If you’ve been on the internet at all this past month, you may have seen some chatter about Area 51. People are planning to storm the government base on September 20, 2019, in an attempt to gain access to top secret extraterrestrial information. The Facebook event page “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us” responsible for this was originally a joke, but 2 million people have pledged to attend. This idea is outrageous and some might say “out of this world”, but it’s an incredible marketing opportunity for the state of Nevada.

Area 51 is located near Rachel, Nevada, right off of the Extraterrestrial Highway. Nevada renamed State Route 375 in 1996 to capitalize on the mysteries behind Area 51 and promote the release of Independence Day, a movie about a worldwide alien invasion. Local officials in Nevada hoped the highway’s new name would bring extra visitors through the state. Little did they know 23 years later the area would be the internet’s latest fascination, sparking a craze that could yield over a million potentially new tourists to the region.

The state’s tourism group Travel Nevada is embracing this event with open arms. In the spirit of the event, they released an article highlighting the best places to spot an alien along the Extraterrestrial Highway. They also list where to stay, where to get alien food, and where to see local alien art. It’s important to note that they encourage everyone to visit the area, but they are not on board with the event’s purpose. A disclaimer from the tourism group reads: “Don’t be a space invader … Don’t even think about trespassing. You will be caught and you will be prosecuted. And let’s be real, no selfie is worth that kind of headache.”

There’s no doubt that people are planning to invade Nevada to experience this internet phenomenon and, whether the raid happens or not, Nevada is taking full advantage of the curiosity surrounding the secrets of Area 51 and this event to promote their state’s otherworldly attractions.