Area 51 in December?

[Frank B]

We're heading South again in mid December, and sorta wanted to go to Area 51 / Rachel NV just as a different way to head to Las Vegas from Alberta.  We did Roswell a couple of years ago and it was fun.  We were hoping to do a quick tour of Area 51 as well.


I know that one cannot actually go to Area 51, and we probably won't even go down the dirt road to the back gate as it seems that there is precious little there to see.  However, a few questions:


1) What is there that might be worth stopping an hour or so to see in and around Area 51, and


2) Is anything touristy open the area in December, and what sort of weather can we expect?


3) Is there any legal place to park overnight in the area?  We are fully self contained, and just need a place to park.


I looked through the posts here, but found nothing from recent years giving much information.


Thanks!


Frank.

 

[edjunior]

I have no information to offer, as I have never been there (at least I can't tell you that I have or have not been there!!).  But it would be interesting to know this.  I never thought about this, and I don't think i ever remember seeing a post about Area 51.  That must be how secret it really is!!

 

[SeilerBird]

I have lived in Reno and in Las Vegas and been past 51 a number of times. There is absolutely nothing there to look at and no place to stay. Ironically I spent a few days in Roswell NM and the local Walmart has an alien store inside, when the hair salon usually goes. They has every cheesy souvenir with an alien tacked on. The craziest thing they sold was Area 51 towels. I didn't bother to tell them Area 51 was not in New Mexico. The street lamps in Roswell are shaped like alien heads.

 

[IBTripping]

Did I ever tell about the time I was abducted by aliens? Never want to see the probeulator again!!!  : : :

 

[Lou Schneider]

I would give Rachel, NV a pass.  There's absolutely nothing on NV 375 between US 6 and US 93 except for signs at each end proclaiming it the "Extraterrestrial Highway", a tired old UFO themed restaurant/bar and a couple of houses at Rachel.  Not worth the detour, IMO.

Most of the recent action is along US 95 on the other side of Groom Lake.  50 miles north of Las Vegas you'll come to on/off ramps and an underpass serving the Main Gate for Mercury and Groom Lake (Area 51).  Another 25 miles north at NV 373 (Amargosa Valley) is the "Area 51 Activity Center" gift shop and the Lathrop Wells Gate where all of the "Let's Invade Area 51" people gathered last September.

The Longstreet Inn Casino and RV Park is 15 miles south of there on NV 373 if you're looking for a place to stay.

 

[nvrver]

While living in Pahrump in 1999, and as a member of the Southern Nye County Amateur Radio Services I took part in ?SUNRISE 99 EXERCISE?.  This was an emergency exercise held on the Nevada Test Site, sometimes called Area 51.  My part was driving in my vehicle to see if I could make 2 meter contact from my mobile radio back to Pahrump.  Along with a few other club members we entered and exited the Mercury gate south of hwy 160 off  hwy 95S.  In the limited areas I was in, I didn?t see anything of real interest, but they did provide a good lunch.  It was put on by the Department of Energy and most emergency agencies from all of southern Nevada were in attendance.  Never been to Rachel so can?t offer info on that. 

 

[Frank B]

Lou:

Thanks for the insight.  Indeed, there is NOTHING on that road!  Only cell service appears to be from Verizon, and my Canadian phone won't work with them.

As to the other things, I may have found answers to some of the questions myself.  I'll post what I found for the benefit of anyone else wanting to know:

The Little Ale Inn has its own website, and it appears that they will be open if we decide to go that way.

http://www.littlealeinn.com/

As to the weather, I guess it is almost always sunny there, being desert and all.  Temperatures should be just above freezing during the 'heat' of the day, and down to -10 to -15 (celsius) during the night.  Actually colder than here in Calgary!  But Rachel is just short of 5,000' elevation, and Calgary is 'only' about 3,000', so maybe that is why.

Campendium shows an RV park there in Rachel, and they charge $20/night.  Nearest BLM lands are some distance away further down the highway toward Las Vegas.

https://www.campendium.com/little-a-le-inn

Frank.

 

[NewmanRacing]

This stop had good coffee.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Yesterday I was listening to KNYE and heard an ad for a Toys for Tots drive next Saturday (December 14) at the Sheri's Ranch brothel.  I love this town!   

 

[retusn]

Yesterday I was listening to KNYE and heard an ad for a Toys for Tots drive next Saturday (December 14) at the Sheri's Ranch brothel.  I love this town!   

I live in Pahrump and about 6 miles from Sheri's Spa and Resort.  Karen (owns KNYE) bought the radio station from Art Bell.  She is very involved in the community as is a heck of a lot of business's.  It is an incredible town.  The only thing I am disappointed in is:  I ain't seen a real space alien yet. 
Thanks for the kind words about our town.

