The Wanaque Reservoir UFO Sightings

In January 1966, hundreds of witnesses including police officers observed brilliant UFOs over Wanaque Reservoir in New Jersey. The sightings continued for multiple nights and received extensive media coverage, becoming one of the most witnessed UFO events in New Jersey history.

January 11, 1966

The first major sighting:

• Reservoir employee Joseph Cisco observed a bright object over the water
• He called police, who also witnessed the phenomenon
• The object was described as brilliantly lit
• It hovered, moved, and performed maneuvers

Police Witnesses

Multiple law enforcement officers saw the objects:

• Wanaque Police Department officers
• Pompton Lakes Police
• Officers from surrounding towns
• Descriptions were consistent across departments

The Object

Witnesses described:

• An intensely bright white light
• Changing colors (white, red, green)
• Hovering capability
• Rapid movements
• Ability to instantly change direction
• Silent operation

Subsequent Nights

The sightings continued:

• January 12: More sightings from different locations
• Additional nights throughout January
• Hundreds of people gathered at viewpoints
• The reservoir became a UFO watching destination

Mass Observation

The extended sightings drew crowds:

• Residents gathered nightly
• Estimates of 300+ total witnesses
• Traffic jams developed near viewpoints
• Media covered the events

Radar Contact

Reports indicated:

• Possible radar contacts at nearby facilities
• Military interest in the sightings
• No definitive radar documentation released

Official Response

No official explanation was ever provided:

• Project Blue Book did not actively investigate
• Police filed reports but reached no conclusion
• The events remained unexplained

Media Coverage

The sightings received extensive attention:

• Local newspapers covered events daily
• Television news reported from the scene
• The story spread nationally

Significance

The Wanaque sightings are significant for:

• Multiple nights of activity
• Hundreds of witnesses
• Police officer testimonies
• Extended media documentation
• Community-wide observation

Legacy

Wanaque Reservoir became associated with UFO activity following 1966. The mass sightings demonstrated that UFO events could be community-wide experiences with official witnesses unable to provide explanations.