E.T. Bartender at Area 51 Crashdown Cafe, Alien Zone, Roswell, New Mexico, USA

We woke up in Durango, Colorado with bellies full of breakfast burritos and heads still spinning from the red rock dreams of A Sacred Landscape, Monuments to Gods & Ancient Whispers: Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Gooseneck State Park, Bluff, Utah to Durango, Colorado. Shehzadi, our trusty Toyota Tundra, had rested well in the hotel parking lot, her hood still dusted with desert memories. After loading up and bidding farewell to the rugged charm of Colorado, we aimed Shehzadi southward. The road to Roswell called - straight into the heart of America’s most extraterrestrial obsession.

Whole Wall Sign at International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico

"The evidence is overwhelming that the Earth is being visited by intelligently controlled vehicles from off the Earth."

"The evidence is overwhelming that some kind of unusual craft did crash near Roswell and its occupants were recovered."

- Stanton T. Friedman

Our route snaked along the wide and lonely US-550, dipped into the dry drama of northern New Mexico and eventually merged with the eternally buzzing I-40 East which we meet again since Yosemite to Grand Canyon via Fresno: Mojave Desert, Route 66 and Punjabi Dhabas from California into Arizona a while ago on this road trip. The landscape flattened, stretched and shimmered. Time and distance slipped away in a swirl of junipers, sandstone outcrops and a golden sun that refused to budge from high noon.

Cuba, New Mexico Visitors Center

We stopped for lunch in Cuba, NM - a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town with a soul full of stories. The Navajo and Pueblo influences here are strong and we paused to reflect on the ancient peoples who walked this land before asphalt, billboards and alien conspiracies. Local legend tells of star people descending in fiery crafts - tales passed down by the Diné, resonating eerily with where we were headed.

Back on the road, we caught our first sign that we were nearing Roswell when we passed a billboard featuring a grinning green alien holding a tray of cheeseburgers. “Welcome, Earthlings!” it declared in neon green script. We were getting as close to Extra-Terrestrials, Aliens and UFOs as the mysterious Extra-Terrestrial Highway's Area-51 Alien Country of Nevada.

Welcome to Roswell Sign: Roswell Historical Marker

And then - the sign - a monument to extraterrestrial bovine enthusiasm. The legendary Roswell Historical Marker, with its flying saucer and cow art proudly proclaiming the city's status as Ground Zero for all things alien. Apparently, the aliens didn't just crash; they crashed because they were so darn curious about Bessie and her pals.

Shehzadi lands at Roswell

We pulled over to snap a photo, just like thousands before us. It was official: Shehzadi had landed in Roswell. The marker itself is lovely, stoic and completely oblivious to the cosmic comedy it commemorates. It's like the history books said, "Something weird happened here...put a sign on it. Oh and throw in a flying saucer and some cows for good measure. Why not?" Five stars for sheer, unadulterated historical whimsy. You'll leave scratching your head and chuckling, which, let's be honest, is probably the most accurate reaction to the whole Roswell incident anyway.

Roswell History Information Board at Roswell Historical Marker

Beside being made famous by a UFO crash, Roswell, New Mexico, has a rich history as a vital watering hole for cattle in the Pecos Valley during the late 19th century. Situated near the Pecos River and its tributaries, the area provided essential water sources for herds driven along the Goodnight-Loving and Chisholm trails. Ranchers and cowboys relied on Roswell’s natural springs and prominent figures like Col. José Chaves - a key player in New Mexico’s territorial politics and ranching - helped shape the region’s development. The establishment of John Chisum’s Jingle Bob Ranch in the 1870s further cemented Roswell’s role as a cattle industry hub. By the 20th century, Roswell’s legacy evolved beyond ranching when Dr. Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry, conducted pioneering liquid-fueled rocket tests in the nearby desert during the 1930s. These experiments laid the groundwork for space exploration, adding a unique scientific chapter to Roswell’s history - from dusty cattle trails to the dawn of the space age.

