Area 51
is inspired by Area 51 (Groom Lake), Rachel, Nevada
Inspired by a real place
Real-world photo: Wikimedia Commons
How close does the game get to the real place?
In the game
Area 51, also new in Season 5, drops the war on the secret Nevada air base, with tanks, helicopters and jets in the desert above and close fighting in an underground facility reached through a huge crater. The game's base and its mountain valley are invented.
The real place
Area 51 is a highly classified US Air Force facility at Groom Lake in the Nevada desert, used since the 1950s to test spy planes such as the U-2 and the A-12. Its existence was only officially acknowledged in 2013, and it has been at the centre of UFO stories for decades.
Visiting
The base is closed and guarded, and crossing the boundary or taking photos beyond the warning signs is illegal. The closest legal stops are the gate on Groom Lake Road, seen here, and the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel on the Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada State Route 375), about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas.
Area 51 is also in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. See all 2 games side by side
Pilgrim photos
Screenshots from the game and photos of Area 51 (Groom Lake), sent in by players. Most liked first.
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