Fire in the Sky UFO anniversary celebrated this weekend

On Nov. 5, 1975, Travis Walton stepped out of a truck to gain a closer look at something strange. In the distance, he could hear six of his logging crewmates urging him to come back inside. As Walton approached the craft that brightened the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, he felt a stunning jolt that rendered him unconscious.

The crewmates reported seeing a beam, described variously as a foot-wide laser, a blot of lighting or a blue flame, strike Walton in the head and chest. His body arched backward, arms and legs stretched, lifted into the air, before falling limp to the ground. 

Fifty years later, the “Travis Walton incident” remains one of the most famous UFO abduction stories. Eyewitness accounts from that night sparked national controversy, lectures, documentaries, books and even a motion picture, 1993’s “Fire in the Sky.”

To mark the anniversary, Walton and his family are hosting a “‘Fire in the Sky’ 50th Anniversary” gathering at the American Legion Post 86 in Heber, Arizona. 

“There’s a lot to look forward to,” says Walton. “People that are personally involved with me and are familiar with my case (can) mingle and associate with people like that.”

The anniversary event is a retrospective, inviting believers and skeptics alike to join a day of activities.

Depending on the ticket level, attendees can participate in a guided UFO abduction area tour, evening programs featuring Walton as a guest speaker, live music by a family band featuring some of Walton’s children and grandchildren and a special screening of “Fire in the Sky.”

Tickets are $23.18 for all of the indoor activities, $44.52 for a tour of the abduction site that begins at 11 a.m. or $55.20 for a pass that includes everything happening that day.

”There’s an immediacy of presence. You know, this is the first time we’ve done something like this where people can actually be where a lot of this stuff happened,” Walton says.

Due to its proximity to the abduction site, the small town of Heber has become a globally known destination for UFO tourism. The Chamber of Commerce sells copies of Walton’s book. Heber Tire Shop stands just a few feet away from the phone booth from which Walton called for help; owner Al Talamante says visitors come from all over.

John Velasquez, owner of the Wild Woods shop that counts bright green aliens among the carvings it sells, says he’s served customers from as far away as Europe and Australia.

The Travis Walton incident remains a hotly debated subject. After his disappearance, his fellow crewmembers reported their accounts of the event, which ignited a search, police investigation and a national media frenzy. When Walton resurfaced on Nov. 10, 1975, many believed the whole incident was a hoax.

Walton underwent regressive hypnosis, psychiatric and medical examinations. He and the other logging crewmembers were questioned separately by different authorities and underwent a series of polygraph tests; everyone passed. Even Walton’s brother and mother passed polygraph tests.

Still, there are plenty of theories that point to a hoax. One speculation suggests that the incident was fabricated to prevent penalties for the logging crew not finishing their job on time. A made-for-TV movie about an abduction, “The UFO Incident,” aired two weeks before Walton’s disappearance.

When asked about his stance toward skeptics, Walton welcomes constructive dialogue but expresses that it often falls short.

“ Well, if there’s a division, I would say that the naysayers were more outspoken early on, and now they tend to remain silent because the supporters are much more willing to confront them about their doubts,” Walton says. “And almost without exception, the people who have doubts or skepticism of some kind don’t have any facts to back it up.”

Despite all the attention he has experienced over the decades, Walton tries to lead a fairly private life in Snowflake, about 20 miles from Heber. The anniversary event represents him “fulfilling a request” from his family, he says. He encourages anyone interested in attending the event to ask him questions.   

“I’ve never sought out an interview, you know. Every one of these radio, television, newspaper interviews I’ve done is just granting their requests. They sought me out,” he says. “I’m not avoiding it, but it’s my duty to you know, be responsible and tell the truth.”

Fire in the Sky anniversary event: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. American Legion Post 86, 2068 Lumber Valley Road, Overgaard. Tickets and event schedule are available at Eventbrite.