UFO Watchtower - Hooper, CO
N 37° 47.313 W 105° 53.232
13S E 421882 N 4182725
Don't miss the world-famous UFO Watchtower along the "Cosmic Highway" (State 17) in the heart of the San Luis Valley.
Waymark Code: WMGCTP
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 02/15/2013
Views: 3
Brainchild of Judy Messoline, owner of a failing cattle ranch, the UFO Watchtower is a tourist attraction that contains all things alien. The watchtower is a large observation platform located above a gift shop and also features a healing garden and campground. The watchtower has attracted more than 20,000 visitors since its opening in 2000 and garnered world-wide attention.
Visitors come from all over come with hopes of experiencing some of the strange phenomenon often associated with the San Luis Valley. The watchtower is located about 2 miles north of Hooper near the intersection of State 17 and County Rd D. Billboards along the side of the highway point the way to a small ranch with a sign welcoming UFO visitors. (Another sign at the tower warns: "Not responsible for accidents OR abductions"). Admission is $2 per person or $5 per car and primitive camping is available for $10 a night.
The tower itself is an open platform above a dome-shaped gift shop offering unobstructed views of the valley from the Great Sand Dunes and Sangre de Cristo mountains on the east to the San Juan range in the distant west. Camping overnight offers an unparalleled view of the dark sky with very little light pollution. Even if you don't experience a UFO sighting, the views are unparalleled and you can get your fill of the strange and unusual from the stories recorded in the gift shop.
Outside, a "healing garden" is located on the site of two vortexes: psychic portals to a parallel universe. [visit link] The point at which they intersect is known as the "Eye of Pisces". Both vortexes and the center point are visually marked with stones and visitors often bring trinkets to leave at the garden.
Sources: UFO Watchtower & RoadsideAmerica