Within Devils Tower
Few film locations have reshaped a real-world destination as thoroughly as Devils Tower after Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Before the film’s release in 1977, the Wyoming monolith was already a nationally significant geological landmark and the United States’ first national monument.
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Introduction
Few film locations have reshaped a real-world destination as thoroughly as Devils Tower after Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Before the film’s release in 1977, the Wyoming monolith was already a nationally significant geological landmark and the United States’ first national monument. Afterwards, it became something else as well: one of the most recognisable UFO destinations in popular culture. Visitors arrived not only to see an unusual rock formation but to stand where Spielberg imagined humanity’s contact with extraterrestrial visitors would occur. The result was a form of film tourism that permanently linked Devils Tower to UFO culture while leaving the monument’s geological, recreational and Indigenous meanings very much alive. [Wikipedia]WikipediaDevils TowerDevils Tower
From National Monument to Movie Emblem
The transformation of Devils Tower into a pop-culture destination happened unusually quickly. The climax of Close Encounters placed the monument at the centre of one of cinema’s most influential UFO narratives, turning its distinctive silhouette into an instantly recognisable image for audiences around the world. The site became inseparable from the film’s final encounter sequence, and visitors increasingly arrived because they already knew the landmark from the screen. [Intermountain Histories]intermountainhistories.orgIntermountain HistoriesClose Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower…Devils Tower is a National Monument situated in Wyoming an…
The association proved durable rather than temporary. Decades after the film’s release, the National Park Service still highlights Devils Tower as one of the most prominent examples of a park location embedded in popular culture. Tourism organisations across Wyoming continue to market the monument through its connection to Spielberg’s film, recognising that many travellers first learned about the site through Close Encounters. [National Park Service]nps.govNational Park Service VisitNational…8 Jul 2024 — Denali National Park (The River Wild, Into the Wild); Devils Tower National Monument (Close Encounters of the Th… [Travel]travelwyoming.comTravel WyomingTop 12 Things to Do in Devils Tower National MonumentDec 5, 2025 — Devils Tower played a pivotal role in Spielberg's 1977 c…
The effect was large enough to become part of the monument’s own historical story. Accounts of Devils Tower’s cultural history routinely note that the film generated a substantial increase in visitation and climbing interest. What had been a famous geological feature became a destination associated with cinematic pilgrimage and UFO mythology. [Wikipedia]WikipediaDevils TowerDevils Tower
Why Visitors Remember the Tower
Film tourism usually fades when a movie leaves popular memory. Devils Tower has remained different because visitors encounter something that closely matches the image they already carry in their minds.
The monument’s unusual form is visible from miles away across the surrounding landscape. For many visitors, the experience involves a moment of recognition: they are not discovering an unfamiliar place but arriving at a landmark they feel they already know from the film. The location functions simultaneously as a natural wonder and as a cinematic icon. [USA Tourist]usatourist.comUSA Tourist Devils Tower National Monument Travel GuideIn the movie Devils Tower was…Read more…
Visitor studies have shown that seeing the place associated with Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a specific motivation for many travellers. Alongside interests such as geology, wildlife and the monument’s historic status, the Spielberg connection remains one of the reasons people choose to make the journey. [WSU]wpcdn.web.wsu.eduDevils Tower National Monument Visitor Studygeologic features (83%), visit the nation's first national monument (40%), view wildlife (…
The surrounding tourism economy adapted to that demand. Campgrounds, restaurants and local attractions have long embraced the connection, with some businesses openly catering to film fans. Outdoor screenings of Close Encounters near the monument became a notable example of how tourism blended the real landscape with its fictional identity. [Travel Wyoming]travelwyoming.comTravel WyomingTop 12 Things to Do in Devils Tower National MonumentDec 5, 2025 — Devils Tower played a pivotal role in Spielberg's 1977 c…
What makes the site memorable, however, is that the movie narrative never fully replaces the reality of the place. Visitors arrive expecting a UFO landmark but encounter an immense geological formation that dwarfs the cinematic image. The monument’s scale often becomes part of the experience itself, reinforcing why Spielberg selected it in the first place. [USA Tourist]usatourist.comUSA Tourist Devils Tower National Monument Travel GuideIn the movie Devils Tower was…Read more…
Tourism, Climbing and Cultural Tension
The popularity generated by Close Encounters brought attention not only to sightseeing but also to recreation. Devils Tower became one of North America’s best-known climbing destinations, and the growth of climbing activity was frequently linked to the visibility created by the film. [Wikipedia]WikipediaDevils TowerDevils Tower
Yet tourism at Devils Tower involves more than geology and cinema. The monument is also a sacred place for numerous Indigenous nations, including Lakota, Cheyenne and Kiowa communities. As visitor numbers increased and climbing became more popular, tensions emerged between recreational use and ceremonial use of the site. [Wikipedia]WikipediaDevils TowerDevils Tower
