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Mar Saucer at night.

Flying Saucer in Town Named Mars

Field review by the editors.

Mars, Pennsylvania

This little burg was named after the "Star of Mars" (according to a plaque in front of the local historical society) and founded in 1875.

When we first saw the Flying Saucer in the early 1990s, it was downtown and painted battleship gray. At the time we heard there had been local UFO sightings and videotapings, along with circular burn marks out in fields. Was the Chamber of Commerce playing tricks to make the Saucer more newsworthy?

Businesses were proudly labeled Mars National Bank, Mars Gourmet, Mars Animal Depot, Planet Pizza, Mars Travel, Chuck Kennedy's Cars from Mars. We were intrigued by the bi-lingual sign at Mars Hardware -- in both English and Martian Tool language. The town's sport teams are named the Planets.

Machine language sign at Mars hardware.

In 2007 we received a tip that the Saucer was gone, and on a special night mission we found it in a park beyond the railroad tracks, glinting in our headlights. It turns out it's relocated every September for the town's annual Apple Festival. The town librarian told us that, "they move it around all the time, but they'll never get rid of it."

It would be difficult to get rid of; it weighs a ton.

Flying Saucer in Town Named Mars

Address:
100 Pittsburgh St., Mars, PA
Directions:
On the southeast end town. From Hwy 228, head north on Mars Valencia Rd/Irvine St., turn right on Pittsburgh St., park is on the northwest corner of intersection with Grand Ave.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Fountain of YouthFountain of Youth, Allison Park, PA - 7 mi.
Night of the Living Dead CemeteryNight of the Living Dead Cemetery, Evans City, PA - 5 mi.
Night of the Living Dead MarkerNight of the Living Dead Marker, Evans City, PA - 6 mi.
In the region:
Ice Cream Cone Building, Canonsburg, PA - 31 mi.

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