Area 52 Flying saucer photo op.

Area 52 - The Flying Saucer

Boulder City, Nevada

Sure, you know everything about super secret Area 51, from blabbermouth movies, TV shows, and conspiracy books. But what about Area 52?

Popular alien tequila.

According to the gift shop by that name (a.k.a. Aliens R Us), the government houses an extraterrestrial secret base underwater at nearby Hoover Dam. You can increase your preparedness for whatever might emerge by purchasing items here, a Boulder City fixture since 2011, started by sci-fi collector and UFO aficionado Kae Pohe.

In the store, bulge-headed dummies pose, and their depictions are on t-shirts, mugs, DVDs, and other souvenirs. The store offers steampunk attire, drones and remote control flying saucers. Beer and wine is available, and Alien Tequila is always popular. Shot glasses marked for Area 51 or Area 52 are ready for action.

Pale abductees undergo scrutiny in the Bubble.

In the non-interstellar zone, the store sells Hoover Dam products, and sterling silver jewelry made by Native Americans.

Store manager Stacey Hollister reads and vouches for every book she stocks; during our visit she'd made it halfway through a tome on alien abductions. We bought a melting clock, which came with a free pair of alien sunglasses.

Outside there's an alien overlord dummy, and a decent flying saucer photo op. Shoot quick. Visitors inside the clear bubble top endure the merciless solar magnification of southeastern Nevada.