Area 51 has come a long way since it was first established way back in the 1940s. What started as a gravel field with an airplane or two, is now so much more than that.
The most expansive additions and renovation projects happened in 1983, 1995, and 2015. As of the next project planned — we could tell you but then we would have to kill you.
Joking With Google
In September 2019, Google Maps jumped on the internet joke calling on people to storm Area 51. No, Google didn't encourage people to threaten national security, but it did add a little easter egg.
Those who tried to find Area 51 on Google Maps' satellite view, were surprised to see that the cursor hovering over the place has turned from an arrow into an itty-bitty spaceship!
The Stephen King Angle
Among the many films inspired by Area 51, there is an old TV movie called "Trucks". The film is based on one of Stephen King's short stories and features aliens. Obviously.
The aliens in the story land in the deserts of Nevada and threaten mankind by turning all of their cars into blood-thirsty monsters. Sounds like a cinematic masterpiece.
More Land
The 2015 expansion included Area 51 taking over more land. The land in question used to be in the possession of a local family from Nevada for more than a century!
Since the land was close enough to see the base, it was deemed a national security threat by a federal judge. The family had to sign over the ownership to the US Air Force and look for other military bases to spy on.
Oh, the Horror
Remember the film "The Blair Witch Project" from 1999? Of course you do. Did you know that a similar horror film by the unoriginal name of "Area 51" was made in 2015? Probably not.
The film tells the story of a group of friends who infiltrate Area 51 (shocking, right?) to find answers about the abduction of one of them. Are there any little green men making an appearance? We'll live it to you to find out.