Visiting Skinwalker Ranch

Strange things happen in the desert...

Jay Stratton leads the way out to the triangle.

Skinwalker Ranch. The name alone conjures images of the paranormal and unexplained. For many, it's easy to dismiss such a place outright. After all, believing in fantastical phenomena is often seen as childish, incompatible with our understanding of how the world really works.

As a former F-18 pilot and current Executive Director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, I've learned that reality can often defy our expectations. My experiences with UAP have taught me to keep an open mind, even as I approach claims with a healthy dose of skepticism.

When Brandon Fugal extended an invitation to Skinwalker Ranch, I saw it as a unique opportunity to bridge two worlds: the historical accounts from this enigmatic site and the contemporary UAP reports I've been collecting from pilots nationwide. The potential to confirm or refute claims of similarity between these phenomena was too intriguing to pass up. Yet, I approached the visit with measured expectations. Bracing myself for an evening that might be slightly eerie but ultimately uneventful, I reminded myself that phenomena which have eluded scientific explanation for decades were unlikely to manifest on cue.

Despite this conservative outlook, the chance to further understand the possible interconnectedness of these events drew me to the ranch. Little did I know that Skinwalker Ranch, seemingly indifferent to my rational mindset, had its own agenda for my visit—one that would challenge my skepticism.

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Skinwalker Ranch

Skinwalker Ranch is a 512-acre property 2.5 hours east of Salt Lake City. Under the wide desert skies of Utah’s Uinta Basin, the beautiful landscape belies the site’s history of paranormal activity and scientific intrigue. The Ute tribe, who have inhabited the area for centuries, have long-standing legends of shape-shifting entities they called 'Skinwalkers.’ Since the mid-20th century, the property has been a hotbed of reported anomalous phenomena, ranging from UFO sightings to unexplained animal mutilations and electromagnetic anomalies.

The ranch gained national attention in the 1990s when owners Terry and Gwen Sherman went public with their experiences of bizarre occurrences. This caught the eye of billionaire Robert Bigelow, who purchased the property in 1996 and established the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) to conduct scientific investigations on site.

NIDS

The National Institute for Discovery Sciences, or NIDS, was a privately funded research organization that brought together a team of scientists and researchers from various disciplines, including physics, engineering, psychology, and veterinary medicine. Their mission was to apply rigorous scientific methods to investigate anomalous phenomena, with a particular focus on the events at Skinwalker Ranch.

The NIDS team included several prominent figures in the UFO and paranormal research communities. 

• Dr. Colm Kelleher, a biochemist, served as the Deputy Administrator and was involved in the Skinwalker Ranch investigations. 

• Dr. Jacques Vallée, known for his influential research and books on UFO phenomena, was part of the NIDS Science Advisory Board. 

• Dr. John Alexander, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and expert in non-lethal weapons.

• George Knapp investigative journalist covering UFO topics, worked closely with NIDS.

From 1996 to 2004, NIDS conducted extensive investigations at the ranch. They implemented 24/7 surveillance systems, performed scientific measurements of electromagnetic fields and radiation levels, closely monitored livestock, analyzed soil samples and physical evidence, and documented historical events through interviews with previous owners and local residents.

Despite their efforts, NIDS faced significant challenges. The phenomena they sought to study were often unpredictable and difficult to capture with scientific instruments. Many of the team's own experiences were anecdotal and hard to substantiate with physical evidence. In 2004, NIDS scaled back its operations.

However, the organization's work at Skinwalker Ranch laid the groundwork for future investigations and brought scientific rigor to the study of paranormal phenomena. The NIDS investigations were later detailed in the 2005 book "Hunt for the Skinwalker" by Colm Kelleher and George Knapp, bringing wider attention to the ranch and its mysteries.

Fugal’s Ranch

Today, Skinwalker Ranch is owned by real estate tycoon Brandon Fugal, who acquired the property in 2016. Fugal, a prominent Utah businessman and tech investor, initially purchased the ranch through a company named Adamantium Real Estate, keeping his ownership anonymous for about two years. He bought the property from Robert Bigelow's company, Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), in a multimillion-dollar transaction, though the exact price remains undisclosed.

When we met, Brandon shared the story behind his acquisition of the ranch. Despite his initial skepticism, his long-standing fascination with scientific anomalies drove him to purchase the property. He saw it as a chance to build upon the foundation laid by NIDS, pushing the boundaries of scientific investigation into these unexplained phenomena. In 2020, Fugal went public with his ownership, a move that coincided with the launch of "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch," a History Channel series that offers viewers a glimpse into the ongoing investigations at the property.

Under Fugal's ownership, the ranch has seen a significant increase in scientific equipment and personnel. He assembled a team of researchers and experts, including astrophysicists, former military personnel, and other scientific specialists, to continue investigating the phenomena. Fugal continues to support ongoing scientific research into the events reported there, maintaining the ranch's status as a focal point for those seeking to understand unexplained anomalous phenomena.

It was in this context that I received an invitation from Brandon Fugal to visit the ranch. At Americans for Safe Aerospace, I've been at the forefront of collecting and analyzing reports of UAP from professional pilots. Fugal, intrigued by the potential connection between these reports and the phenomena observed at Skinwalker Ranch, extended an invitation for me to visit the property.

The decision to accept wasn't one I made lightly. As a former F-18 pilot who had witnessed advanced UAP firsthand during my military service, I've dedicated my post-military career to investigating these phenomena. My work has included testifying before Congress, interviewing pilots about their experiences, and advocating for legislation to improve UAP reporting processes.

I saw Fugal's invitation as an opportunity to understand a different part of what may be the same whole… Skinwalker Ranch could be the missing link between historical accounts and contemporary UAP sightings reported by pilots worldwide. While skeptics may dismiss the ranch outright, I needed to see for myself. If Fugal's claims hold true, this site could revolutionize our understanding of UAP.

