In the summer of 1965, a remarkable incident unfolded near the Palo Duro Canyon that would leave an indelible mark on all who witnessed it. What began as a simple family gathering at a cabin transformed into an extraordinary encounter with an unidentified flying object that defied conventional explanation. The witnesses, separated into two groups, experienced the phenomenon from different vantage points but with equally bewildering effects.

Mrs. Charles Green and her niece Seret observed a mysterious light moving in unusual patterns over the canyon before it approached their cabin. Meanwhile, Charles Green, Bob Jolly, and Tom C had ventured down to a dock for night fishing when they encountered the same object. Their car inexplicably died, and later they found themselves immobilized as a blinding bluish-white beam engulfed them. The incident would eventually gain wider attention when it was reported in the APRO newsletter in 1983 and referenced in "The Communion Letters" by Whitley and Anne Strieber in 1997.

Key Takeaways

An unexplained aerial phenomenon with changing colors and a powerful searchlight beam was witnessed by five people near Palo Duro Canyon in 1965.
The object caused a vehicle to temporarily malfunction and rendered three fishermen unable to move or speak during the close encounter.
The incident remained significant enough to be documented in UFO literature decades after it occurred, including in APRO publications and the Striebers' work.

The Dockside Encounter

On August 1, 1965, at midnight, three men—Charles "Charlie" Green, Bob Jolly, and Tom C—experienced a startling event that would haunt them for decades. They had just left a family gathering at Tom's cabin on the southwest rim of Palo Duro Canyon to go night fishing at the family dock.

Their first indication of something unusual came when Charlie's 1964 Chevelle suddenly died as they approached the dock. The lights went off and the motor stopped without warning. Despite this puzzling malfunction, they continued to the dock with their fishing gear, flashlights, a small radio, and refreshments.

After setting up their fishing lines, they turned off their flashlights and allowed their eyes to adjust to the darkness. Within minutes, they noticed strange red and white flashing lights in the distance above the canyon rim. Initially, they thought it might be reflections from a police vehicle parked on the rim.

The men soon realized the lights were approaching them. Charlie observed that whatever was coming blocked more than half the sky from view and must be enormous. A piercing bluish-white beam—intense as a searchlight—suddenly illuminated the area, terrifying the men as it approached.

Charlie attempted to dive into the water 12 feet below to escape but inexplicably found himself sitting down beside Bob instead. Both men discovered they were unable to move anything except their eyes or speak. The paralyzing effect continued for some time while the light gradually dimmed, leaving only the buzzing noise and flashing red and white lights.

While immobilized, Charlie experienced the uncomfortable sensation of being observed from behind. Eventually, the object moved across their field of vision and slowly drifted toward Tom's cabin where the rest of their family was gathered.

After regaining mobility, the men quickly packed their gear. When they returned to the car, it started without any issues—as if the earlier malfunction had never happened. Charlie described feeling unusually alert and refreshed despite the disturbing experience.

Upon arriving at the cabin, they were met by Bob's wife, Seret, who excitedly asked if they had seen the object that had hovered over them. Earlier that evening, Seret and Mrs. Green had witnessed the same object from the cabin porch.

The women had observed the light for 20-30 minutes before it moved toward them. While Mrs. Green stopped at a safe distance, Seret ran toward the craft, feeling it was "beautiful" and wanting to "catch it." As she approached within about 50 feet, the object changed colors—from red to white to purple to green—and she felt static electricity and heat emanating from it.

This unsettling encounter left a lasting impression on Charlie, who eventually reported his experience to the Aerial Phenomenon Research Organization (APRO). His account was published in their newsletter in June 1983, bringing public attention to what became known as the Palo Duro sighting.