 

[tanglemoose]

Hello, we visited that area in late October last year. Rachel is not worth visiting...  unless you drive by and take picture of flying saucer hanging from back of truck... the camping spots there are rough...at best. Did not try burgers, they are supposed to be good, wrong time of day.

We did buy some souvenirs at the shop on the junction of 93 and  318.  you can't miss it. Have 50 foot alien in front... we stayed at Picketts RV park in Alamo as the wind was howling. We did see a lot of Rvs parked at the two gas stations on hwy 93 in the back and side and guess no one cared.

You can stay at Pahranagat Refuge, looks like nice sites...

 

[prnebs]

I have lived in Reno and in Las Vegas and been past 51 a number of times. There is absolutely nothing there to look at and no place to stay. Ironically I spent a few days in Roswell NM and the local Walmart has an alien store inside, when the hair salon usually goes. They has every cheesy souvenir with an alien tacked on. The craziest thing they sold was Area 51 towels. I didn't bother to tell them Area 51 was not in New Mexico. The street lamps in Roswell are shaped like alien heads.

I know this is an old old post, but I was browsing and the subject caught my eye.  I was born & raised in Roswell.  My Dad's side of the family had been there since the ,20s.  Dad was in the service when the crash landing happened.  There was not ever any discussion with anybody in Roswell about the incident.  We moved in '66 after the SAC base closed, blocks & blocks of empty homes  Anyway, few years later went back for a funeral and the movie theater that I went to as a kid, paid 10 cents to get in (1st scary movie I remember was the Blob) had been turned into the museum.  Alien heads on the light post as you said, and this was before the Wal-Mart was built.  Even after all the publicity, after the records of the incident was released, when I tell someone I'm from Roswell, they get this look on their face & go Awwww - Area 51 huh.  Makes me turn green

 

[mel s]

As others have said: "Area 51 is the same NOTHING year 'round".

 

[Larry N.]

but I was trolling and the subject caught my eye.

As a side note, the term "troll" or "trolling" often has a rather negative connotation on the web, and especially in forums. I know you weren't using it that way, but from Merriam-Webster:

2 a : to antagonize (others) online by deliberately posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content ? trolls engage in the most outrageous and offensive behaviors possible?all the better to troll you with.? Whitney Phillips

b : to act as a troll (see troll entry 3 sense 2) on (a forum, site, etc.) ? is also notorious, for trolling message boards on the Internet, posting offensive material he himself has written and then suing anyone who responds in agreement.? Mark Hemingway

I just thought you should be aware.

 

[SpencerPJ]

)  Surfing is the better word I think.

 

[prnebs]

As a side note, the term "troll" or "trolling" often has a rather negative connotation on the web, and especially in forums. I know you weren't using it that way, butm Merriam-Webster:
I just thought you should be aware.

Thanks Larry!  You are right, I didn't mean it to be that way.  From now on I'll use browse or surfing (Thanks SpencerP).  My apologies!

 

[SpencerPJ]

Thanks Larry!  You are right, I didn't mean it to be that way.  From now on I'll use browse or surfing (Thanks SpencerP).  My apologies!

Thanks for the story, I enjoyed it.  I've always been intrigued with Area 51 stuff, being from the Midwest, we are certain ya'll are hiding things out there.  ;D ;D

 

[edjunior]

I know this is an old old post, but I was browsing and the subject caught my eye.  I was born & raised in Roswell.  My Dad's side of the family had been there since the ,20s.  Dad was in the service when the crash landing happened.  There was not ever any discussion with anybody in Roswell about the incident.  We moved in '66 after the SAC base closed, blocks & blocks of empty homes  Anyway, few years later went back for a funeral and the movie theater that I went to as a kid, paid 10 cents to get in (1st scary movie I remember was the Blob) had been turned into the museum.  Alien heads on the light post as you said, and this was before the Wal-Mart was built.  Even after all the publicity, after the records of the incident was released, when I tell someone I'm from Roswell, they get this look on their face & go Awwww - Area 51 huh.  Makes me turn green

Very cool.  Do you have any pictures of the place from "back then".  I've never actually been there, but the nostalgia just even talking about it evokes is kinda cool.  Especially those pictures of Area 51 (<gigglesnort>).

 

[prnebs]

Very cool.  Do you have any pictures of the place from "back then".  I've never actually been there, but the nostalgia just even talking about it evokes is kinda cool.  Especially those pictures of Area 51 (<gigglesnort>).

,

I have a lot of pics of Roswell (NM), just not on the computer though. There has been a lot of tv show/pod casts about the incident, what it really was.  Best thing to do would find something online. 

Sorry, can't help with pics of Area 51 (NV)!  They are pretty strict about that!  ;D