The most visible response has been the voluntary June climbing closure established through the monument’s management plan. June is a period of particular cultural and spiritual importance for tribes associated with the site, and climbers are asked to refrain from ascending the Tower during that month. The policy emerged through negotiations among tribal representatives, the National Park Service and the climbing community rather than through a complete climbing ban. [National Park Service]nps.govNational Park Service VisitNational…8 Jul 2024 — Denali National Park (The River Wild, Into the Wild); Devils Tower National Monument (Close Encounters of the Th…
Compliance rates have generally been high, often cited at around 85 percent, making the closure an important example of an attempt to balance tourism, recreation and Indigenous cultural concerns. Nevertheless, debates over access, respect and the meaning of the monument continue, reminding visitors that Devils Tower is more than a movie location. [Wyoming Public Media]wyomingpublicmedia.orgWyoming Public Media Devils Tower officials implement a voluntary climbingWyoming Public MediaDevils Tower officials implement a voluntary climbing…June 5, 2023 — 5 Jun 2023 — Devils Tower officials have issu… [Access Fund]accessfund.orgclimbers honor the june closure at devils towerDevils Tower Voluntary June Closure: An Opportunity to…12 May 2026 — The voluntary closure allows climbers the opportunity to show the…
The presence of prayer cloths, ceremonial activity and educational material about tribal traditions means that many visitors encounter a broader story than the one told by Spielberg. The monument’s managers increasingly present Devils Tower not simply as a geological formation or a film landmark but as a place with multiple overlapping meanings. [NPS History]npshistory.comFireby HA Fire · Cited by 1 — Most of the rock climbers at. Devils Tower during the month of June do not feel that. Native American cerem…
A UFO Landmark That Never Became Only a UFO Landmark
The enduring significance of Devils Tower after Close Encounters of the Third Kind lies in the way it absorbed a powerful fictional identity without losing its older ones. Millions of people now recognise the monument through Spielberg’s vision of extraterrestrial contact, and that association continues to draw visitors decades later. [National Park Service]nps.govNational Park Service VisitNational…8 Jul 2024 — Denali National Park (The River Wild, Into the Wild); Devils Tower National Monument (Close Encounters of the Th…
At the same time, travellers who arrive because of UFO mythology encounter a place that is also a geological monument, a climbing destination and a sacred landscape. The film changed the way many people first discover Devils Tower, but it did not erase the deeper histories already attached to it. Instead, it added another layer to a landmark whose meaning has always been larger than any single story. [Wikipedia]WikipediaDevils TowerDevils Tower [National Park Service]nps.govNational Park Service VisitNational…8 Jul 2024 — Denali National Park (The River Wild, Into the Wild); Devils Tower National Monument (Close Encounters of the Th…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Devils Tower Film To 3 D7 Cb 8. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The UFO Experience
Hynek created the close-encounter framework that inspired Spielberg's film title and served as an adviser on the movie.
Passport to Magonia
One of the most influential books on UFO culture and the mystery-oriented approach echoed in Spielberg's work.
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Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Devils Tower
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower -
Source: nps.gov
Title: National Park Service Visit
Link: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/parkpop/visit.htmSource snippet
National...8 Jul 2024 — Denali National Park (The River Wild, Into the Wild); Devils Tower National Monument (Close Encounters of the Th...
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Source: wpcdn.web.wsu.edu
Link: https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-wpsites/uploads/sites/3019/docs/79_DETO_rept.pdfSource snippet
Devils Tower National Monument Visitor Studygeologic features (83%), visit the nation's first national monument (40%), view wildlife (...
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Source: nps.gov
Title: National Park Service Voluntary Climbing Closure in June
Link: https://www.nps.gov/deto/learn/news/voluntary-climbing-closure-in-june.htmSource snippet
more...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Devils Tower National Monument
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIb8BzDF9aYSource snippet
5 Close Encounters at Devils Tower - That's WY...
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Source: intermountainhistories.org
Link: https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/226Source snippet
Intermountain HistoriesClose Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower...Devils Tower is a National Monument situated in Wyoming an...
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Source: travelwyoming.com
Link: https://travelwyoming.com/blog/stories/post/top-things-to-do-devils-tower-national-monument/Source snippet
Travel WyomingTop 12 Things to Do in Devils Tower National MonumentDec 5, 2025 — Devils Tower played a pivotal role in Spielberg's 1977 c...
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Source: travelwyoming.com
Link: https://travelwyoming.com/blog/stories/post/close-encounters-with-a-spiritual-landmark/Source snippet
Travel WyomingClose Encounters with a Spiritual LandmarkFeb 13, 2017 — Today, the otherworldly pull and Hollywood fame of Devils Tower ha...
