Wyoming’s Alien-Luring Monolith That Sparked UFO Legends And Hollywood Obsession

Devils Tower rises from the Wyoming landscape like something out of a science fiction dream. Its mysterious appearance has captured imaginations for centuries, but nothing launched it into global fame quite like Hollywood.

Today, this natural wonder sits at the crossroads of ancient mythology, modern UFO fascination, and cinematic history.

1. Featured in Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Steven Spielberg changed everything when he chose Devils Tower as the backdrop for humanity’s first contact with aliens in his 1977 masterpiece. The film transformed this Wyoming landmark into the ultimate symbol of extraterrestrial communication. Audiences worldwide watched Richard Dreyfuss sculpt mashed potatoes into the tower’s shape, obsessed by mysterious visions. That iconic scene alone embedded Devils Tower into the cultural consciousness of millions. The movie turned a geological formation into a beacon of cosmic possibility, forever linking it to the idea of peaceful alien visitors.

2. Striking, Otherworldly Appearance

Picture a massive column of rock shooting 867 feet straight up from flat grasslands, its sides carved with vertical grooves that look almost manufactured. Devils Tower doesn’t blend in, it commands attention like a monument dropped from space. The hexagonal columns of cooled magma create patterns so perfect they seem designed by intelligent hands rather than natural forces. Early visitors struggled to explain how such a strange formation could exist. Its alien appearance makes people wonder if ancient builders or otherworldly visitors had something to do with its creation, even though science offers clear geological explanations.

3. Native American Legends

Long before Hollywood arrived, indigenous tribes wove supernatural tales about this sacred place. The Lakota people call it Bear Lodge, telling stories of giant bears clawing at the rock while children escaped to the sky. Kiowa legends speak of seven sisters transformed into stars to escape danger, with the tower marking where they ascended to become the Pleiades constellation. These ancient stories describe celestial connections and beings from above. Such narratives laid spiritual groundwork that modern UFO enthusiasts find fascinating, creating a bridge between old mythology and contemporary alien theories that continues to intrigue researchers today.

4. UFO Sightings in the Area

Visitors camping near Devils Tower have reported unexplained lights dancing across the night sky for decades. These accounts describe glowing orbs, silent crafts, and mysterious aerial movements that defy conventional explanation. Local ranchers and park rangers occasionally share stories of strange phenomena witnessed during quiet evenings. While skeptics attribute these sightings to aircraft, satellites, or natural atmospheric effects, believers see patterns suggesting something more. The frequency of reports has made Devils Tower a hotspot on UFO investigation maps, drawing researchers with cameras and recording equipment hoping to document the next unexplained event in this already mysterious location.

5. Symbol of Cosmic Contact

Thanks to Spielberg’s vision, Devils Tower represents humanity’s hopeful side when imagining first contact with alien civilizations. Unlike scary invasion movies, Close Encounters portrayed extraterrestrials as curious explorers rather than conquerors. The tower became shorthand for peaceful communication across the stars, a meeting ground where different worlds could understand each other. This optimistic symbolism resonates deeply in our collective imagination. When people think about making friends with aliens instead of fighting them, Devils Tower often comes to mind as the perfect neutral territory where such historic encounters might unfold beneath Wyoming’s big sky.

6. Pilgrimage Site for Sci-Fi Fans

Every summer, dedicated fans make the journey to Wyoming specifically because of the movie’s influence. They hike the trails, touch the ancient rock, and recreate famous scenes from the film. Some visitors bring mashed potatoes for humorous photo opportunities. Others arrive on the movie’s anniversary dates, hosting informal gatherings to celebrate their shared love of the story. The National Park Service estimates that countless tourists visit primarily because of Hollywood connections rather than geological interest. For true believers in extraterrestrial life, standing at Devils Tower feels like visiting a real-life landing site, a place where fiction and possibility blend together beautifully.

7. Astronomical Speculation

Fringe theorists have proposed that Devils Tower aligns with celestial bodies, particularly the Pleiades star cluster mentioned in Native American stories. These claims suggest ancient astronomers or alien architects positioned the monument deliberately. While mainstream scientists dismiss these theories as coincidental pattern-seeking, the speculation adds layers to the tower’s mystique. Some researchers measure angles and shadow patterns, searching for hidden astronomical calendars. Though no credible evidence supports intentional cosmic alignment, the mere suggestion that this rock formation might point toward distant stars captures imaginations and keeps amateur astronomers returning with telescopes and charts, hoping to discover something science has missed.

8. Cultural Icon in UFO Lore

Browse any UFO forum or documentary about alleged government cover-ups, and Devils Tower appears repeatedly as evidence of something extraordinary. Conspiracy theorists reference it when discussing secret meetings between officials and extraterrestrials.

Authors writing about ancient alien theories include photographs of the tower alongside pyramids and Stonehenge. Television shows exploring unexplained mysteries dedicate entire episodes to its significance. The tower has transcended its geological reality to become a cultural touchstone representing humanity’s questions about life beyond Earth. Whether you believe in flying saucers or not, Devils Tower has earned its place in the modern mythology surrounding extraterrestrial visitation.

9. Tourism Boost from Hollywood

Before 1977, Devils Tower attracted modest numbers of climbers and geology enthusiasts. After Close Encounters premiered, visitor numbers skyrocketed and never returned to previous levels.

Local businesses capitalized on the connection, selling alien-themed souvenirs, organizing UFO-watching tours, and screening the movie at outdoor events. Hotels and restaurants display movie posters and memorabilia. The economic impact of Hollywood’s attention transformed surrounding communities, proving that one successful film can permanently alter a region’s identity and prosperity. Park rangers now answer as many questions about Spielberg as they do about volcanic geology, showing how entertainment shapes our relationship with natural wonders.

10. Timeless Mystery

Scientists can explain exactly how molten rock cooled into hexagonal columns millions of years ago, yet Devils Tower refuses to lose its sense of wonder. Knowledge doesn’t diminish the feeling that something special happened here. The tower exists at a rare intersection where geology, ancient spirituality, and modern science fiction all meet and mingle. Visitors experience something beyond facts and figures; a genuine sense of mystery that transcends rational explanation. Perhaps that’s the real reason Devils Tower captivates us: it reminds us that even in our age of information, some places retain the power to make us wonder, dream, and imagine possibilities beyond our everyday understanding.