Baker, California: Alien Fresh Jerky

Looks like they added some fancy parking lot lights and were doing some work on the UFO-themed hotel.

Well, this explains the space alien/cow mutilation correlation.

On the weary I-15 stretch between LA and Vegas, and in the middle of the three mile-long truck-stop known as Baker, a brilliantly themed roadside jerky stand/shop beckons. $8 gets you a 4-ounce bag of dried goodness, or an Andrew Jackson buys you three bags(tax-free, out-the-door!). Alien Jerky offers several different degrees of ass-burning heat levels and flavors to choose from! And to aid in making the right purchase, they have a self-serve, "sample" counter. Mmmm! (use the tongs). Don't do bovine? Game jerky is your alternative. Critters include: turkey, buffalo, ostrich, alligator, and I think I even saw some salmon.

Filling up the rest of the shop is overpriced alien candy, snacks, gimmicky sodas, and energy drinks. And a lot of souvenirs capitalizing on that familiar image of the small-gray alien with the big head.

Since our last alien jerky encounter, the density of extraterrestrial races, vehicles and gourmet meat snacks in Baker has increased. Or it seems so -- the proprietors of Alien Fresh Jerky like to move around the props and characters promoting their dried meat products and space monster souvenirs. If the silver "Galaxy Peace Patrol" car with its three green dummies is missing from the parking lot during your visit, it will probably be back the next time you pass through.

Inside the store, a mechanical alien fortune teller offers advice from a coin op glass case. The store displays plenty of E.T. bric-a-brac to buy -- t-shirts, glasses, signs. Jerky is available in many flavors and configurations.

The manager didn't laugh when we asked about how the new "UFO hotel project" is going -- he said that it was underway for 2013. The plan, publicized in late 2012, is to build a 3-story, saucer-shaped motel with a pool resembling an E.T.'s head. If all goes well, Baker will be promoted as the "Gateway to Area 51"...

We were at Alien Fresh Jerky in mid-Feb of 2012, and the Alien Car wasn't there. Not sure if they will bring it back. Would be a shame if it's gone for good since it has been there since they started.

Outside the Jerky Stand there is an alien spacecraft where you can put in $ to have it do its thing.

A traditional roadside jerky stand with a decidedly Space Alien/UFO twist. Just across from the World's Largest Thermometer, Alien Fresh Jerky has it all. There's jerky, T-Shirts, mugs, bumper stickers, refrigerator magnets, strong political opinions and, of course, a place to smash a penny with one of four Alien Fresh Jerky imprints. And, let's face it, what self respecting roadside attraction would be complete if one couldn't smash a penny. Once they had that, they knew Alien Fresh had arrived.