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LAS VEGAS — Last year, the CIA lifted the veil of secrecy on Nevada's legendary Area 51.
For the first time, the government admitted the secret base actually exists and was used to develop spy planes. But that didn’t end speculation about flying saucers and aliens.
True believers who travel the so-called Extraterrestrial Highway, state Route 375, are much more likely to see four-footed Earthlings than aliens. But eons ago, Sheldon Canopy believes, aliens did visit mankind and gave us all of our technology.
"I believe every bit of it, 100 percent,” said Canopy, of Tumwater, Washington. "Our knowledge came from elsewhere — definitely."
There is a giant un-Earthly being that attracts tourists to one business — a clue you're getting close to the still-top-secret Area 51.
"In Italy we heard a lot of things about Area 51," said Daniele Tonini of Italy.
And then there's the Little A'Le'Inn. Let the name sink in for a moment. "Little Alien." Get it?
They get this idea in their head that they are usually 'the chosen one.' I've heard that a lot. And people keep coming back, over and over to save the aliens.
–Morgin Rogers, Little A'Le'Inn bartender
"I definitely think that there are beings that walk among us," said Pat Travis-Laudenklos, co-owner of the nearby Little A'Le'Inn.
It's hard to tell how serious they are about this whole deal, what with little green men teddy bears and captured-alien mannequins and all.
"Can I prove it to you? No. But I do believe it,” Travis-Laudenklos said.
"I believe that aliens, maybe, there is other life forms in the universe, but I don't know if there's any right here,” Tonini said.
Little A'Le'Inn bartender Morgin Rogers says many visitors claim to have been abducted by aliens in the past, in some sort of intergalactic catch-and-release program.
"I'd say at least 70 percent of who we have are generally UFO seekers, people who have been abducted or believe they've been abducted,” Rogers said.
People are OK to stand by the front of the gate of Area 51, but if they stick one finger across the gate, they would probably be abducted — by law enforcement.
"One finger means that you are face down in the dirt for three hours at gunpoint,” Rogers said.
Actually that only happens to noncompliant trespassers, according to Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee. Most UFO seekers are given citations and released. It happens dozens of times a year.
But there are those who push the envelope, on a mission to rescue aliens being held captive by the U.S. government.
"They get this idea in their head that they are usually 'the chosen one.' I’ve heard that a lot. And people keep coming back, over and over to save the aliens,” Rogers said.
Canopy is not an abducted one. "Oh no, no. That's why I came here, to get abducted,” he said with a laugh.
In his mind, aliens are not to be feared. “Not at all,” he said. “I would love to see one, but they say, 'Be careful what you wish for.' Maybe I wouldn't."
And for those who don't believe? Well there are always those cows to break up the monotony of the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Officially, Area 51 is not called that. Since its existence was declassified last year, it's been referred to by the CIA as "Groom Lake." It's about 100 miles north of Las Vegas.