Aliens are Welcome at Days Inn, Roswell

We checked into the Days Inn, right off Main Street / Highway 285, a modest stay made gloriously absurd by its massive sign: “Aliens Welcome”. It practically glowed with B-movie promise. And the best part? It was right next to the only UFO-shaped McDonald’s in the entire universe.

UFO McDonald’s, Roswell

Yes, you read that right. The UFO McDonald’s of Roswell is a retro-futuristic silver dome with blinking neon lights and flying saucer wings.

E.T. at UFO McDonald’s, Roswell

Built in 2003 to embrace the city’s alien legacy, it’s a space-age twist on Americana that has become iconic.

E.T. at UFO McDonald’s, Roswell

At night, it literally glows like a spacecraft ready to beam up your Big Mac.

Another E.T. at UFO McDonald’s, Roswell

Inside, cosmic murals, spaceship interiors and starry lighting make it feel like you're munching fries on a Mars outpost.

Inside UFO McDonald’s, Roswell

The kids’ play area? Full of aliens. Ronald never stood a chance.

Inside UFO McDonald’s, Roswell

Next door, a gigantic green alien hoists a sign for Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins, as if casually announcing, “Take me to your cappuccino”. It's a truly intergalactic endorsement! One of Roswell’s most iconic and quirky landmarks, the giant alien statue holding up the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins sign at 800 N. Main St is another playful tribute to the city’s infamous UFO history. Did they crash land craving a Boston Kreme and a scoop of mint chocolate chip? Is this their way of saying, "We come in peace...and for donuts"?

Big E.T. holding Dunkin' & Baskin Robbins sign

The big green extraterrestrial, with its wide eyes and friendly stance, has become a beloved photo op for visitors and locals, perfectly blending Roswell’s alien-themed charm with a caffeine and ice cream stop. The statue itself is a masterpiece of extraterrestrial marketing, a silent testament to the universal appeal of sugar and caffeine. It does also make choosing between a donut and ice cream feel like an act of profound cosmic significance.

Big E.T. holding Dunkin' & Baskin Robbins sign

This location has seen management and branding changes over the years, originally opening as separate franchises before combining under shared ownership. Dunkin’ (which officially dropped "Donuts" from its name in 2018) has updated many of its stores nationwide, but Roswell’s alien mascot ensures this spot remains a standout alien-themed coffee stop! 👽☕

Under New Management: Dunkin' & Baskin Robbins on Main Street, Roswell

Back at the McDonald's, we grabbed a UFO-themed Happy Meal, ate under glowing saucer lights and went to bed that night with visions of cow abductions and Area 51 dance parties. Shehzadi snoozed under a flickering neon moon.

The Alien Agenda: A Day in Roswell

International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico

We woke up ready to dive headfirst into Roswell’s wonderfully weird rabbit hole. First stop? The International UFO Museum and Research Center.

International UFO Museum and Research Center

Located on 114 N Main Street, this museum is part educational goldmine, part kitschy carnival. The exhibits start with a thorough timeline of the infamous 1947 Roswell Incident, complete with newspaper clippings, radio transcripts and eyewitness accounts. The main lobby of the museum features a sculpture commemorating Mac Brazel running into a crashed UFO debris field that started it all.

Mac Brazel and crashed UFO debris field (International UFO Museum and Research Center)

Deeper inside the International UFO Museum and Research Center, there are detailed dioramas (three-dimensional replica scenes) showing the crashed saucer and the military response. Mannequins of alien bodies lie on stretchers, while government “men in black” hover suspiciously nearby. Here is the story of the original 1947 UFO crash incident near Roswell, New Mexico.

🌠 Mac Brazel & the Debris Field: Where Legends Landed

The 1947 Roswell UFO Crash Incident (International UFO Museum and Research Center)

On a quiet patch of New Mexico ranchland in the summer of 1947, a man named Mac Brazel made a discovery that would forever alter the way we look at the skies. Brazel, a humble ranch foreman at the Foster Ranch near Corona, was going about his usual rounds when he came across something bizarre scattered across a remote field.

