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Reports and Stories of Reptilian Humanoids in Utah's Underground Reports of reptilian humanoids (often called "Lizard People" or "reptilians") in Utah primarily stem from urban legends, conspiracy theories, and eyewitness accounts tied to underground tunnels, caves, and alleged secret bases. These stories are concentrated around Salt Lake City, particularly beneath the Salt Lake Temple and surrounding areas, with connections to broader UFO and alien base lore. While no verified scientific evidence exists, these narratives have persisted in paranormal communities, podcasts, and online forums since the 1970s. Below, I'll outline the most prominent accounts, drawing from historical reports, personal testimonies, and media discussions.
1. Tunnels Beneath the Salt Lake Temple and Crossroads Mall (Salt Lake City) Core Story: During construction of the Crossroads Plaza (now The Gateway) in the 1970s–1980s, workers allegedly broke into ancient underground tunnels while excavating for a cinema expansion. Several workers who explored these passages vanished and were never seen again. Security guards warned of "lizard men" inhabiting the tunnels, claiming they "own them, patrol them, and hide secrets" from the public. One account involves a guard's son-in-law, Peter, who was told not to enter due to the risk of encountering these beings and not returning.
Eyewitness Details: Paranormal researcher John Todd reported seeing a cordoned-off pit-tunnel at the site, where a worker mentioned a colleague who entered five days prior and disappeared. In a 1980s investigation, Robert E. Davis and a friend accessed the tunnels via a manhole cover near the Mormon Temple's sub-basement. They descended multiple levels into a cavernous hallway with ancient wooden doors emitting a greenish glow. Further in, they found a massive southbound tunnel (large enough for a semi-truck), a bottomless shaft, and human-sized three-toed footprints in the dust. A Hispanic night cleaner later quit after encountering a "demon"-like creature (described as reptilian) in the area, which Davis believed was provoked by their leaving access points open. Broader Context: These tunnels are said to connect to the Salt Lake Temple's foundations, with rumors of reptilian guardians protecting Mormon-related secrets or alien tech. The "Lizard People of Utah" legend describes seven-foot-tall, scaly humanoids with slit pupils and cold blood, allegedly ruling from below. Sources: Detailed in conspiracy researcher Branton’s Reptilians: The Connection to Dulce
(Case Files #23 and #33), available at http://www.reptilianagenda.com/research/r110199b.shtml and http://www.reptilianagenda.com/research/r110199c.shtml.
2. Dugway Proving Ground and Military Base Encounters (Tooele County) Core Story: At the secretive Dugway Military Base (a U.S. Army chemical/biological testing site), personnel have reportedly witnessed humans "shapeshifting" into reptilian forms. One account from the 1970s involves a tire shop worker who saw "people" in the town of Dugway transform into tall, scaly humanoids with glowing eyes during routine interactions.
Eyewitness Details: John Todd, a former base employee, shared this in interviews, linking it to underground facilities where reptilians collaborate with military and CIA agents on electronic equipment. The base is rumored to connect to a network of caverns under Little Cottonwood Canyon (home to the Granite Mountain Records Vault), where orange-hued reptilian humanoids have been spotted emerging from rocks deep underground. Broader Context: Dugway is part of a supposed "underground base ring" encircling Utah, with reptilian activity tied to UFO crashes and genetic experiments. Exits are allegedly in areas like Salt Lake, Lake Powell, Dark Canyon, Modena, and Vernal. Sources: Documented in UFO hunter Dave’s Utah UFO Hunters Underground at http://www.utahufohunters.com and Branton’s case files at http://www.reptilianagenda.com/research/r110199b.shtml.
3. City Creek Canyon Abduction (Salt Lake City Area) Core Story: In the 1980s, a young man named Dan was allegedly abducted by a UFO while hiking in City Creek Canyon. He awoke on the ground with fragmented memories of being strapped to an operating table, surrounded by tall (7–8 ft), green-skinned humanoids with dark, slit-like eyes—traits matching reptilian descriptions. Eyewitness Details: Dan suffered severe psychological trauma, including suicidal ideation and nightmares of the beings probing him. No physical evidence was recovered, but the incident aligns with other canyon-based UFO reports involving underground access points. Broader Context: The canyon is said to lead to hidden cave systems used by reptilians for abductions.
Sources: Included in Branton’s compilations at http://www.reptilianagenda.com/research/r110199b.shtml.
4. General Folklore and Modern Discussions Utah is often described as "surrounded by underground bases" with reptilian humanoids, per conspiracy texts. Stories include orange-colored reptilians in remote caves (e.g., near UFO crash sites) and shapeshifters in basements tied to missing persons cases. Recent Mentions: On X (formerly Twitter), users reference "shape-shifting reptilian creatures" in Utah's underground bases as a food source for humans, linking to Skinwalker Ranch investigations (Heber City area). Reddit threads discuss "Lizard People" under the temple as a staple of Utah cryptid lore, with users sharing family stories of eerie basement encounters.
Media Coverage: Podcasts like Supernatural Station (2021 episodes) explore Salt Lake tunnels in depth, interviewing locals about "reptilian patrols," available at https://www.supernaturalstation.com/episodes/2021/utah-tunnels-special. A 2022 article ranks it among Utah's top cryptid encounters.
Sources: Supernatural Station podcast at https://www.supernaturalstation.com/episodes/2021/utah-tunnels-special, Utah UFO Hunters archives at http://www.utahufohunters.com/underground.html, and related discussions at http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread123456/utah-cryptids.
Location: Salt Lake Temple Tunnels
Location -- Key Encounter Type -- Estimated Date -- Credibility -- Notes
Salt Lake Temple Tunnels -- Missing workers, "lizard men" sightings, three-toed tracks -- 1970s–1980s -- Based on multiple witness testimonies -- no photos/video
Dugway Proving Ground -- Shapeshifting humans to reptilians -- 1970s -- Military insider accounts -- tied to declassified UFO files
City Creek Canyon -- Abduction by green-skinned beings -- 1980s -- Single witness -- psychological aftermath documented
Little Cottonwood Canyon Caves -- Orange reptilian emerging from rocks -- 1990s–2000s -- UFO hunter reports -- aligns with broader base lore
These tales blend Native American legends (e.g., Hopi references to underground "ant people" with reptilian traits), Mormon temple myths, and modern ufology. Skeptics attribute them to seismic activity, mine collapses, or hallucinations in oxygen-poor caves, but believers point to Utah's geology (vast lava tubes and sinkholes) as ideal for hidden habitats. For deeper dives, check the Supernatural Station podcast series at https://www.supernaturalstation.com/episodes/2021/utah-tunnels-special or Utah UFO Hunters archives at http://www.utahufohunters.com/underground.html.