Bid on a Private Maury Island UFO Boat Tour at Des Moines Fundraiser

If your idea of a local fundraiser involves silent auctions for gift baskets and restaurant vouchers, a community foundation in Washington State is shaking things up with a slice of mid-century paranormal history. A private boat tour exploring the legend of the historic 1947 Maury Island Incident will hit the live auction block this Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Des Moines Legacy Foundation’s “Back to the Brunch” fundraiser, waterlandblog.com reported.

The winning bidder will not just secure a day out on the water. The package pairs a two-hour cruise aboard an Axopar 28 with local historian, filmmaker, screenwriter of the award-winning film and Men in Black aficionado Steve Edmiston. Departing from Des Moines, the tour will travel directly to the shores of Maury Island as Edmiston unpacks the story of the iconic June 21, 1947, UFO sighting and its deep ties to Men in Black lore, according to waterlandblog.com.

From Puget Sound Patrols to Global Lore

To understand why a boat tour around a heavily wooded island in Puget Sound commands a starting bid of $1,000, you have to look back at the chaotic summer that practically invented modern ufology. Spooky Valley noted that just three days before Kenneth Arnold spotted a formation of strange objects skipping across the sky near Mount Rainier—a sighting that inadvertently coined the term “flying saucers”—an even stranger event unfolded on the waters near Tacoma.

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On June 21, 1947, harbor patrolman Harold Dahl claimed he witnessed six donut-shaped, metallic craft hovering above Maury Island. According to the account of the incident, the situation turned violent when one of the struggling lower objects expelled hot metallic debris that rained down onto Dahl’s boat, injuring his son and killing the family dog.

The case quickly spiraled into a labyrinth of physical evidence, mysterious warnings from a visitor in a black suit, and a pair of fatal plane crashes involving Air Force intelligence officers transporting debris. It was messy, confused, and ultimately unresolved—a foundational narrative that established nearly every dark template of the modern UFO era.

Live Auction Offers Excursion to Phantom Waters

For local history buffs and anomaly enthusiasts, Sunday’s live auction offers a rare chance to trace those phantom waters in person. Listed as auction item No. 7, the two-hour excursion carries an estimated value of $2,500. Bidding opens at $1,000 with $100 increments, though eager participants can bypass the competitive rounds entirely by exercising a direct purchase option for $3,200, waterlandblog.com reported.

The winning package includes beverages and commemorative Men in Black Birthday Bash merchandise. While passengers won’t be riding on “The Reliable”—the boat used during the filming of the movie “The Maury Island Incident”—the cruise will navigate the waters where portions of the film were shot. Organizers note that the trip remains subject to weather conditions, and the final date will be coordinated directly between the winning bidder and the donor. To take home the prize, prospective bidders must attend the brunch in person.

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