The 1947 Roswell UFO Crash Incident (International UFO Museum and Research Center)

Twisted pieces of metallic-looking material, oddly light and unusually strong, glinted in the desert sun. Some claimed it had a "memory" - crush it in your hand and it would unfold itself, smooth as new. Other pieces allegedly bore strange symbols, etched like ancient hieroglyphs from another world.

The 1947 Roswell UFO Crash Incident (International UFO Museum and Research Center)

Unsure of what he'd found, Brazel reported the wreckage to the local sheriff, who contacted officials at the nearby Roswell Army Air Field. Soon after, Major Jesse Marcel was dispatched to investigate.

Alien at Area-51 (International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell)

The Army issued a stunning press release: they had recovered a "flying disc". But just as the story began to take flight, it was grounded. The military quickly backtracked, claiming the debris was from a downed weather balloon - nothing more.

E.T. at Area-51 (International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell)

But the seed of doubt had already been planted and from it grew a forest of conspiracy theories, government cover-up allegations and the birth of the UFO movement.

Alien autopsy at Area-51 (International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell)

Decades later, the U.S. government would admit the debris came from Project Mogul, a top-secret Cold War initiative involving high-altitude balloons designed to detect Soviet nuclear activity. Still, for many, that explanation felt too convenient.

Secret Agent at Alien autopsy, Area-51 (International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell)

The legend of Roswell - and the man who stumbled upon it - remain an enduring mystery. Mac Brazel may have just been a rancher doing his job, but his quiet moment in a New Mexico field marked the start of something much bigger: the dawn of America’s modern fascination with aliens, UFOs and the unexplained.

Alien Implant Removed from a Man's Spine (International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell)

The International UFO Museum and Research Center also plunges visitors into one of ufology’s most unsettling mysteries: Alien Implants - otherworldly objects allegedly extracted from abductees’ bodies. Chilling exhibits showcase bizarre case studies, like the 1995 Derrel Sims implant - a tiny, triangular metal fragment riddled with unexplained magnetic properties, surgically removed from a man who claimed decades of missing time.

Among the most disturbing displays at the International UFO Museum and Research Center is the New Delhi 2015 case - a modern enigma that continues to baffle researchers. The exhibit features medical scans and testimony from a 32-year-old software engineer who awoke with a throbbing pain in his left hand, only to discover a tiny, smooth sphere embedded beneath his skin with no entry wound.

Forensic analysis revealed the 1.4mm object was composed of an unknown titanium alloy with traces of rare-earth elements arranged in a non-terrestrial crystalline structure. Most eerily, neurological tests showed the implant emitted intermittent electromagnetic pulses - coinciding with the victim’s recurring nightmares of being examined by "tall, shadowy figures."

Alien Implant in 32-year old Indian man in New Delhi in 2015 (International UFO Museum and Research Center)

When surgeons attempted removal, the object vanished from a sealed bio-container overnight, leaving behind only a strange, blue-tinged residue that evaporated within hours. The museum presents this case alongside declassified Indian Air Force documents noting unexplained radar blips over Delhi that same week - and a leaked email from a defense official warning lab staff to "stop testing the sample immediately."

Was this a government cover-up? An extraterrestrial tracking device? Or something even more unfathomable? The exhibit leaves visitors with a spine-tingling realization: If they can put something in… what else can they do?

Even more haunting are the 1996 French COMETA Report’s findings, which documented strange, fiber-like objects emitting radio waves from within patients’ limbs, with no medical explanation. The museum displays eerie X-rays of subcutaneous “devices” composed of alloys unknown to science, some pulsing with unidentifiable energy signatures. Were they tracking monitors? Biological experiments? Or something far more sinister?

