angeles-area home of actress and model Cara Delevingne early Friday morning, leaving two people injured.

3 days ago

One Life might be the newest Schindler's List....

Steve Salles

KSL Movie Show review: ‘One Life’ might just be the British version of Schindler

"Arthur the King" is a deeply inspiring story, sprinkled with a handful of cheese, but nonetheless, entertaining and emotionally tortuous.

4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

What actually happened at Area 51?