The Canyon Nightlight Experience

Mrs. Green and Seret's Outdoor Observation

Mrs. Charles Green and her niece Seret stepped outside a small cabin after a family gathering to enjoy the night air. The other family members were either inside cleaning up or had gone fishing at a nearby dock. The women immediately noticed an unusual light in the canyon above the dock area where Tom C, Charlie (Mrs. Green's son), and Bob Jolly (Seret's husband) had gone fishing. They observed the light for 20-30 minutes, discussing its nature and concluding it couldn't possibly be a star based on its movement patterns.

Object's Movement and Appearance

The mysterious light suddenly changed direction and began approaching the cabin directly. It moved slowly toward them, then veered westward before stopping on a knoll approximately 70 yards away, near Tom's uncle's summer home. The women walked toward the object, with Mrs. Green stopping halfway. The craft displayed remarkable visual characteristics as Seret approached it:

Color Changes Physical Effects Red Static electricity White Hair crackling Purple Increasing heat Green Atmospheric haze

Seret's Direct Encounter

Seret felt inexplicably drawn to the object, describing it as "beautiful" and feeling a strong urge to "catch it." She ran directly toward it, leaving Mrs. Green behind. As she closed to approximately 50 feet from the craft, it suddenly lurched upward and hovered directly above her. The object then performed a circular loop, paused 400-500 yards away near their summer home, and finally shot off into the night sky. Seret couldn't determine its precise size.

When the men returned in Charlie's car, Seret rushed outside excitedly, asking, "You saw it didn't you? You must have seen it! It was over you for a long time!" The men acknowledged the sighting, though Tom expressed uncertainty about what they had witnessed. Charlie later reported the incident to the Aerial Phenomenon Research Organization, with the account appearing in their June 1983 newsletter. The experience was also documented in Whitley and Anne Strieber's 1997 book "The Communion Letters."

The Mysterious Fishing Adventure

Car Troubles Begin

On August 1, 1965, at midnight, Charles Green, Bob Jolly, and Tom C left a family gathering at Tom's cabin to go night fishing at the family dock on Apollo Duro Creek. As Charlie drove his 1964 Chevelle down the dirt road approaching the dock, something unexpected happened. The car suddenly died completely - lights went out and the engine stopped running. Charlie quickly depressed the clutch to prevent the vehicle from stalling abruptly. Despite their initial concern about potentially having to walk back to the cabin, the men decided to continue with their fishing plans, carrying their gear, flashlights, a small radio, and refreshments down to the dock.

Unusual Lights Appear

After settling on the dock and turning off their flashlights, the men's eyes adjusted to the darkness. They soon noticed strange red and white flashing lights in the distance above the Canyon Rim. At first, they theorized it might be reflections from a police vehicle parked on the rim. They also heard a buzzing noise which they attributed to Tom's portable radio.

Bob pointed out that the lights seemed to be approaching them. When Charlie looked up, he observed something alarming - a large object blocking more than half the sky from view. While he could see the normal skyline to the right and left, directly in front of them was complete blackness. Charlie remarked, "Whatever it is, it must be huge," as fear began to grip him.

Bizarre Encounter Unfolds

Suddenly, a piercing bluish-white beam as intense as a searchlight illuminated the area, both blinding and terrifying the men. The light wobbled and grew larger as the object approached, while the buzzing noise intensified. Charlie, panicked and planning to dive into the water 12 feet below to escape, inexplicably found himself unable to move.

Instead of jumping, he sat down beside Bob, who had also stopped yelling and become immobile. Both men could only move their eyes. Strangely, Charlie's fear dissipated, replaced by a calm desire to discuss the phenomenon, though he remained unable to speak. He felt an uncomfortable sensation of being watched from behind but couldn't turn his head.

The object eventually dimmed its bright beam, leaving only the buzzing sound and flashing red and white lights. It moved slowly from right to left across their field of vision, heading toward Tom's cabin where the rest of the family was gathered. After it departed, the men regained their mobility, quickly packed their gear, and returned to the car - which now started perfectly.

