Strange Happenings in Utah: The Phenomenon of Skinwalker Ranch

Author:

Lindsey Medenwaldt

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Article ID:

JRV1024LM

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Updated: 

Oct 10, 2024

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Published:

Oct 10, 2024

This is an online article from the Christian Research Journal. 

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There’s a place in Utah near the New Mexico border where legends have shifted to today’s stories of paranormal phenomena. Skinwalker Ranch, a plot of 512 acres on the southern edge of Navajo Nation, has had reports of strange happenings since the 1600s: cattle mutilations, unidentified orbs of light disappearing into rock formations or lakes, and the appearance of large wolf-like creatures, just to name a few. What’s happening at Skinwalker Ranch? That’s the topic of the History Channel’s popular show The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch (2020–), a show that is framed much like its sister show on History, Ancient Aliens (2009–).1 Throughout the Skinwalker Ranch series, an astrophysicist, Travis Taylor, is joined by a team of researchers to determine why so many strange things occur on the ranch.

This article will offer an overview of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch and discuss some of the more important questions we face as we consider paranormal happenings and the potential of extraterrestrial life. How can Christians interact with others about shows like Skinwalker Ranch? What happens if the researchers at the ranch discover something truly life-changing, such as an extraterrestrial being or evidence of one, like a rocket or spaceship?

Something Odd Is Happening in Utah

For hundreds of years, people have reported odd things occurring in the region we now know as Skinwalker Ranch. Understanding the history of the ranch as well as its road to fame on the History Channel will help us pinpoint the fascination and lore it holds. Is there more than meets the eye, or can all the alleged occurrences be chalked up to myths, tricky camera angles, and/or a desire to discover something beyond humanity and our planet?

Ancient Myths about Skinwalkers

The Ute Native American tribe arrived in Utah in the 1300s, while the Navajo tribe arrived in the early 1600s. They didn’t often get along. One legend says that after a particularly violent altercation in which the Ute helped oust the Navajo from the property, the Navajo cursed the Ute, “unleashing skinwalkers within their territory,” which was located just about 20 miles from Skinwalker Ranch.2 Keeping in mind that not everyone agrees there was ever such a curse,3 skinwalkers have played a frequent role in Native American folklore. However, the Navajo seem to be the tribe most closely associated with skinwalkers. But what exactly is a skinwalker?

According to Navajo legend, skinwalkers (yee naaldlooshii in the Navajo language, meaning “with it, he goes on all fours”) are “malevolent witches” with “supernatural powers, allowing them to shape-shift from a human to an animal at will. They often become coyotes, wolves, foxes or bears, though they can transition into any animals.”4 Skinwalkers are witches who have been initiated by completing a truly terrible act, such as killing someone, usually a family member. Following the murder, the witch gets their supernatural powers. In addition to taking on the shape of animals, skinwalkers are thought to wear predatory animal skins and skulls to get even more powerful.5

The Navajo use the skinwalkers as a sort of scapegoat, blaming the creatures for everything from the weather to death. Shape-shifting creatures aren’t exclusive to the Navajo — other groups have similar legends, including the Apache, the Hopi, and even Europeans like the Slavs and French. But what do skinwalkers have to do with the ranch, aside from the legend of the curse between the Navajo and the Ute? There have been various so-called skinwalker sightings on Skinwalker Ranch. Because of the sightings, previous owner Terry Sherman gave it the now infamous name. Skinwalkers are blamed for cattle mutilations6 and for frightening inhabitants and visitors of the ranch. These occurrences, as well as others such as mysterious lights, unidentified flying objects, and unexplained illnesses, over the last couple of centuries, led current ranch owner Brandon Fugal to buy the property so that investigations could continue and perhaps answers could be found. Enter the History Channel.

            The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch

When Brandon Fugal acquired Skinwalker Ranch in 2016, the real estate mogul was hopeful that answers would be uncovered about the strange happenings on the land. Fugal hired aerospace engineer Travis Taylor7 to lead a team of investigators through a series of experiments that would be documented by the History Channel. Taylor’s resume includes work for the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA. Taylor also led the Pentagon’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Task Force, which resulted in the release of video featuring a UAP in 2021.8 In other words, Taylor is a bit of an expert in the field. The rest of the “cast” (as it’s described on the History Channel’s website)9 have a variety of backgrounds, including a private security officer, an entrepreneur, a technology expert, and an anthropologist.

