I Went To Area 51 And The Aliens Are The Least Interesting Bit Tegan Jones In 2019 a Facebook prank threatened to send a horde of thousands into the sweltering Nevada desert to storm Area 51. What actually eventuated was a couple of hundred people loitering by the base perimeter at 3am. Some wore costumes. Others feigned a Naruto-run at the gate. All of them shuffled away eventually. While the concept of military secrets and UFO sightings is alluring, the reality is far more tame. Small town stories. A hand drawn map. Unbridled beauty. If this is sounding too banal for your taste, don't worry. There's always the threat of arrest.