Place · Uintah Basin, Utah
Skinwalker Ranch
Also known as Skinwalker
Skinwalker Ranch is a 512-acre property in Utah's Uinta Basin with a long local reputation for strange lights, cattle mutilations and other reported phenomena. Robert Bigelow bought it in 1996 and his National Institute for Discovery Science studied it for years; Brandon Fugal acquired it in 2016.
A senior DIA scientist, James Lacatski, visited in the mid-2000s and reported a strange encounter of his own, which he says led to the creation of the Pentagon-funded AAWSAP in 2008; Bigelow's team documented glowing orbs, creatures and UFO sightings there. AARO's 2024 historical review discusses these investigations. Since 2020 the ranch has been the subject of the History Channel series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.
Sources: Wikipedia · AARO Historical Record Report, Vol. 1 (2024)
Facts and claims
- claimed A 512-acre ranch in Utah, bought by Robert Bigelow in 1996 and by Brandon Fugal in 2016. Source: en.wikipedia.org (archived)
- claimed Bigelow’s team documented glowing orbs, shapeshifting creatures and UFO sightings there. Source: doc-aaro-historical-record-report-v1.pdf
- claimed A senior DIA scientist visited in the mid-2000s and reported his own strange encounter, which led to the creation of AAWSAP in 2008. — James Lacatski Source: 8newsnow.com (archived)
Connected files
Books
- Inside the U.S. Government Covert UFO Program: Future Visions (subject of)
- Inside the U.S. Government Covert UFO Program: New Insights (subject of)
- Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah (subject of)
- Inside the US Government Covert UFO Program: Initial Revelations (related to)
- Skinwalkers at the Pentagon: An Insiders' Account of the Secret Government UFO Program (subject of)
Events
- Robert Bigelow buys Skinwalker Ranch (subject of)
- Brandon Fugal acquires Skinwalker Ranch (subject of)
People
- Colm Kelleher (researched by) — He worked on the BAASS research for Bigelow and co-wrote Skinwalkers at the Pentagon
- George Knapp (chronicled by) — He became the public chronicler of the Skinwalker Ranch research
- Harry Reid (research funded by) — AARO says the AAWSAP contractor's work at the ranch was paranormal research outside the program's purpose
- James Lacatski (visited by) — He reported a strange encounter during a mid-2000s visit, which he says led to AAWSAP
- Jay Stratton (visited by) — Knapp says Stratton is “Axelrod”, the intelligence officer who had strange experiences after visiting the ranch
- Robert Bigelow (owned by)
- Brandon Fugal (owned by)
Programs
- Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (studied by) — It studied reports of UFOs and related phenomena, including at Bigelow's Skinwalker Ranch
Official records (PURSUE)
Videos
- Lacatski, Kelleher and Knapp on “Skinwalkers at the Pentagon” (Mystery Wire, October 2021) (subject of)
- Inside the DIA's Secretive UFO Investigation: Lacatski and Kelleher on WEAPONIZED #38 (October 2023) (discussed in)
- “The Government UFO Boss”: James Lacatski, part 2, on New Insights (WEAPONIZED, November 2025) (discussed in)
- Mystery Wire: the Bigelow–Lacatski connection, AAWSAP and New Insights (8 News Now, January 2026) (discussed in)
- Craft of unknown origin and the paranormal umbrella: Lacatski on Future Visions (8 News Now, April 2026) (discussed in)
- “This is UFO disclosure, as far as it can go”: James Lacatski on Future Visions (WEAPONIZED, April 2026) (discussed in)
- Jay Stratton's first on-camera interview, recorded 2022 (WEAPONIZED, released October 2026) (discussed in)
- Top Navy Admiral: “The Ocean is FULL OF UFOs!” (discussed in)
- Joe Rogan Experience #2065 - David Grusch (discussed in)
Mentioned in this file
- Department of War (Department of Defense) (Organization)
- AARO Historical Record Report, Volume 1 (Document)
- Defense Intelligence Agency (Organization)
- All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (Program)
Mentioned in videos
- Inside the DIA's Secretive UFO Investigation: Lacatski and Kelleher on WEAPONIZED #38 (October 2023)
- Mystery Wire: the Bigelow–Lacatski connection, AAWSAP and New Insights (8 News Now, January 2026)
- “This is UFO disclosure, as far as it can go”: James Lacatski on Future Visions (WEAPONIZED, April 2026)
- Joe Rogan Experience #2065 - David Grusch