One of Texas’s Quirkiest Towns Is Still Flying Under the Radar

If you're a UFO skeptic, there's a quirky town in Texas with a story so compelling that it just might change your mind. Aurora is a tiny North Texas town where an alien spacecraft supposedly crashed in 1897, predating the Roswell Incident. Visitors to this unique small town in Texas can explore the historic cemetery where the extraterrestrial pilot is allegedly buried. Let's dive into the story of the Aurora UFO incident so you can draw your own conclusions. To quote one of my all-time favorite TV shows, "The X-Files," "The truth is out there..."

Where Is Aurora and Why Is It So Unique

With a population of roughly 1,400, Aurora is located on Highway 114 between two other small towns in Texas, Rhome and Boyd. It's among the most hidden gem towns in Texas, despite being only about 30 miles north of Fort Worth. If you do a quick Google search for the town, you'll see that most of the results are about the 1897 Aurora UFO Incident. Though not as famous as the similar event that occurred in Roswell, New Mexico, half a century later, the incident sent shockwaves through town and remains a media sensation to this day.

The incident reportedly took place on April 19, 1897. An article in the Dallas Morning News described the crash, which is said to have occurred around 6 a.m. According to the article, townspeople watched in amazement as an unidentified flying object collided with a windmill. The pilot was allegedly an extraterrestrial being, a claim corroborated by Army Signal Service officer T. J. Weems. It is also said that the spacecraft contained papers written in a language not of Earth. The pilot was supposedly buried in the Aurora Cemetery, and multiple television shows have visited to investigate. In 2005, "UFO Files" featured two alleged eyewitnesses who discovered an unmarked grave bearing a flying saucer emblem. Members of the crew used a metal detector, which measured high near the gravesite. Three years later, "UFO Hunters" tested the water in a well where the wreckage was supposedly buried for metals; however, the readings were largely normal.

What It’s Like to Visit This Quirky Town in Texas

Like Roswell, Aurora thoroughly embraces its mysterious past, making it one of the most unusual towns in Texas. Many businesses have adopted an alien theme, including the (now closed) Smoking Windmill BBQ. (The restaurant's name was an allusion to the windmill that the craft allegedly collided with.) Of course, the Aurora Cemetery remains the most popular tourist attraction. It's open to the public with plenty of parking available, so feel free to come explore. There is a Texas Historical Commission marker by the entrance where you can read more about the incident. Aurora is a year-round destination for anyone who loves weird towns in Texas. While it doesn't offer much in the way of events or walkability, the chance to visit the site of one of America's first UFO mysteries is reason enough to make the trip to one of Texas's most underrated towns.

Why It’s Still Flying Under the Radar

So why don't more people know about Aurora, given its sensational backstory? Location, for one. The town's proximity to Fort Worth means it's easily overlooked as one of the best small towns in the U.S., and its low population, combined with few tourist amenities, means it doesn't get much attention.

Visit the City of Aurora or the Wise County website for more information about the town and its history. Saying Aurora "flies under the radar" is true both literally and figuratively, considering part of its schtick is a UFO crash. It's basically a less commercialized Roswell, so plan a trip before someone decides to capitalize on its history. Perhaps you'll even discover definitive proof of the incident.