The team (cast) of Skinwalker Ranch intends to complete a variety of experiments to determine why odd things happen at the ranch. Their number one go-to is to fire rockets into the air with hopes that the rockets will trigger UAP activity.10 Inevitably, there are equipment and technology failures during the launches that prevent the team from collecting all the data they had planned to gather, although the cameras recording them seem to continue functioning.11 Despite claims of discoveries and shocking new evidence, the show produces more questions than answers. In a podcast interview, Taylor said he doesn’t know what is causing the phenomena to occur on the ranch, but he’s certain it’s “not naturally occurring.”12 This means, of course, that he seems to have ruled out natural occurrences such as magnetic fields or radiation. Instead, Taylor seems to be almost hopeful that the phenomena are supernatural. This claim is bolstered by various episodes that feature radiation spikes, rapid onset illnesses, and sightings of UAPs, which they refer to as Tic Tacs. Theories presented on the show include extraterrestrial vortexes, space portals, and an underground spacecraft. Skeptics claim the cast of the show sees what they want to see and reads into events so that others will believe something supernatural is happening.13 Taylor has claimed that no scientific journal will publish their research.14

Experiences as Facts

Interestingly, Fugal’s background as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be instructive. When Fugal was asked by a reporter if he believed the claims about the ranch, he replied, “I’m not a believer. I’m an experiencer.”15 This is true of many Latter-day Saints, who believe in Joseph Smith’s (the founder of the Latter-day Saints) testimony despite the overwhelming lack of historical or archeological evidence to support Smith’s claims.16 Fugal is leading others to believe, too. After an interview with Meg Walter of Deseret News (which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Fugal asked her what she thought about Skinwalker Ranch and the alleged paranormal activity. “I’ve been to Skinwalker Ranch twice and haven’t encountered a single specter, ghost, UFO, murdered cow, or even a technological malfunction,” Walter replied. “But just because I didn’t experience these things doesn’t mean they haven’t happened. And it’s more fun to live believing that they do. Even if ghosts can’t be quantified.”17

This kind of thinking can be dangerous because, even if it is more fun to believe in things like ghosts and extraterrestrials, living our lives as though things exist even when the evidence says otherwise leaves us open to falling prey to cults or heresies. Christians must be grounded in truth. This should be true for all aspects of our thinking, including our faith. Although experiences can certainly shape our faith, they shouldn’t be the end-all-be-all or foundation for our belief systems. This is why Christians must be grounded in the objective truth of God’s Word, understanding that the claims in Scripture are supported by history, archeology, science, and more.

With regard to the ranch, the reality is that there is little evidence, scientific or otherwise, to support the theory that the events occurring on Skinwalker Ranch are linked to extraterrestrial intelligence or paranormal influences. As with most things, the explanations most supported by reason and evidence are likely true. Despite the experiences of those who have investigated the ranch, the show is now five seasons long, and there is not much, if any, data to support its claims. It’s all still speculation and unclear video and photographs. What the show uses as “evidence” shouldn’t be enough to change your mind about extraterrestrial influence, government coverups, or skinwalkers. Don’t mistake so-called experiences as facts.

The Larger Picture

I recently rewatched M. Night Shyamalan’s film Signs (2002), starring Mel Gibson as a widowed father trying to protect his children and brother during an ET invasion.18 The film addresses some of life’s biggest questions involving faith and humanity’s place in the universe. These same questions may be behind the success of History network shows such as Ancient Aliens and The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch. If extraterrestrials exist, or if the phenomena occurring on the ranch are otherworldly, what does this mean for humans? In Signs, Gibson’s character concludes that the signs he and his family witnessed existed beyond human comprehension. They simply were not going to understand fully, but for Gibson’s character, ultimately, those signs point to God. For many of the researchers on Skinwalker Ranch, though, the signs point to extraterrestrials. In fact, Skinwalker Ranch owner Fugal bought the property knowing that “an investigation into the strange and incredible occurrences could change the way human beings view their world.”19

Christians should think more deeply about these questions. Rather than simply being entertained by films and television shows that address these issues, we should see them as an opportunity to use our knowledge of God and reality. We should use reason and rationality to think more deeply about the conclusions presented in the things we watch. And what if extraterrestrial life is discovered on Skinwalker Ranch or elsewhere?20 I addressed this very question in an article about Ancient Aliens:

Philosopher Marie I. George asserts that “they would be created in grace and thus would be ordered to a supernatural end.” This echoes Billy Graham’s thoughts: “I firmly believe there are intelligent beings like us far away in space who worship God….Like us, they are God’s creation.” God does not get replaced by His creation. The reality is that we simply do not know, but it would be good to have a plan in place should the discovery of intelligent ET life happen.21

