Skinwalker Ranch
Skinwalker Ranch is a 480-acre property located in Utah, USA, which has gained notoriety for the numerous reports of paranormal activity and unexplained phenomena that have been reported there. The ranch is also known as Sherman Ranch, and is located in the Uintah Basin, a region of Utah that has been associated with strange sightings and encounters for decades.
The earliest known reports of strange phenomena at the ranch date back to the 1970s, when it was owned by the Sherman family. According to the family, they experienced a wide range of bizarre incidents, including UFO sightings, poltergeist activity, and encounters with strange creatures such as Bigfoot and a mysterious “wolf-man.” In 1996, the ranch was purchased by billionaire entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, who formed the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) to study the phenomena reported at the ranch.
Since then, numerous researchers, scientists, and investigators associated with NIDS have reported a wide range of unusual phenomena at the ranch, including cattle mutilations, strange lights in the sky, and encounters with strange creatures or entities. Many of these reports have been documented in books, articles, and documentaries, and have gained significant attention in popular culture.
Despite decades of investigation and speculation, the exact nature of the phenomena at Skinwalker Ranch remains unclear and controversial. Some researchers have suggested that the ranch may be a “window area” or a location where the fabric of space-time is thin and allows for the emergence of unusual or anomalous phenomena. Others have suggested that the phenomena may be related to underground geologic activity or the testing of advanced military technologies.
One unique fact about Skinwalker Ranch is that it has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, including research by the Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) organization and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Both of these organizations conducted multi-year investigations of the ranch and its reported phenomena, although much of the details of their research remain classified.
Another unique fact is that some researchers have reported anomalous electromagnetic activity at the ranch, including unusual fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field. This has led some to speculate that the phenomena reported at the ranch may be related to advanced propulsion or energy technologies that are not yet fully understood.
A third unique fact is that the history of strange phenomena in the Uintah Basin dates back many decades, with reports of unusual sightings and encounters dating back to the 1950s or earlier. This suggests that the phenomena reported at Skinwalker Ranch may be part of a larger pattern of unexplained activity in the region.
The ownership history of Skinwalker Ranch is complex and has changed hands several times over the years. The earliest known owner of the ranch was Kenneth Myers, who acquired the property in the early 1900s. After Myers’ death, the ranch was sold to a succession of owners, including the Sherman family, who owned the ranch in the 1990s when it gained notoriety for the strange phenomena reported there.
In 1996, the ranch was purchased by billionaire entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, who formed the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) to study the phenomena reported at the ranch. Bigelow’s ownership of the ranch and his interest in paranormal research led to increased media attention and speculation about the strange phenomena reported there.
In 2016, Bigelow sold the ranch to a new owner, reportedly a real estate developer named Brandon Fugal, who has continued to allow researchers and investigators to study the ranch and its phenomena. Fugal has stated that he intends to turn the ranch into a research and tourist destination, although specific plans for the property’s future development remain unclear.
There have been numerous reports of strange phenomena and unexplained activity at Skinwalker Ranch over the years, with many of these reports documented in books, articles, and documentaries. While the exact nature of the phenomena remains unclear and controversial, some of the most commonly reported phenomena include:
- UFO sightings: One of the most frequently reported phenomena at Skinwalker Ranch is the sighting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the sky above the property. Many witnesses have described seeing strange lights or objects that move in unusual or erratic ways, sometimes making sudden turns or accelerating rapidly.
- Animal mutilations: Another frequently reported phenomenon at Skinwalker Ranch is the discovery of dead animals, often with unusual injuries or mutilations. Some of these injuries appear to have been inflicted with surgical precision, and there have been reports of animals being found with their organs or blood removed.
- Poltergeist activity: There have been reports of strange noises, voices, and other unexplained phenomena inside the house on the property, including objects moving or levitating on their own.
- Shadow figures: Some witnesses have reported seeing shadowy figures or apparitions on the property, including humanoid shapes or figures that appear to be watching or following them.
- Teleportation: There have been reports of objects or animals appearing or disappearing suddenly, sometimes in the presence of witnesses.
- Unusual electromagnetic activity: Some researchers have reported anomalous electromagnetic activity at the ranch, including unusual fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field. This has led some to speculate that the phenomena reported at the ranch may be related to advanced propulsion or energy technologies that are not yet fully understood.
- Strange creatures: There have been reports of sightings of strange and unusual creatures on the property, including Bigfoot-like creatures, “dire wolves,” and other unidentified animals.
- Time distortions: Some witnesses have reported experiencing strange distortions of time, including periods of missing time or time moving at a different pace than usual.
- Unexplained lights: In addition to UFO sightings, there have been reports of unexplained lights or orbs of light appearing on the property.
- Psychic phenomena: Some researchers have reported experiencing psychic or paranormal phenomena while on the property, including premonitions, telepathic communication, and other unexplained abilities.
- Unexplained sounds: Some witnesses have reported hearing strange sounds on the property, including unusual voices, unexplained music, and unexplained vibrations or hums.
- Portals or doorways: Some researchers have suggested that Skinwalker Ranch may be a location where the fabric of space-time is thin, allowing for the emergence of portals or doorways that lead to other dimensions or parallel universes.
- Psychic attacks: Some researchers have reported experiencing negative or harmful psychic phenomena while on the property, including feelings of intense fear or anxiety and physical illness or discomfort.
- Telepathic communication: Some witnesses have reported experiencing telepathic communication with unidentified entities while on the property.
- High-strangeness events: Perhaps the most notable feature of the phenomena reported at Skinwalker Ranch is their high-strangeness, which defies easy explanation or categorization. The sheer variety and unpredictability of the reported phenomena make it difficult to develop a coherent or comprehensive theory about their nature or origins.
Sources:
- “The Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah” by Colm Kelleher and George Knapp (2005)
- “Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah” documentary directed by Jeremy Corbell (2018)
- “A Rancher’s UFO Encounter in Utah Led to Decades of Research” by Melissa Cassutt, Smithsonian Magazine (2020)