Some abductees report hearing voices through their implants - even after removal. A 2004 MIT analysis found isotopic ratios impossible in nature. The sample disintegrated days later! Government documents nearby whisper of Project SIGN’s classified investigations into these phenomena, while skeptics dismiss them as hoaxes - yet none can explain how some implants simply vanish from sealed evidence lockers. As you study the glowing fragments under museum lights, one question lingers: If these are real… what are they doing to us? 

International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico

So, the next time you find yourself driving through the wide-open desert plains of New Mexico, take a moment. Look out over the land and up into the sky. You never know what might be out there.

Library and Research Center, UFO Museum, Roswell

Meanwhile, at the International UFO Museum and Research Center, it goes deeper than just spectacle. In the research archives, we were amazed to find boxes of authentic NASA reports, weather balloon data and classified documents declassified through the Freedom of Information Act.

Boxes of NASA Technical Notes at Library and Research Center, UFO Museum, Roswell

The museum’s library is legit - a serious destination for anyone diving into the science (and science fiction) of UFOs. There are even guest lectures from former military personnel and aerospace engineers. For us, it hit the sweet spot between fun and fascinating.

Library and Research Center, UFO Museum, Roswell

Right outside is UFO Museum Park, a quirky green space dotted with alien statues and parked “space vehicles” perfect for photos. Around the park, Roswell truly leans into its extraterrestrial economy.

North Library, International UFO Museum and Research Center

The UFO Museum Park is to the north of the International UFO Museum and Research Center.

UFO Museum Park

Clearly visible from the park, there is the popular "We Believe" Mural adorning the north exterior wall of the International UFO Museum and Research Center. It offers a vibrant backdrop for visitors.

"We Believe" Mural

Created in October 2019 by artist Larry Bob Phillips, the mural portrays a flying saucer hovering over a dark landscape beneath a starry sky. A unique feature is the ground path that seamlessly extends into the mural, leading directly to the saucer's ramp, creating an interactive illusion ideal for photographs.

"We Believe" Mural

Just steps from the International UFO Museum and Research Center and its attached UFO Museum Park, downtown Roswell bursts with quirky shops selling extraterrestrial-themed apparel and souvenirs that celebrate the city’s UFO fame. The Outer Limits (501 N Main St) is a must-visit, stocked with alien-head T-shirts, "I Believe" hoodies and glow-in-the-dark Roswell crash memorabilia.

Illegal Alien Tee Shirt

Nearby, UFO Emporium (220 N Main St) offers playful novelties like "Alien Autopsy" shot glasses and plush gray aliens, while Alien Zone (112 N Main St) doubles as a gift shop with Area 51 hats and vintage-style "Roswell Incident" posters. For custom gear, Roswell Space Center (118 E 2nd St) screen-prints cheeky designs like "Beam Me Up" crop tops and "Probationary Human" dad hats. Even the Dunkin’ (800 N Main St) gets in on the fun, selling exclusive "Alien Iced" mugs. Whether you want a tasteful NASA-style pin or a full-on glow-in-the-dark alien bodysuit, Roswell’s shops ensure you’ll leave dressed for your next close encounter. Bonus tip: Many stores offer "UFO Discounts" if you mention the museum!) 👽🛍️

Hangar 209

We also wandered into places like Hangar 209 and Roswell Landing (great alien tees and magnets), UFO Spaceport (glow-in-the-dark everything) and Roswell Invaders which sells baseball gear for their local minor league team - yep, the mascot is an alien.

Roswell Landing

Then came our favorite: Alien Zone.

Alien Zone

This oddball attraction includes a replica of Area 51 as it was in 1947, complete with control panels, crashed saucers, glowing alien pods and a morgue-style autopsy room (with giggling green guys on slabs).

E.T. bartender at Area 51 Alien Zone

It’s wildly theatrical and so much fun. We took dozens of goofy photos posing with alien chefs, alien prisoners and even an intergalactic DJ spinning records in a space nightclub.

