Area 51 has long fuelled conspiracy theories, and a 'new' structure has only added to those theories
A mysterious-looking structure has popped up in satellite images of Area 51, and it’s got conspiracy theorists buzzing with excitement and confusion.
Area 51, which sits tucked away in southern Nevada, has long been the center of wild stories about UFOs, aliens, and top-secret government projects. So when eagle-eyed users spotted a triangle-shaped tower through Google Maps imagery, it didn’t take long for online chatter to explode.
The image shows a tall, strange-looking object with a triangular form sitting atop a round concrete base. There’s also a dirt road that circles around it and then continues off into the distance.
Since we’re unlikely to get an official response from the CIA anytime soon, internet users have started tossing around their own theories. One suggestion? It might be some kind of air traffic control tower.
And let’s be honest—if aliens are indeed flying into Area 51, Earth’s tourism pitch must be pretty convincing. Kind of like how Men in Black portrayed things, with alien customs lines stretching for miles.
One Reddit user chimed in with their theory, saying: "I'm convinced that there was ever anything actually interesting going on at area 51 that by now it isn't anymore. It has the most public attention of any government secret site so why would they park any of the good stuff there at this point?"
Tall triangle shaped tower at Area 51
byu/james-HIMself ininterestingasfuck
Others had thoughts of their own, with one person commenting: "It was built to specifically provoke theoretical conversation,"
And someone else added this twist to the conversation: "Area 51 is the facility they want you to know about so they can freely do whatever at all the black sites nobody knows about."
Officially, Area 51 is called the Nevada Test and Training Range. According to the U.S. government, it's now primarily used by the Air Force for training operations.
In fact, it wasn’t until 2013 that the government even acknowledged Area 51’s existence at all.
As for the triangle tower itself despite people assuming it was a brand-new construction - it turns out it's actually been there for quite a while.
Area 51 has long fuelled conspiracy theories Bernard Friel/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Some unverified sources claim it’s a “communication tower used for military purposes,” though that hasn’t been confirmed by any official channels.
According to Dreamland Resort, a website focused on theories and sightings around Area 51, the tower has been around since at least 2005—nearly 20 years ago.
The site described the structure in detail: "This new tall structure near the RCS range at the north end of Area 51 was built between Sept. 28, 2005 and January 17, 2006. It is triangular in shape, approximately 155 ft. tall and the three sides are about 30 ft. wide,"
"Comparing various satellite images it appears that the tower can rotate around its vertical center axis. There are no support buildings nearby, but the proximity to the RCS rage could suggest that it is controlled from there."