The Implications of Skinwalker Ranch

What’s happening on Skinwalker Ranch is unbelievable in many ways, but just like Ancient Aliens, viewers seem hooked, especially as speculation builds that there will be a sixth season. Will answers finally be revealed? Such a promise has been made in the past, so only time will tell, but ranch owner Brandon Fugal told me on X that “Events & incidents continue to occur at Skinwalker Ranch with great frequency, providing there is much more to this reality than meets the eye.”22 Fans of the show responded to Fugal with support. One said, “I support everything Brandon says and does 100%. He does not mess around and is the most admirable person I know and loaded with integrity.”23 Another was somewhat skeptical that Fugal and his team would make progress: “The government will never let you reveal what is really going on there! It is a alien craft buried in the Mesa remote viewers have seen it. I wish you the best to bring this to the forefront of our consciousness. Thank you, Mr. Fugal!”24

At least one person who responded to Fugal on X remains concerned about the spiritual implications, though, stating, “I believe what is going at the Skinwalker ranch is in the spiritual realm demons and Angel type stuff.”25 He is not alone in his thoughts; as Christians, we need to remember that the spiritual realm is real. Whatever is discovered on the ranch, the ultimate truth is found in God’s Word, which admonishes us to stand firm in our faith. He’s always been in control and will continue to be in control. It is through Him that all things are possible (Matthew 19:26), not through any so-called extraterrestrial beings or paranormal experiences. Indeed, in Him, we have nothing to fear: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:1–2 NIV).

Lindsey Medenwaldt is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics and the author of Bridge-Building Apologetics (Harvest House, 2024). She holds a Master’s in Apologetics and Ethics from Denver Seminary, a JD from St. Mary’s School of Law, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Midwestern State University.

