It all started as a joke.
Twenty-one-year old college student Matty Roberts created a Facebook event one night for people to “Storm Area 51.”
But it turns out millions of people want, as the event said, to “see them aliens.”
And just like that, the world turned its attention to the tiny rural Nevada towns of Rachel and Hiko.
Then …. panic.
The Air Force warned people not to cross the line. Lincoln County declared a state of emergency. Some residents even said they would close up shop and leave town.
Some, however, saw an opportunity, and started planning for the influx of people. So festival plans began.
But no one knew just what was going to happen, or who was going to show up.
So, I decided to go find out what was going down in the desert.
George Harris, owner, Alien Reseach Center; Unicole Unicron, cult leader; Michael Hall, attorney; Connie West, owner, Little A'Le'Inn