Upon returning to the cabin, they were met by Bob's wife Seret, who excitedly asked if they had seen the object that had hovered over them. Meanwhile at the cabin, Mrs. Green and Seret had their own extraordinary experience, observing the same object approach from the canyon and hover near them. Seret had even approached within 50 feet of it before it moved away.

The encounter was significant enough that Charlie eventually reported it to the Aerial Phenomenon Research Organization (APRO), with his account appearing in their June 1983 newsletter.

Aftermath and Events Following the Encounter

Initial Response and Bewilderment

The encounter at Palo Duro Creek left all parties in a state of shock. When Charlie, Bob, and Tom arrived back at the cabin, they were met by an excited Seret who ran out immediately, exclaiming, "You saw it, didn't you? You must have seen it! It was over you for a long time!" Charlie and Bob readily acknowledged they had witnessed something extraordinary, while Tom was more reserved, admitting only to having seen "a bunch of lights" without committing to what they might have been. The contrast between their reactions highlighted the varying impact of the experience on each witness. The men's demeanor upon return was notably altered – Charlie described feeling unusually alert and refreshed, "like after 8 hours of sleep," despite the distressing nature of their encounter.

Sharing the Experience with Family Members

Inside the cabin, both groups shared their perspectives of the unusual phenomenon. Mrs. Green and Seret described the object they had observed from the cabin's porch – how it had hovered above the null, changed colors, and emitted heat and static electricity when Seret approached it. They explained their initial confusion about the light they spotted in the canyon, which they watched for 20-30 minutes before it moved directly toward them. Meanwhile, the men recounted their terrifying experience at the dock, including the car's mysterious malfunction, the enormous object that blocked half the sky, the blinding bluish-white beam, and the inexplicable paralysis that prevented them from moving or speaking. The family gathering, which had begun as a pleasant social occasion, had transformed into an impromptu conference about an encounter none of them could adequately explain.

Communication with the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization

The experience continued to trouble Charlie in the years that followed. Seeking answers and validation, he eventually contacted the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) to document his experience. His account was subsequently published in the June 1983 issue of the APRO newsletter, approximately 18 years after the incident occurred. This official documentation added the Palo Duro Canyon encounter to the growing catalog of unexplained aerial phenomena being studied by researchers. Later, in 1997, the incident gained additional exposure when it was included in Whitley and Anne Strieber's book "The Communion Letters," appearing on page 199. This publication, which compiled numerous personal accounts of encounters with unidentified objects and entities, placed Charlie's experience within a broader context of similar reports from around the world, further legitimizing what he and his family had witnessed that August night in 1965.

Cultural Impact

The Apollo Duro Canyon encounter of 1965 has left a significant mark on UFO literature and culture. This incident, involving multiple witnesses observing unexplained aerial phenomena, became an important case study within ufology circles and eventually reached wider audiences through various publications.

The Communion Letters Publication

In February 1997, Whitley and Anne Strieber released "The Communion Letters," a collection of firsthand accounts from individuals claiming encounters with unexplained phenomena. This publication came approximately 32 years after the Apollo Duro incident and included the account on page 199. The book compiled testimonies sent to the Striebers over a decade following Whitley's bestselling 1987 book "Communion," which had prompted thousands of readers to share their own experiences with UFOs and alleged extraterrestrial encounters.

Account Documentation in Literature

Before appearing in the Striebers' compilation, the Apollo Duro Canyon incident had already been documented in specialized UFO publications. The Aerial Phenomenon Research Organization (APRO) featured Charlie's account in their June 1983 newsletter, bringing it to the attention of UFO researchers and enthusiasts. This publication occurred nearly 18 years after the original event, suggesting the profound and lasting impact the experience had on the witnesses, particularly Charlie, who felt compelled to share his story with investigators despite the passage of time.

The documentation of this case across different time periods and publications demonstrates how such encounters can persist in cultural memory and continue to generate interest decades after they occur.

Terrifying UFO Encounter at Palo Duro Canyon: The 1965 Paranormal Incident That Shocked Witnesses