NOTES

  1. For more about Ancient Aliens, see Lindsey Medenwaldt, “Ancient Aliens and the Bible: What the Popular Television Series Says about Extraterrestrials in Scripture,” Christian Research Journal, updated September 7, 2023, https://www.equip.org/articles/ancient-aliens-and-the-bible-what-the-popular-television-series-says-about-extraterrestrials-in-scripture/; and Lindsey Medenwaldt, “‘Ancient Aliens,’ Pyramids, and the Great Sphinx of Giza: Testing the Television Show’s Claims with Truth,” Christian Research Journal, updated September 4, 2024, https://www.equip.org/articles/ancient-aliens-pyramids-and-the-great-sphinx-of-giza-testing-the-television-shows-claims-with-truth/.
  2. See MJ Banias, “Inside Skinwalker Ranch, a Paranormal Hotbed of UFO Research,” VICE, January 30, 2020, https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-skinwalker-ranch-a-paranormal-hotbed-of-ufo-research/.
  3. “It’s true that the Ute and the Navajo have had a strained relationship over land ownership, but I’ve never heard any stories about a curse.” Cultural Rights and Protection Director for the Ute tribe Betsy Chapoose, quoted in MJ Banias, “Inside Skinwalker Ranch, a Paranormal Hotbed of UFO Research,” VICE, January 30, 2020, https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-skinwalker-ranch-a-paranormal-hotbed-of-ufo-research/.
  4. Robert Lamb and Desiree Bowie, “Are Skinwalkers Real? Myth, Magic and Modern Interpretations,” HowStuffWorks, updated October 26, 2023, https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/skinwalker.htm.
  5. “Navajo Skinwalkers — Witches of the Southwest,” Legends of America, updated February 2023, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/navajo-skinwalkers/.
  6. Cattle mutilation is the phenomenon of typically bloodless removal of animal body parts. Such occurrences have been blamed on everything from typical predatory behavior to extraterrestrials. There have been some investigations, all pointing to natural causes or pranks. Claims of cattle mutilations are not unique to Skinwalker Ranch. For more information about cattle mutilation, see Rachel Monroe, “The Enduring Panic about Cow Mutilations,” The New Yorker, May 8, 2023, https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-southwest/the-enduring-panic-about-cow-mutilations; and P. Nick Nation and Elisabeth S. Williams, “Maggots, Mutilations and Myth: Patterns of Postmortem Scavenging of the Bovine Carcass,” The Canadian Veterinary Journal 30, no. 9 (September 1999): 742–47, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1681190/pdf/canvetj00562-0052.pdf.
  7. Readers may recognize Taylor’s name. He’s been a frequent guest on Ancient Aliens, which has been covered extensively by the Christian Research Journal. He holds multiple PhDs and master’s degrees in various fields, including in aerospace engineering and optical science. He is also a science fiction author, having written almost 20 books in that genre.
  8. Keith Kloor, “Pentagon UFO Study Led by Researcher Who Believes in the Supernatural,” Science, June 29, 2022, https://www.science.org/content/article/pentagon-ufo-study-led-researcher-who-believes-supernatural.
  9. See The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Cast, History, https://www.history.com/shows/the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch/cast.
  10. Every episode seems to feature this tactic. There are typically unexplained things that happen during these experiments, such as rockets flying in odd directions or the appearance of UAPs. See, for example, “Rocket Launch Causes Flashing Lights Phenomena,” The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, History, season 4, ep. 5, YouTube, May 17, 2023, 8:51, https://youtu.be/gCmGIsClbBM?si=xizP_LvPyVazA-xM; and “ROCKET LAUNCH REVEALS UFOS,” The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, History, season 3, YouTube, May 11, 2022, 9:06, https://youtu.be/qDCt8Vhqqa8?si=jU1bXbkFhnCMKvaF.
  11. See, for example, “MAJOR MALFUNCTION During Crucial Excavation, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, History, season 2, YouTube, June 16, 2021, https://youtu.be/YhaTTCrHzvw?si=JhyiJre6Yw0mL681; and “EXTREMELY BIZARRE Events Rock the Ranch,” The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, History, season 3, YouTube, May 4, 2022, 9:56, https://youtu.be/4eKphnaGW9g?si=Qk757Z1dqtHjGwoN.
  12. “What’s Really Happening at Skinwalker Ranch | Dr. Travis Taylor,” Rick and Bubba, episode 155, April 1, 2023, YouTube, 44:36, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lTT0GYzkao&ab_channel=Rick%26Bubba.
  13. See, for example, Hannah Osborne, “Skinwalker Ranch: The UFO Hotspot in Utah That Has Men Obsessed,” Newsweek, updated April 28, 2022, https://www.newsweek.com/ufo-skinwalker-ranch-utah-pentagon-paranormal-1701730.
  14. “What’s Really Happening at Skinwalker Ranch | Dr. Travis Taylor,” Rick and Bubba, episode 155, April 1, 2023, YouTube, 44:36, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lTT0GYzkao&ab_channel=Rick%26Bubba.
  15. Meg Walter, “Uncovering the Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” Deseret, October 26, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/26/23911651/secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-history-channel-brandon-fugal-utah/.
  16. I have personally spoken with Latter-day Saints who have told me this. Others have also written about how Latter-day Saints will often place the testimony of Joseph Smith as well as their own testimonies above other objective sources. See Clay Jones, “A Question Mormons Can’t Answer,” Christian Research Journal, updated September 25, 2024, https://www.equip.org/articles/a-question-mormons-cant-answer/; Corey Miller, “Undermining Confidence in a Mormon’s Personal ‘Testimony’: The Police-Lineup Approach,” in Sharing the Good News with Mormons, ed. Eric Johnson and Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2018), 83–90; and Latayne C. Scott, “I Was There. I Believed.,” in Leaving Mormonism: Why Four Scholars Changed Their Minds, ed. Corey Miller and Lynn K. Wilder (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2017), esp. 102–111.
  17. Meg Walter, “Uncovering the Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” Deseret, October 26, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/26/23911651/secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-history-channel-brandon-fugal-utah/.
  18. For more about M. Night Shyamalan’s films, including his latest, Trap, see Cole Burgett, “Faith, Family, and Fear: The Films of M. Night Shyamalan,” Christian Research Journal, updated September 25, 2024, https://www.equip.org/articles/faith-family-and-fear-the-films-of-m-night-shyamalan/.
  19. Meg Walter, “Uncovering the Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” Deseret, October 26, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/26/23911651/secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-history-channel-brandon-fugal-utah/.
  20. See Guillermo Gonzalez, “Would Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life Spell Doom for Christianity?” Christian Research Journal, updated March 8, 2023, https://www.equip.org/articles/would-extraterrestrial-intelligent-life-spell-doom-for-christianity/.
  21. Lindsey Medenwaldt, “Ancient Aliens and the Bible: What the Popular Television Series Says about Extraterrestrials in Scripture,” Christian Research Journal, updated September 7, 2023, https://www.equip.org/articles/ancient-aliens-and-the-bible-what-the-popular-television-series-says-about-extraterrestrials-in-scripture/.
  22. Brandon Fugal, @BrandonFugal, X, September 28, 2024, 3:44 p.m., https://x.com/BrandonFugal/status/1840130597240615282.
  23. Brian J. Esposito, @brianjesposito, X, September 28, 2024, 4:30 p.m., https://x.com/brianjesposito/status/1840141938722525215.
  24. Ranger1, @calvary19701, X, September 28, 2024, 4:15 p.m., https://x.com/calvary19701/status/1840138244018819118.
  25. Joel Corbin, @realjoelcorbin, X, September 28, 2024, 5:28 p.m., https://x.com/RealJoelCorbin/status/1840156711723651125.
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