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20 Alien Encounters in Roswell, N.M.

Paul Heney
by Paul Heney
Last updated:: 9:00 AM ET, Mon October 1, 2018

Welcome to Roswell!

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Famous for it's alleged 1947 UFO crash, the entire town of Roswell, New Mexico has really taken to the famed event. Here are 20 of the best alien encounters you can experience in the city.

The Aliens Have Landed

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Roswell's International UFO Museum and Research Center has plenty of displays of alien encounters, including this mockup of an alien landing, which lights up and spews smoke every 30 minutes.

Alien Businesses

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Businesses in Roswell have jumped on the alien marketing bandwagon, and visitors can see aliens around the town-promoting everything from gas to hotels to restaurants. Here, the El Toro Bravo Bakery enlists some little green men to sell some bread.

The UFO McDonald's

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It's hard to miss Roswell's UFO McDonald's, which sits on South Main Street. The fast-food giant has a lot of fun with the alien theme and has built the Playland area into a flying saucer shape. The restaurant is now an iconic Roswell location.

They're Watching—From Everywhere

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Maybe our favorite local nod to the alien craze is the alien eyes that have been added to the municipal lampposts all around downtown. This fun addition shows how much the town has embraced this quirk of its history.

That's a Mighty Odd Spaceship

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Many of the city's hotels have jumped on the bandwagon, but one motel took that idea a little too literally. This pioneering fellow sits out front, but we're a little concerned that he might have trouble reaching the speed of light in this wagon.

A Cover-Up?

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The city's International UFO Museum and Research Center details events surrounding a mysterious "flying saucer" crash in 1947, and many of the exhibits discuss at great length whether there was a cover-up.

Alien Visitors and Some From Closer By

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The Roswell Visitors Center even gets into the alien fun. The city's marketing logo includes a flying saucer, and the window shows an alien family arriving for a visit-they've certainly traveled further than you have.

A Sign From Above

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Even coming into town tells visitors that there's something unique about Roswell. The "Welcome to Roswell" sign (which glows with twinkling lights at night) is a popular spot for selfies, given the amusing sight of cows being beamed aboard a spaceship.

This Looks Serious

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While you may not see any actual autopsied aliens when visiting New Mexico, you're sure to see a recreation or two while in Roswell, such as this mockup on display at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in downtown.

Strange Bedfellows

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Stopping at one of Roswell's hotels almost guarantees an alien sighting. Here, under the porte cochere of the Baymont Inn & Suites, several small green friends wait to keep wayward travelers company. No word on whether they get a discount for squeezing a dozen of them into one suite.

Gas Up for That Interplanetary Haul

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Even alien flying saucers must need a fill up before traversing the Milky Way. As proof, stop at Roswell's Diamond Shamrock gas station and you'll see a rather wooden alien waiting for his tank to top off.

Invasion!

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Murals on the streets of Roswell help keep the alien kitsch alive and also add to the playful nature of much of the town. Here, the Alien Invasion gift store advertises itself on its side wall.

Spend Some Earth Money

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There are plenty of gift shops in Roswell, but one of the best is the one attached to the city's International UFO Museum and Research Center. You can buy alien clothing, books, drinkware, Christmas ornaments and much, much more.

Make Some New Friends

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Inside the Roswell Visitor's Center, tourists are invited to get friendly with a couple of extraterrestrial guests The Center will even print out the photos and email you copies-at light speed.

Saucer-Shaped Pizza?

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Major chains in Roswell are just as apt to jump on the alien promotional train as the mom-and-pop stores. So, this may be the only Domino's Pizza location where you'll see an eight-foot-tall green alien proudly waving the Domino's flag. Even aliens get a hankering for pepperoni from time to time, you know.

Alien Spacecrafts and Alien—Crafts?

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Even the Imagine That! Scrapbooks & Gifts store has the alien spirit, with both green and pink (is that a thing?) aliens fronting its Main Street store.

More Invaders!

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The aforementioned Alien Invasion gift store has one of the most colorful storefronts on all of Main Street, and the collection of gifts and memorabilia inside is also one of the best in town.

McDonald's or Star Trek?

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The interior of the UFO McDonald's doesn't disappoint, with wild colors, curves, and sharp angles, and an architecture that would make a Star Trek set designer proud.

The Day the Selfie Stood Still

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Although Roswell's UFO fame can be traced back to the specific 1947 incident, the International UFO Museum and Research Center celebrates all sorts of UFOs in popular culture, including the famous 1951 film, The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Getting Grilled by Aliens

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Some alien encounters turn out better than others. This motel's alien setup didn't quite make sense to us, as the one fellow certainly wouldn't even fit in that spaceship-or is it a barbecue, and he's grilling out for his tiny friends?

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Paul Heney

Paul Heney

Paul J. Heney is a lifelong writer and avid world traveler. He's served as Editorial Director for several hospitality magazines, including Luxury Hotelier, Hotel Design, and Hotel & Motel Management. He has written extensively about family travel, green issues, cruises, and LGBT travel issues. He has won multiple Azbee awards for writing from the American Society of Business Publication Editors and served as National President of the association from 1999-2003. He lives in suburban Cleveland with his partner and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @paulheney or Instagram at @paulheney.

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