Google Maps Street View just west of Camdenton along Route 54.
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A university law professor riding his motorcycle near Camdenton, Missouri, watched a sphere-shaped object "the size of a small house" floating 150 feet off of the ground, according to witness testimony from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) database.
The witness first saw the object on the south side of the street over a commercial building. He said he became "transfixed" by the object and could not take his eyes off of it.
"I kept wanting to pull my bike over to take a picture," the witness stated, "but was too amazed at the object that I didn't for some reason."
He described the object as reddish in color with a glow. The object then passed over him and hovered on the north side of the street.
The witness finally found a suitable place to pull off, and attempted to take a photo of the object - but it was gone. He said there were no obstructions or trees it could have been hiding behind.
Camdenton is in Camden County, population 2,770.
Please keep in mind that most UFO reports can be explained as something natural or manmade. If Missouri MUFON Director Debbie Ziegelmeyer investigates further and reports back on this case, I will update this page. The following report is unedited. You can read my selected cases by type of UFO report at the UFO Traffic Report index page.
MO, July 8, 2009 - Large Red Glowing Spherical Object Moving Slowly About 150 Foot Above Ground Right in Front of Me, MUFON case # 18082
I was taking a motorcycle trip along Route 66 and I was riding my motorcycle to a fellow professor's cabin on Lake of the Ozarks Missouri to stay the night off the Route.
I got the directions wrong to his cabin and was heading West on Highway 54 at about 11:00 p.m. CST right on the outskirts of Camdenton Missouri when I noticed a large sphere on the left hand side of the highway above a commercial building (it was South).
I thought it was a large dealership type balloon at first, but it started moving very slowly across the highway in a zig zag style fashion.
Photo: Lake of the Ozarks is very close to Camdenton. Camdenton Town image.
I immediately slowed my motorcycle speed down to about 10 mph, as I was transfixed on the object and could not keep my eyes off of it. I thought it was maybe a hot air balloon ride as I got closer and thought it was amazing that they had hot air balloon rides so late and so low to the ground in the Ozark hills.
It was a spherical type object but was not static in shape...it was hard to identify what it was for some reason. I couldn't see any type of hot air balloon basket, but for some reason I felt as if I was being watched while riding on the bike.
I kept wanting to pull my bike over to take a picture, but was too amazed at the object that I didn't for some reason.
It was large (the size of a small house) and floating about 150 foot above the ground...it was reddish colored with a glow (I thought the glow was the fire for fire for the hot air balloon). It passed right over the top of me along the highway and was hovering along the right side of the highway (the North side).
I was trying to find a place to pull my motorcycle over so I could take a picture, but trees were getting in the way, but I could still see the object for another 10 to 15 seconds or so. I finally found an open spot with no trees to take the picture and within seconds of getting off my motorcycle, the object faded extremely fast heading in a 45 degree angle.
It was literally gone within a few seconds, but there were no obstructions or trees for it to dissappear behind.
It couldn't have been a hot air balloon because of the exit speed and how low to the ground it was. It was definitely sphere-like. The whole experience lasted only a minute or two, but I have tried to rationalize what I saw almost every minute of the day since then (It was 6 days ago).
The professor's cabin who I was staying at knew what I had seen, as he had seen the exact same type of object hovering above Lake of the Ozarks 3 years ago in late fall 2006.
We are co-workers at a University...both professors...I am a Law professor and he is a Marketing professor. He told me that I could come forward with his information as well. Him and his wife both witnessed the object hovering above Lake of the Ozarks for about 5 minutes...they could not believe their eyes...and were also so transfixed that they didn't capture it on film. He informed me that he kicks himself all the time for not taking a picture or video, but for some reason he was so mesmerized he didn't move.
The fellow professor and his wife never told anyone but relatives in the past...but him and I have talked for hours in the past 6 days to try to rationalize what we saw, but there is no rational known explanation of the object, how it moved, it's size, shape, and aura around it.
I have never been an avid UFO follower and was not looking for a UFO...it found me...and I completely believe and now intend to spend my summers investigating this phenomenon (as a professor my summers are fairly free). I will help you in any way I can...I am 100% CERTAIN that I witnessed a UFO...as a lawyer and law professor I am very skeptical without evidence...but the evidence was literally about 150 feet right above in front of me...it was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed in my life. I will remain anonymous for now, but if for proof or other purposes you may request me to come forward, I may at some later time. I also plan to get a tattoo of what I saw on my body...I do not have a photo, sketch or audio or video as of right now, but I intend to have one created for my tattoo.