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Arriving at Skinwalker

The journey to Skinwalker Ranch began with a beautiful 2.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City. Dr. Michael Lembeck, co-chair of the AIAA UAPIOC, and Brad Crispin, co-founder of ASA, accompanied me on the trip. We set out with a sense of anticipation, discussing our expectations for the ranch as we traveled. Our route took us through Park City, Utah, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, adding to the scenic beauty of the trip.

We arrived at the ranch midday, greeted by the production crew and shortly after by the Skinwalker team themselves. It was a pleasure to meet everyone – Erik Bard, Travis Taylor, Brandt, Thomas – the entire team was extremely welcoming and friendly.

Kaleb Bench and Jay Stratton briefing myself and Dr. Michael Lembeck at the ranch.

Our introduction to the ranch began with a crucial safety briefing. Despite the common perception that the ranch might be a 'made-for-tv' experience, it quickly became clear that the crew and team took the potential dangers very seriously. Their concern for visitors' safety was genuine and not an act for the cameras.

After the briefing, we were given a tour of the command center, which provided insight into the sophisticated monitoring and research conducted on the property. With some time to explore before the evening's activities, Brad and I decided to stretch our legs and gain a new perspective on the ranch by climbing the mesa.

This brief expedition allowed us to center ourselves and take in the full scope of our surroundings. As the sun began to set, we could feel the anticipation building. There was a palpable sense that we were starting to become aware of the ranch's unique atmosphere and the potential experiences that lay ahead.

What was that?!

My personal encounter with a UAP at Skinwalker Ranch came during a night of experimentation at an area known as the Triangle.

The Triangle is a section of the ranch notorious for its high concentration of anomalous activity. It's a relatively small area, but it's been the site of numerous unexplained events, from strange lights to electromagnetic anomalies. Some researchers theorize it might be a sort of "portal" or hotspot for paranormal activity. Whatever the case, it's a focal point for investigations at the ranch.

On this particular night, the team had planned a series of rocket launches near the Triangle. The idea was to "stimulate a response" – essentially, to see if we could provoke any unusual activity by introducing a controlled disturbance to the area.

We set up our equipment, including infrared (IR) cameras to capture any heat signatures that might appear. I was stationed at one of these IR monitors, tasked with watching for anything out of the ordinary.

The first couple of launches were uneventful, save for a close call with an errant rocket. The rockets were equipped with whistlers, a small device designed to provide an audio indication of position in case the parachute failed. This proved to be a wise precaution when one of the early rockets "lawn darted" about five feet from my position. Not a good start!

As we prepared for the next launch, I kept my eyes glued to the IR monitor. The countdown ended, and the rockets illuminated the night sky as they shot upwards. Despite my best intentions to focus on the screen, I couldn't help but glance away from the monitor to watch the rockets as they soared overhead, their parachutes successfully deploying this time.

Remembering my duty, I quickly returned my attention to the IR monitor. That's when I saw it.

Contrasting sharply against the blank sky on the screen was a distinct infrared energy source. This wasn't a rocket or any conventional aircraft – it appeared to be under controlled flight, descending rapidly straight down. As I watched, the object abruptly accelerated to the right, altering its descent course slightly. Not behavior I would expect from a bird or even an aircraft. 

Just as the object seemed to be approaching the hillside, it simply vanished from our sensors. The best we could tell, it did not impact the ground, fly into the mountain in any sense, or disappear behind clouds. The entire sighting lasted only a few seconds, but it created an immediate buzz around the site.

In the aftermath, the team and I reviewed the footage as best we could on site. However, we needed to wait for further validation from the command center. Fortunately, an additional sensor at the ranch had also captured the object, providing corroborating evidence. Based off an estimate of the object’s location, the team was able to determine that this object did not represent any type of expected air traffic. Best we could tell, it wasn't a plane, a drone, or any other expected air traffic. 

But beyond labeling it as unknown, what can we definitively say about this object? Frustratingly little. While its flight characteristics were highly unusual, they weren't necessarily beyond the realm of advanced technology. We can, however, rule out some explanations. A camera artifact? Highly improbable, given its appearance on multiple sensors. An insect, bird, or other natural phenomenon? Extremely unlikely, considering its movement patterns and energy signature. This encounter reminds us of the challenge of UAP research: we're often left with more questions than answers, grappling with phenomena that resist reproducibility.

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Conclusion

My visit to Skinwalker Ranch, much like the phenomena itself, left me with more questions than answers. I arrived skeptical, uncertain if the ranch would 'perform on demand.' What I discovered was a unique confluence of frequent anomalous events and a controlled environment for testing—a rare opportunity to apply scientific rigor to occurrences often relegated to speculation or folklore.

However, it's premature to definitively link the phenomena observed there with UAP reports from pilots. While there are similarities, we need more robust data to draw concrete connections.

To advance our understanding, Skinwalker Ranch could benefit from additional integrated sensor technology. This would enable a greater understanding of the location and kinematics of the objects being observed. Combining enhanced data from these locations with increased reporting from commercial pilots could reveal patterns or connections between these phenomena.

We must approach this subject with measured expectations and healthy skepticism. The phenomena remain elusive and difficult to study. We're not yet at a point where we can draw definitive conclusions, and prosaic explanations should always be considered first.

Nevertheless, I believe investment in this research should continue... the potential implications are too significant to ignore. By applying rigorous scientific methods and leveraging advancing technology, I believe we can gradually unravel these mysteries.

The journey to understanding these phenomena will likely be long, filled with both breakthroughs and setbacks. But by continuing to gather data, refine our methods, and foster collaboration between different areas of UAP research, we edge closer to the truth - whatever that truth may be.

Ryan Graves

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