The winter of 1955 brought an extraordinary encounter for two teenage boys fascinated by UFOs. In the midst of a family Christmas gathering at a remote Wisconsin lodge, 14-year-old cousins Ken and Russ ventured into the surrounding forest for some amateur sky watching. Their innocent expedition quickly turned dangerous when darkness fell early, accompanied by strong winds and snow that began obscuring their tracks back to safety.

What happened next defied explanation. A bright, yard-wide glowing orb appeared among the treetops, then zoomed toward the boys before positioning itself ahead of them on the trail. Though initially frightened, they followed this mysterious light, which illuminated their path through the darkening forest. Just as they reached the lodge—guided by their luminous companion—the object shot skyward in a spectacular display before disappearing. The boys later learned that a severe snowstorm was moving in, suggesting this unexplained phenomenon had potentially saved their lives by leading them back to safety before disaster struck.

Key Takeaways

Two teenage UFO enthusiasts encountered a mysterious glowing orb that guided them safely through a snowy forest in 1955.
The strange light object appeared to deliberately lead the boys back to their family lodge just before a dangerous snowstorm hit the area.
This Christmas-time incident transformed from a potentially life-threatening situation into an extraordinary experience that deepened their interest in unexplained phenomena.

Christmas Story Selection

In 1955, two 14-year-old cousins with a fascination for UFOs experienced an extraordinary Christmas event. Living in different Wisconsin cities—Ken in Milwaukee and Russ in LaCrosse—they regularly shared their skywatching observations by phone. Their interest reflected the 1950s surge in science fiction popularity, when flying saucer movies appeared weekly.

During their family's traditional Christmas gathering at their great-grandfather's lodge in northern Wisconsin, the boys planned a skywatching expedition. The remote location surrounded by dense forest excited them, especially since Wisconsin had reported numerous UFO sightings that year.

The adventure began as they ventured into the woods late afternoon, following a recent snowfall. As darkness fell around 4:45 PM, strong winds suddenly developed, concerning the boys enough to turn back. Their situation grew worrisome when:

Their tracks began disappearing under fresh snow and drifts
Temperatures dropped rapidly
Darkness made navigation difficult despite their flashlights

What happened next astonished them. A bright, yard-wide glowing orb appeared near the top of a tall tree. After seeming to notice them, it zoomed directly at them, then positioned itself ahead on the trail, bobbing up and down as if inviting them to follow.

The mysterious light guided them through the forest, illuminating the path clearly enough to navigate safely. After 10-15 minutes, the lodge came into view through the trees and falling snow. The orb then shot skyward before dramatically diving toward the lodge.

Fearing destruction, they raced toward what appeared to be flames. Upon arrival, they discovered it was merely the lodge lights and a newly-decorated Christmas tree. Family members informed them a severe snowstorm warning had just been issued for the region.

"Whatever that glowing object was, it had saved our lives," Ken later reflected. This remarkable experience only deepened the boys' interest in unexplained phenomena in the years that followed.

The Extraterrestrial Christmas Encounter of 1955

The Cultural Environment of the 1950s

The 1950s marked a significant surge in public fascination with science fiction and unidentified flying objects. Weekly releases of "Earth versus the flying saucer" style films captivated audiences across America. Books on extraterrestrial encounters filled bookstore shelves, feeding the growing curiosity about potential visitors from beyond our atmosphere. This cultural backdrop created perfect conditions for young minds to become enthralled with the mysteries of the cosmos.

Two Young UFO Enthusiasts

Ken from Milwaukee and his cousin Russ from LaCrosse, both 14 years old, developed a passionate interest in the flying saucer phenomenon. The teenagers devoted countless evening hours to sky watching sessions from their respective homes. They would telephone each other afterward to share observations, typically consisting of nothing more extraordinary than occasional shooting stars. Their dedication extended to collecting newspaper clippings about UFO sightings and reading every available book on the subject. They proudly considered themselves amateur investigators of the unknown.