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Source: deadwood.com
Title: Devils Tower
Link: https://www.deadwood.com/business/attractions/devils-tower/Source snippet
AttractionsSteven Speilberg used Devil's Tower National Monument as backdrop to his blockbuster movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind...
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Source: usatourist.com
Title: USA Tourist Devils Tower National Monument Travel Guide
Link: https://usatourist.com/articles/devils-tower-national-monument-travel-guide/Source snippet
In the movie Devils Tower was...Read more...
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Source: accessfund.org
Title: climbers honor the june closure at devils tower
Link: https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/news-and-events/news/climbers-honor-the-june-closure-at-devils-towerSource snippet
Devils Tower Voluntary June Closure: An Opportunity to...12 May 2026 — The voluntary closure allows climbers the opportunity to show the...
Published: May 2026
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Source: wyomingpublicmedia.org
Title: Wyoming Public Media Devils Tower officials implement a voluntary climbing
Link: https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/tribal-news/2023-06-05/devils-tower-officials-implement-a-voluntary-climbing-closure-to-honor-indigenous-peoplesSource snippet
Wyoming Public MediaDevils Tower officials implement a voluntary climbing...June 5, 2023 — 5 Jun 2023 — Devils Tower officials have issu...
Published: June 5, 2023
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Source: npshistory.com
Link: https://npshistory.com/publications/deto/hpaa-v19n1-1999.pdfSource snippet
Fireby HA Fire · Cited by 1 — Most of the rock climbers at. Devils Tower during the month of June do not feel that. Native American cerem...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/devilstower.nps/photos/june-is-a-culturally-significant-month-for-many-of-the-northern-plains-tribes-du/7859299600747641/Source snippet
June is a culturally significant month...June is a culturally significant month for many of the Northern Plains tribes. Due to the cultu...
Additional References
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Source: tripadvisor.com
Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60792-d144721-Reviews-Devils_Tower_National_Monument-Devils_Tower_Wyoming.htmlSource snippet
Devils Tower National MonumentWe were visiting the western side of North and South Dakota and, being big Close Encounters of the Third Ki...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYTEwbNjDJj/?img_index=3Source snippet
In 1995, the National Park Service instituted a voluntary climbing closure of...Read more...
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Source: nature-track.com
Link: https://www.nature-track.com/Devils_Tower.htmlSource snippet
Nature TrackDevils Tower National Monument - Nature-track.comIn the movie, this iconic landmark becomes the site where aliens make contac...
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Source: doi.gov
Title: National Parks Visitation | U.S
Link: https://www.doi.gov/ocl/national-parks-visitationSource snippet
Department of the InteriorAug 8, 2019 — Arches, Zion, Glacier, Acadia, and Yellowstone National Parks, for example, have all experienced...
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Source: charmingmillers.com
Title: devils tower wy close encounters of the rv kind
Link: https://charmingmillers.com/2022/06/devils-tower-wy-close-encounters-of-the-rv-kind/Source snippet
Devils Tower, WY: Close Encounters of the RV KindJun 21, 2022 — Destination: Devils Tower. The setting of the 1977 Steven Spielberg cult...
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Source: classcbroads.com
Title: devils tower fun facts and close encounters
Link: https://www.classcbroads.com/blog/devils-tower-fun-facts-and-close-encountersSource snippet
Devils Tower — Fun Facts and Close EncountersSep 9, 2025 — Devils Tower is one of the stars of the 1977 movie Close Encounters of the Thi...
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Source: enjoyyourparks.com
Link: https://enjoyyourparks.com/wyoming/top-things-to-do-in-wyoming/devils-tower-national-monument/Source snippet
tions. "Close Encounters". The 1977 movie "Close...Read more...
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Source: npca.org
Title: 7109 11 national park cameos in movies
Link: https://www.npca.org/articles/7109-11-national-park-cameos-in-moviesSource snippet
National Parks Conservation Association11 National Park Cameos in MoviesMar 4, 2025 — Aliens chose Devils Tower National Monument as a la...
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Source: outdoorjournal.com
Title: It also puts future climbing access at the Tower in jeopardy.Read more
Link: https://www.outdoorjournal.com/devils-tower-why-we-dont-climb-in-june/Source snippet
Devils Tower: Why We Don't Climb in June12 Jun 2018 — Climbing the Tower in June is disrespectful to the beliefs of American Indians...
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Source: themerica.org
Title: close encounters of the themed kind
Link: https://www.themerica.org/blog/2018/01/14/close-encounters-of-the-themed-kindSource snippet
Jan 14, 2018 — Devils Tower, northeastern Wyoming. All over the world, people are drawn to locations used in favorite movies. I've been o...
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