I’m excited to write this blog. When I first got the idea for The Forgotten Grimoire, I thought it would only be about ghosts and hauntings. After digging more into the paranormal, I expanded my horizons and leaned into all topics under the paranormal umbrella. One topic that has always been controversial and is becoming more mainstream is UFOs. I remember watching a Vice documentary from 2013 about the UFO Watchtower in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. I had never been, but what a great place to check out for my first blog on UFOs and aliens.
The San Luis Valley Is A UFO Hotspot
The San Luis Valley is about a three-hour drive from Denver in the southern part of Colorado. The valley is eerie and vast. Even though it’s deep in the Rocky Mountains, being in the center feels more like being in the eastern part of the state. It’s flat, mostly farms, and lacks the winter activities that the region is famous for. The most interesting natural feature is the Great Sand Dunes National Park—a super random and breathtaking sight that I do not have the time or expertise to explain how or why it exists. This blog is about the paranormal, not actual science.
The area is widely known as the biggest UFO hot spot in the state. Alamosa, the largest town in the area, is a dark sky community. That means there are laws that prevent light pollution, allowing the stars to be seen at night. It’s possible that this is the reason so many UFO sightings are reported in the area. We are so detached from the natural world that seeing more of the cosmos might really freak us out. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that there is some rhyme to this reason. The San Luis Valley has a high concentration of geothermal activity, and a high number of UFO sightings happen in areas with geothermal activity. Some in the valley even believe there to be an alien base in the mountains nearby.
The UFO Watchtower Was Built As A Joke
The UFO Watchtower was originally built as somewhat of a joke. The owner was struggling with raising cattle and didn’t want to sell her land. She created the UFO Watchtower (check out her website) as a roadside attraction. Basically, it’s a small platform about ten feet off the ground and a bunch of kooky alien decor lying around. The visitor center is only open on weekends, so if you want a more immersive and educational experience, go then. The grounds can still be accessed during weekdays, but the platform itself is closed. I went on a weekday, as that’s when my schedule allowed. They do ask that you still pay a small fee for accessing the grounds, as it is private property and the UFO Watchtower is their only stream of income.
Leave Offerings To The Aliens At The UFO Watchtower
I was the only one there at the time, making it a more surreal experience. Making this blog has made me enjoy these unusual moments. The “garden,” as they call it, looks at first glance like a bunch of garbage. And yeah, it is—but there is meaning behind it. All items are left behind by visitors as some sort of token or offering. A sign at the front of the garden suggests the existence of two vortexes in the garden. Vortexes are concentrations of energy flowing either inward or outward and have psychic effects on humans. Psychics, according to the sign, have visited the garden and believe there to be two beings associated with the vortexes. By moving or taking items from the garden, you can attract bad karma.
It’s interesting to see what people left behind and try to guess why. There were old Air Jordans, plastic children’s toys, license plates. Each person had their reasons for leaving behind seemingly worthless offerings. I left a business card for The Forgotten Grimoire and asked for help on my business venture. Then, of course, there are a bunch of alien figures, paintings, model UFOs, and satellite dishes—all on brand for what this place is.
The Great Sand Dunes National Park
I visited the UFO Watchtower during the day, but for the purposes of this blog, I had to stay the night in the valley. I do this for you, dear reader. If getting abducted is what it takes to bring you quality content, so be it. For this part of my adventure, I camped at the Great Sand Dunes for UFO watching. A forty-minute drive from the UFO Watchtower takes you to one of Colorado’s most random attractions. Again, I don’t know what the hell these sand dunes are doing there, and I didn’t care to find out. I was there for aliens. Hiking through these dunes is one of the most difficult hikes you can experience. They are exhausting.
UFO Watching
So there I am in the middle of the night, trying to hike up these impossible sand dunes looking for aliens. It just so happened to be a full moon, so it wasn’t pitch dark. However, the moon definitely made UFO watching a bit more difficult. I have to say, I did feel super cool doing this. I felt like an Eldian in the world of the Paths. What, too nerdy of a reference for you? It’s only from one of the greatest animes of all time. Okay, how about this—I felt like Paul Atreides wandering the planet of Arrakis while hiking the dunes. Not doing it for you? Look, it’s a blog post about aliens; I’m putting some nerdy pop culture in it.
Look Out For Creatures Of The Night
I did really enjoy being on these monstrous sand dunes in the middle of the night shooting nighttime photography. I can’t explain the experience of astrophotography, but it does make you feel super in the moment. The most terrifying part of the night was when I heard what I’m assuming was a pack of coyotes. They were in the distance, but it was enough to realize that was the time to go back to camp. Then, on the walk between the sand dunes and the campsite, it got even creepier. What I heard was either a lone coyote trying to learn a new language or a skinwalker. I was close to southwestern Colorado, a place well known for skinwalkers, so I ran out of there. More like a jog—but I was checking my six every few strides.
Put The UFO Watchtower On Your Buck List
Even though I didn’t see any UFOs, I’m really happy I went there to look. I hope you find your way out to the San Luis Valley one day. It’s so odd and creepy and breathtaking all at the same time. The UFO Watchtower is a roadside attraction, so I get if making a detour is out of the question. But going there and staying the night in the valley for UFO watching is bucket-list worthy. Since the valley is a UFO hotspot, I think anyone who is a believer should go.
Happy hunting.
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