With the popularity of television shows such as “Ancient Aliens,” UFO enthusiasts hunger for more! Once attracting thousands of UFO enthusiasts, Joshua Tree, California, is rejoining the list of top UFO tourism destinations along with Area 51 northwest of Las Vegas, and Wiltshire east of London, England, due to its long history of sightings and the popular CONTACT in the DESERT event now in its second year, taking place, appropriately, during the Perseid Meteor Showers.
Called the “premiere UFO convention” by the LA Weekly, visitors to Joshua Tree who attend the CONTACT in the DESERT event from August 8-11 will be able to enjoy lectures, panels, workshops, and fieldwork experiences with some of the top UFO experts in the world including Chariots of the Gods author Erich von Daniken, “Ancient Aliens” star Giorgio A. Tsoukalos and radio host George Noory of “Coast to Coast Radio AM.”
Highlights of the weekend will include an “Initiation into Contact” fieldwork session with UFO Caller James Gilliland and an evening with Grammy award nominated, best-selling recording artist, composer and pioneering sound healer Steven Halpern performing during the Perseid meteor shower.
The conference will host between 1000 and 1500 attendees, up from 800 in 2013. Visitors from Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Sweden, Mexico, Netherlands and throughout the U.S. including from California, New Mexico, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Washington state, and New York are expected.
While in Joshua Tree visitors can enjoy a tour to the famous UFO landing strip at Giant Rock considered to be a sacred gathering point for UFO believers in the 1950s. They can also visit the Integratron, a structure also designed by contactee George Van Tassel that is claimed to be capable of rejuvenation, anti-gravity and time travel. Van Tassel related that he built the structure following instructions provided by visitors from the planet Venus. The Integratron machine was started in 1957, the structure was erected in 1959 and was financed predominantly by donations, including funds from Howard Hughes. From 1953 to 1978 Van Tassel hosted The Giant Rock Spacecraft Convention attracting up to 10,000 people annually!
The Joshua Tree Retreat Center, located at 59700 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree, CA is the perfect setting for CONTACT in the DESERT. An underappreciated modernist gem, the spectacular center, set on an ancient sacred site, is the oldest and largest retreat center in the Western US and boasts outstanding architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by his son, Lloyd Wright. Guests can camp at the extensive and beautiful campsites at the retreat center with bathroom facilities and a sparkling pool with Jacuzzi (however no hook ups). The Center offers a variety of meal-plan options right on site.
There are also plenty of nearby hotels in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms, with special rates available for attendees including U2’s favorite Joshua Tree accommodation the Harmony Hotel, the Oasis of Eden with 14 themed rooms, and the acclaimed oasis situated 29 Palms Inn.