The Holiday Family Reunion

The boys' families maintained a cherished tradition of gathering at a lodge in northern Wisconsin built by their great-grandfather. This annual event brought the extended family together for a couple of weeks of reconnection and celebration. The property was surrounded by acres of dense forest, creating an ideal setting for Ken and Russ's planned astronomical observations. Wisconsin had experienced numerous UFO reports throughout 1955, which further fueled their enthusiasm for this year's family gathering.

Setting the Stage for Observation

Upon arriving at the lodge, Ken and Russ immediately sought privacy away from their boisterous relatives to plan their evening expedition. "It gets dark early in northern Wisconsin in December since we only had about an hour of daylight," Ken later recalled. "Russ and I decided to go out and get the lay of the land so when we went out after dinner we'd already have our post picked where we could scan the night sky." Recent snowfall gave them confidence they wouldn't get lost in the unfamiliar terrain, as they assumed they could simply follow their footprints back to safety.

Disorientation in the Wintry Woods

As evening approached around 4:45 PM, the forest plunged into sudden darkness accompanied by strengthening winds. The changing conditions concerned Russ, who suggested they return to the lodge. Upon turning back, they made an alarming discovery – their footprints were rapidly disappearing, obscured by drifting snow and fresh precipitation. Despite believing they hadn't ventured far, the boys found themselves increasingly disoriented in the darkness. The temperature continued dropping as they struggled along the trail in what they hoped was the direction of the lodge.

The Mysterious Luminous Object

What happened next defied explanation. Ken first noticed a brightly glowing spherical light approximately one yard in circumference bobbing among the upper branches of a tall tree. Russ remarked that UFOs were supposedly larger, to which Ken suggested they might come in various sizes. The orb suddenly descended and zipped directly at them, barely missing their heads before positioning itself a few feet ahead on the trail. It hovered and bobbed as if beckoning them to follow.

The boys debated whether the object might contain diminutive beings or perhaps expand in size. Ultimately, they decided to follow it, noting that it illuminated the trail and their fading footprints. The orb maintained a consistent distance ahead of them as it guided them through the forest.

Homecoming and Revelation

Within 10-15 minutes, the great-grandfather's lodge became visible through the snowy forest. Upon their approach, the object shot skyward until it resembled a distant star. Ken recalled, "It was like it was showing off for us." The orb then descended at incredible speed toward the lodge. The boys feared it would crash into the building and screamed as they saw what appeared to be flames inside.

Upon reaching the lodge, they discovered the "flames" were actually the lights from the Christmas tree that had been decorated in their absence. Family members scolded them for missing the decorating activity and informed them that a severe snowstorm warning had just been issued for the area. Ken and Russ exchanged knowing glances, realizing the mysterious orb had potentially saved their lives by guiding them back before the dangerous storm hit.

In the years that followed, both boys maintained and even deepened their interest in unexplained phenomena, forever marked by their Christmas encounter with something truly extraordinary.

My High School Adventures

Setting the Stage

I was in my sophomore year of high school when this memorable incident took place. My friend Mark and I had developed a habit of hanging out at his house whenever his parents were away. We would sometimes indulge in his father's alcohol collection or procure our own drinks while watching movies together. These small rebellions became our tradition, creating bonds through shared secrets and experiences.

Mark's Home and Our Plan

Mark's two-story house had a distinctive layout. The garage stood at the front of the driveway, with a ground floor entrance right beside it. Walking through that door led directly into their living room, while the bedrooms and kitchen occupied the second floor. When Mark's parents traveled to Italy for a couple of weeks, we naturally saw an opportunity for some unsupervised entertainment. We gathered some alcohol and planned a Star Wars movie marathon, though we weren't aiming to get completely intoxicated that particular evening.

The Winter Night Incident

December brought harsh weather conditions to our area. The night I headed to Mark's house was exceptionally cold, with snow heavily falling across the landscape. The biting winter air made the short journey to his doorstep feel much longer than usual. Despite the freezing temperatures outside, the contrast of stepping into the warm, empty house created the perfect setting for our planned movie night. The silence of the snow-covered streets and the comfort of our friendship made this ordinary winter evening stand out in my high school memories.

Teenage Boys Guided by UFO During 1955 Winter Snowstorm: A True Paranormal Encounter