A UFO Landed In the Berkshires and I Got To Visit The Historic Spot
By Kim Falchek|Published April 11, 2024
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Kim Falchek
Author
Kim Falchek has been exploring the towns, trails, and hidden gems of Massachusetts since her college days in Boston. When not writing, Kim enjoys photography, going on road trips, and spending time at the beach. Kim has previously been a contributing writer for LA Family Travel, Global Munchkins, and Latched Mama. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts where she and her family embrace all things Halloween!
Do you believe in alien life? I have to admit that I have always been a bit of a skeptic. Lately, my OnlyInYourState research has led me to do a lot of reading about UFO encounters and it has me questioning my beliefs. I’ve learned that there have been incidents in Freetown State Forest in Fall River and even a sighting in my hometown of Salem. Perhaps the most famous of all is a UFO abduction that took place in Sheffield, Massachusetts. My family took an overnight trip to this quaint little town last fall, and although I had doubts about the story’s credibility, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit this historic Berkshires’ spot.
After a beautiful waterfall hike, my family and I checked out of our cozy cottage at the beautiful Race Brook Lodge and headed to the Thom Reed UFO Monument Park a few miles away.
I’d researched the park before the trip and learned that the site was simply marked. I let my kids know there wouldn’t be any gigantic alien statues or UFO replicas to see.
I’d also read up on Thom Reed, the man behind the park and alleged abduction. On Sept. 1, 1969, Reed and his family drove across the Upper Sheffield Covered Bridge in their station wagon when they suddenly saw a bright light in the sky.
Kimberly Falchek/OnlyInYourState
According to the Reeds, they were pulled from their vehicle without warning and transported to an airplane hangar-like structure. Their time on the “ship” was a bit hazy but they were eventually returned to the station wagon unharmed. Mysteriously, the car was turned off and Thom’s mother and grandmother’s places in the front seat had been switched.
Several other people in Sheffield and the surrounding towns also reported strange encounters and unusual sights that evening.
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The story has proven so believable that the Great Barrington Historical Society and Massachusetts government officials recognize the Sheffield UFO abduction as a historically true event.
Kimberly Falchek/OnlyInYourState
In 2005, the town of Sheffield opened up the Thom Reed - UFO Monument Park on the spot where the abduction took place. The park contains two plaques dedicated to the incident. One is a metal structure donated by The History Channel’s “Ancient Aliens.”
The other is an official citation plaque signed by former governor, Charlie Baker. The sign states the event's authenticity.
Kimberly Falchek/OnlyInYourState
To this day, Reed and several other local residents swear that the encounter was the real deal. Reed has lectured about the event many times, has taken (and passed) a polygraph test about the experience, and recently wrote a book about the abduction.
Reed's story has also been featured on an episode of the television show "Unsolved Mysteries."
Even if you don’t believe in aliens, the park is a beautiful place to visit. There are benches where you can sit and take in views of the Housatonic River and the covered bridge is so much fun to walk across.
It is definitely worth a quick stop if you are in the area.
Do you believe there was an actual abduction in Sheffield? Or do you think it was all a hoax? To find out more about this hidden gem, please visit the Thom Reed UFO Park website and the UFO Monument Park – Thom Reed Facebook page. If you are vacationing in the Berkshires, I highly recommend staying at the Race Brook Lodge. My family and I had a wonderful overnight experience here!
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