Glowing Orb Sighting at Imperial Sand Dunes, CA, 1998 [Personal Experience]
Time: Around midnight, Thanksgiving weekend 1998 (maybe a bit later).
Location: Buttercup Hill, Imperial Sand Dunes, approximately 30 minutes west of the Yuma, AZ border.
I wanted to share a memorable sighting I experienced with a friend many years ago. I’m being sincere about this, but take it as you will—I’m not here to persuade anyone. After reading various posts on Reddit and hearing other encounters, I’m relieved to know I’m not alone in this. 🤪
During Thanksgiving weekend in ’98, we embarked on our yearly trip to the dunes with my friend’s family. As high schoolers, we thought it would be fun to sneak in a couple of 40oz beers to toast our arrival from Arizona, saving them for late-night when things quieted down and we could explore safely.
Perched on Buttercup Hill, enjoying our drinks and smoking cigarettes, we suddenly spotted a bright, glowing orb rising over the southern dune ridge. The light was warm, mostly orange with hints of yellow, reminiscent of a bright buggy whip light. However, it kept rising higher than any vehicle could. The orb exhibited erratic, wiggly movements as if it were scanning the surroundings, and the most unnerving part was its rapid darting left and right from our vantage point.
We stood there watching for about ten minutes, discussing it all the while and remarking on how no one would believe us back home. Eventually, we made our way back to camp. Like many others probably experienced, when I shared the story with friends and family, they chuckled and brushed it off, not taking me seriously. Even if smartphones had existed back then, any video would probably have turned out as a blurry light, making it hard to convince anyone.
Peace ✌️
Thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds like a fascinating night at the dunes. It’s interesting how these kinds of sightings often leave such a strong impression, especially when they’re so mysterious. The way you described the orb’s movement—darting around and surveying the area—adds an eerie element to the story. I can imagine how hard it must have been to explain to friends and family, especially back then when sightings like these weren’t as commonly discussed or accepted.
It seems like there’s always a bit of skepticism surrounding stories like yours, but I think that’s part of what makes them compelling. Your experience might resonate with others who have seen similar things but have been hesitant to share. Have you ever discussed it further with your friend who was there with you? It would be interesting to hear if you both have similar memories of the event!