On a clear and crisp February night in 1978, as park ranger Carl Hatcher was locking the northern exit to the park, he noticed flashing lights in the sky. At first, Ranger Hatcher didn't give it any thought, as Metro airport is also located quite nearby. However, as he drove around the park to make sure there were no stragglers left inside, he noticed that the lights were following him!
An object suddenly swooped down so low that the ranger swerved his vehicle into a snowbank to avoid it. When he looked up, a craft was plainly visible, hovering above the treetops - in the direction of the swimming pool. (Note: before the days of Turtle Cove, the park had an Olympic-sized swimming pool just east of the cache location -- across the parking lot.)
He radioed for his partner -- Ranger Luther Mclaughlin, a much more experienced ranger with several years of Air Force flight line experience.
Once the partner arrived, they exited their vehicles and approached the lights. Both men stared in disbelief as they viewed a glossy, gray metallic object shaped like a sombrero hanging in the sky. The object was about 25 to 35 feet across with a hump and had three antennas sticking out from the top. Oscillating around the perimeter of the craft were hundreds of tiny white lights, which looked like a row of windows. The object silently darted around the area for several minutes then suddenly winked out of sight.
According to the Book, Unexplained Michigan Mysteries, published in 1993, the sighting was reported to authorities and investigated by Dr. Harry Willnus of Romulus who had been actively investigating UFO's for decades. The sighting was also reported in the Detroit news.
The Cache: The cache is a medium-sized lock & lock hidden along the near the Woodcreek picnic area.
This cache is located in Lower Huron Metropark. A Metroparks vehicle permit is required for entry to the parks: $10 daily pass, $40 annual pass, $29 annual seniors pass. All park rules and regulations apply. Please park in parking lots only.
For general information please call 810-227-2752 800-47-PARKS, or visit www.metroparks.com. Dogs on a leash are allowed in this section of the park The hours for the trail are dawn to dusk.
A Metropark geocaching permit has been filed and approved by Kevin Arnold (Southern District Interpretive Supervisor).