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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, author and Atlas Obscura columnist Colin Dickey tells us the story of a Kentucky family who, in 1955, claimed to be in a wild gunfight with unidentified creatures who may or may not have been aliens. We learn how this event had a mysterious, surprising, and shockingly long legacy that eventually inspired one of Hollywood’s greatest movie makers to create multiple films about aliens, monsters, and family. Check out Dickey’s column, Eerie Feeling, on Atlas Obscura, and explore more of his work on his website.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

Jirka Matousek/CC BY 2.0