'Storm Area 51' organizer to throw 'Alien Stock' festival in Nevada desert
After more than two million people confirmed they would show up to storm Area 51, as "they can't stop all of us," the creator of the now-viral Facebook event is hoping to get people to Rachel, Nevada, the closest town to Area 51 for "Alien Stock," an alien enthusiast festival.
Matty Roberts of Bakersfield, Calif., created the "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All Of Us" event, set to take place on Sept. 20, as a joke, but the response of people wanting to "see them aliens" has been overwhelming.
“I never foresaw this happening to me at all,” Roberts told 23ABC News. “I have never done anything that has reached this scale of attention and it's completely surreal and really cool.”
Roberts is hopeful that he can take his viral fame and turn it into an annual event in Rachel, a town with a population of 54, according to the 2010 census, complete with camping, music, art installations, and "surprise performances."
“I want to make this something as a positive, enjoyable, safe and profitable for the rural area of Nevada," Roberts said.
On Friday, Alien Stock was announced. The festival is set to take place September 19-22, just 27 miles away from the highly classified United States Air Force facility, Area 51.
Roberts is hopeful that he will be able to receive enough donations and sponsors that he can keep the event admission free.
“Profits would be fun, but I don’t want to be seen as a profit-driven guy. I don’t care about the money aspect, I never intended for this to become a real thing," he said. "Now, I want to make it fun and I think just capitalizing on it and making a ton of money just ruins the idea of the grassroots idea of it.”
Rachel, Nevada's website reads: "With the social media attention this event is getting we want to clarify a few points for those not familiar with this area. Other than the Little A'Le'Inn, a small bar/restaurant/motel there are no services in Rachel. There is no gas and no store.” The site noted that the nearest gas station is 50 miles away and that the inn is completely booked for the weekend of Alien Stock.
"If you plan on attending the event you must be experienced in camping, hiking and surviving in a harsh desert environment and have a vehicle in good shape," the statement continues. “You must be prepared to be completely on your own for food, water, gas etc. We expect cell service and the internet to be offline. Expect daytime highs in the 80's and nighttime lows in the 40's. It is not uncommon to go below freezing at night in late September."
According to Alien Stock's website, however, the landowners in Rachel are "totally on board."
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