Alien examining abducted Human at Area 51 in Alien Zone

Alien Zone also hosts the Crashdown Cafe, where the bar is tended by life-sized alien animatronics. The vibe? Think Star Wars cantina meets Route 66 diner. Try a cosmic chili dog and a neon “Abduction Ale” that glows under blacklight.

Hanging out with Extra-Terrestrials at Area 51 in Alien Zone

Main Street itself is a gallery of the happily absurd. Shops like El Pollo Bravo feature sombrero-wearing aliens with bandoliers.

El Pollo Bravo, Roswell

The House of Aliens looks like a space bazaar crossed with a Roswell flea market. Alien Stop offers "Probe Me, Baby" shot glasses. And our personal favorite, Alien Invasion, sells “UFO Fizz” - alien-themed soda pop in flavors like Martian Mango and Plasma Punch.

Alien Invasion, Rosewell, NM

Even the Shamrock gas station on S. Main goes all out, with fiberglass aliens standing like stone sentinels beside the pumps.

Diamond Shamrock / South Main Shamrock Gas Station, Roswell

The sidewalks? Inlaid with alien footprints that glow at night.

Alien footprints on Roswell sidewalk

There’s a local water brand called UFO H2O - bottled “out of this world” and “probed and packed in Roswell, NM.”

UFO H2O out of this world canned water

And don’t miss the Roswell Cowboys Statue - a green alien in cowboy boots riding a technicolor rooster. It’s utterly ridiculous and completely perfect.

Roswell Cowboys Statue

But towering above it all is the Roswell Rocket, the newest monument to the city’s cosmic identity. Designed by metal artist Josh Berry, it’s a towering silver rocket with flames at the base, gears on its flanks and a glittering mosaic tip.

The Roswell Rocket

Built with recycled metal, it symbolizes both flight and fantasy - a nod to Roswell’s legacy of science, myth and good old-fashioned American storytelling. It’s become an instant selfie spot and the unofficial icon of Rocket Town USA (Roswell, New Mexico).

The Roswell Rocket information board

Elizabeth Garrett (1885–1947) of Roswell, the blind daughter of famed Lincoln County sheriff Pat Garrett, wrote New Mexico’s state song, "O Fair New Mexico" (adopted 1917). A gifted singer and pianist, she composed the song’s melody and lyrics as a heartfelt tribute to her home state’s landscapes and culture.

Elizabeth Garrett and "O, Fair New Mexico" state song memorial mural on Main Street, Roswell

Despite losing her sight as a child, Garrett became a renowned performer and advocate for the visually impaired, leaving a lasting legacy as the only woman to pen a U.S. state song in the 20th century. Her Roswell connections - including performances at the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church - are still celebrated locally.

As the sun dipped below the desert, we felt a strange contentment. Roswell had given us a day full of laughter, learning and the best kind of weird.

New Mexico: Land of Enchantment

That night, we climbed into bed with sore feet, happy hearts and a grey souvenir alien we named Zog. There is something about unapologetically celebrating silliness with pure joy in Roswell that will stay with us forever!

The Road Ahead: Shehzadi Rolls On

Alien Invasion: Wall Art, Roswell

The next morning, after breakfast (where our coffee cups featured flying saucers), we packed up and headed further south on US-285, saying goodbye to the UFO capital of Earth. Next stop: Pecos, Texas, where we’ll meet Pecos Bill, the mythic cowboy said to have lassoed tornadoes and ridden mountain lions. The town is home to the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame, where tall tales and rodeo history blur in the best kind of way.

And after that? The rugged beauty of Terlingua and the wild river canyons of Big Bend National Park await us (see The Southernmost Crossing – Roswell to Pecos to Big Bend & across the Rio Grande into Mexico). But for now, we ride with memories of green aliens, glowing rockets and cow-abducting dreams swirling behind us in the desert dust.

Until next time, earthlings.

Reference route map of The Vagabond Couple's 9,000-mile USA & Mexico overland roundtrip: Map-1 and Map-2.

- The Vagabond Couple and Shehzadi 👽🚀🌵