Hooper, Colorado - UFO Watchtower

We camped at the UFO Watchtower in our VW Bus. Super nice folks! Great view of the sunset and mountains. Warm fresh homemade cinnamon rolls! Highly recommended for an overnight camp stop. but even if you don't camp, great place to stop. [michael, 07/26/2008]

[RA: Extraterrestrials only come to this planet for our cinnamon rolls.]

If you're in the valley, Judy and her "tower" should not be missed by anyone who likes harmless weirdos. I hope the lady will not be offended by this description because she is the type of person who makes "harmless weirdo" into a compliment.

In addition to the watchtower, she has a very strange garden consisting of rocks, sticks and an incredible amount of amazingly random junk offerings, laid out around what she describes as the location of a major Interdimensional Vortex. People leave offerings to the Vortex, which range from quite valuable items down to old hubcaps and half packets of chewing gum, all displayed with equal reverence.

She will also show you a small dry shrub nearby, which has magical powers. I had to agree, it was the best small dry shrub with magical powers that I have seen anywhere in the world. It didn't do anything magical while I was there, but hey, I'm not about to argue with Judy. [Traveling Dude, 05/14/2006]

Just a quick side note about the UFO watchtower in Hooper, CO. During my recent visit, Judy, the woman who runs the place, was offering a free bumper sticker or frisbee if you (the customer) let her tape your account of a personal experience regarding a UFO sighting. I got a free frisbee! Also, there are camping spots available and, according to Judy, most of the sightings that have occurred there were at night. One other detail...the Colorado Gator Farm is about 5 1/2 miles further south on Highway 17. [Cal Bray, 08/27/2001]

I visited the UFO Watchtower during the Memorial Day weekend. As has been said, it's in the middle of nowhere, but one of the more scenic nowheres. From there one has a good view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Sand Dunes National Monument. If you're going to be in the area, the Watchtower (more like a watch-platform) and dome-shaped gift shop is worth seeing for the novelty of it. [Erik McCloud, 06/11/2001]

A building and metal platform in the middle of nowhere -- inspired by TV shows like "Sightings" and the "X-Files." [Lucy, 06/03/2001]

[RA: Cattle rancher Judy Messoline opened the UFO Watchtower summer of 2000 to better observe the luminous disks that frequent the San Luis Valley.]