Storm Area 51′ raid brings alien ‘community of believers’ to Nevada desert

LAS VEGAS – From the bright lights and bustling streets of downtown Las Vegas’ famous Fremont Street to the dusty and dry remote Nevada high-desert, “Storm Area 51” hype has brought out the true believers in-force who are certain we are not alone in the universe.

At the Alien Research Center in Hiko, Nev., where the “Storm Area 51 Basecamp” will take place Friday and Saturday, a steady stream of people perused alien-inspired gifts in the store such as magnets, T-shirts, and Christmas ornaments, with many decked out to impress visitors from another world.

Kelly Bourbon from Las Vegas and Angel (who did not provide her last name), from Wichita, Kan., sported similar-looking T-shirts that read “Mars Needs Women” and “Beam Us Up” as they explained they’ve followed “anything and everything alien” ever since they were little and heard stories about UFOs from their fathers who worked at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

“We figure Mars needs women, so we’re here if they want to beam us up,” Angel said.