Comments
Even if they both had of taken a picture, the skeptics would say "oh, I can do that on my computer". The only ones that know the truth are those in the loop and first hand witnesses like these two gentlemen - and myself.
geez. go to google and search "Camdenton hot air balloon rides", or call them at 18008777553. You'll solve this mystery.
He did not take any pictures because they had control of him, believe me I know.
I believe him...I've seen one like that also..it was several years ago in the seventies but I remember it like it happened minutes ago..admazing..
I think it would be pretty boring if we were the only ones. I'm not saying there are UFO's, but... I hope there is something else out there.
Law Professor......''but I intend to have one created for my tattoo''.
....Riiiiight.
The grammar in this statement is certainly not that of a law professor -"him and I have talked for hours." I want to believe, but this puts me off.
Hi there everyone...I am the one who witnessed this phenonenon. I submitted my report to MUFON about 1 week after the experience. Thanks for pointing out some grammatical errors...do you think I was trying to publish a well written article when I was merely conveying my experience...sorry...I was not and I am sorry for dissappointing you. You can believe what you want...about my occupation, my experience, as well as the other professor's experience. I practiced law at a large private firm in Nebraska before becoming a professor. Another point...don't think professors or lawyers don't have tattoos...we are a diverse bunch of people, like in any other field...our actions are based on our personal experiences and we add intellectual value because of said diversity. Now...with respect to the experience...I am absolutely 100% positive of what I saw...my friends and fellow colleagues are leery (a few of my highly intelligent friends do not dismiss the phenomenon...they trust me).
As I mentioned in my first report to MUFON...I have never been an avid UFO enthusiast...to be honest...I didn't really follow UFO reports or articles until after my experience. I will use contractions if you don't mind...since I am not writing a law review article...I don't find the need to use formal lingo, sentence structure nor syntax (yes...in informal writing I use elipses quite frequently). In fact...due to my small mindedness at the time of the experience, my rational mind kept telling me it was a hot air balloon...however...I saw no basket...the object was fuzzy and not static...it zig-zagged across Highway 54. I didn't realize until the object was literally gone in seconds that I may have just witnessed something simply amazing. I have spent every day since that moment trying to rationalize and have ruled out (I have not done any scientific tests...that is not my area of expertise) all known possibilities that exist in my mind.
The other professor and I (sorry I used "him and I"...it should have been "he and I") have literally discussed this matter for hours over the phone and during my short tenure at his cabin the night and morning following the experience. The great thing for the other professor...is...that his wife saw the object with him...unfortunately I had noone around. The picture of camdenton above is where I was witnessing the object at about 11:00 p.m. If you read my initial report...I thought the object was a "dealership balloon"...if you see that building on left...that is the last main building in the town...I thought that building was a dealership because its lights were on that night. However, the object started moving across the highway...literally right above me (as I stated before...it was huge). If you look on the left side of the highway...there are trees...if you read my original report...I discussed the trees getting in the way on the right hand side (North).
I am following up with Debbie as discussed in the article...I recently sent pictures of my motorcyle "geared up" while on Route 66 and in Missouri the night of the incident. I also sent pictures of the professor and his wife (their cabin is on the lake of the ozarks)...however...I whited out their faces for privacy concerns (for those who don't believe I am a lawyer - most states have common law [cases] that provide for civil actions relating to publication of private facts, which could give rise to damages). I don't believe the fellow professor would sue me...but I don't think it is fair to subject he and his wife to the scrutiny associated with extraordinary events that the general public finds absurd. I am sure the follow-up will be released shortly...as I just submitted the follow-up information two days ago. I didn't mean to sound "mean-spirited" in my reponses...but some of the reponses to the article were offensive in nature.
I had/have nothing to gain by reporting this to MUFON and other reporters who have contacted me (btw...the investigator who contacted me right away verified who I am, where I live, and what I do for a living...don't assume the reporters in these articles just take things at face value...they do an excellent job of weeding out the fake claims...I had to fill out an extensive survey...give my name, address, phone number, occupation...etc., however, I asked for confidentiality at this time...again...the negative stigma could cause problems...I spoke on the phone immediately with someone verifying things...then I was contacted by Debbie the field investigator from Missouri). I was skeptical (and am generally in life) about UFOs...but I am telling you (no matter what I say or describe can explain to others the reality of the situation...I am fine with that) I am 100% convinced that what I experienced is not a publically known object (hence...Unidentified Flying Object).
Ooppss...sorry...in my speed typing, I misspelled publicly as "publically"...but that proves that I am not a professor...right? Trust me...I have seen many brilliant professors (not saying that I am in the same boat as them) who can even make coherent statements...but they are great at logical reasoning and analyzing constitutions, statutes, regulations, and caselaw. Last thought on the topic for now...I have been watching alot of recent reports...these objects are all over youtube...if you type in "Red UFO"...the first video you will see is similar to what I saw (it is from Japan allegedly). However what I saw was much closer and hovering moreso than flying. These red/orange sphere objects are being filmed everywhere...I am kicking myself for not just stopping my motorcycle and just taking a picture. For some reason I felt as if the people in the hot air balloon would make fun of me if I stopped the bike and took a picture...which I am not afraid of generally in life. Very ODD!
With respect to the map and picture above (showing the landscape)...I did not post those...nor did I have them available when I made my report...I made the report based on my experience that dark night...which is extremely vivid and memorable (heck...I can't remember half the things I witnessed on Route 66 that week...however...I remember everything about the incident). I am not from Missouri and have only been to the Ozarks twice...a few minutes after the experience...if you follow Highway 54...there is a bridge over the lake of the ozarks...I believe the second picture may have been taken there. If anyone has any questions...I am more than willing to share. Thanks for listening...the whole purpose behind my report and observation is to open others eyes. If I had someone with me, I would be able to discuss it with them...instead I am forced to discuss it with third parties, many of whom likely thing I am crazy - that may be true in some respects.
However...I am not crazy in discussing what I saw and witnessed (we are all a little crazy about things in life or obsessive about experiences or things affecting our lives...I am definitely obsessed now...I cannot gather enough information after the incident...my hunger for knowledge in this area has skyrocketed). Please go search youtube and watch the 1000s of videos filmed by amateurs of these things...many claim they are fake...some definitely are...but there are many that cannot be explained. For some reason the close ones have not been filmed yet, but hopefully others will not be as mesmerized as I was and just record the video or snap a picture.
One last request please...please try not to judge the people who report these things (I can handle being judged...but there are some who take comments much more personal and it can affect their lives...for me I can defend myself and my conclusions with logical reasoning...although some may never agree...and I can live with that). Sometimes we are too hard on others...but if we open our eyes and ears, maybe one day we may tell a true story that others find hard to believe...but...being a more open-minded people...they will listen and not ridicule. Let me get off my soapbox now. Thanks again for listening.
I just telephoned the phone number posted below by a fellow poster to inquire about hot air balloon rides in Camdenton Missouri. The person on that number informed me that they do rides in St Louis, Kansas City, and Columbia, but he did not see anything available near Camdenton Missouri (please call and verify yourselves). He also informed me that the earliest hot air balloon rides take place (with his company) is sunrise and they last until sunset. What I experienced was at 11:00 p.m. Again...I really want to rule out all possibilities...but hot air balloon does not seem to be one of them. It was too late, too low (flying through the hills of the Ozarks), no basket, and left too quick after pulling over. Please provide any rational thought as to what I could have seen...I am trying to find the answer...am not ruling out any possibilities...but I cannot find a rational explanation. Thanks for the info on the hot air balloon company...I cleared that up.
One last thought today (I know...I keep saying that...who can you believe...ha). Some of my friends make the assumption that I am saying that I saw an alien craft when I refer to the spherical object I saw...I have never made any factual assertions related to what the "UFO" was...that is why it is referred to as "Unidentified Flying Object" in the first place. Nor have I suggested that I saw aliens, was abducted, had lost time, had my motorcycle shut down...etc., because none of those things happened. The only thing I know for certain...is that what I saw cannot be explained under the factual circumstances surrounding the incident, based on my current logical reasoning and knowledge of military and civil aircraft...that is why I am open to exploring other plausible rational explanations.
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