Unique yard display in Helper already drawing attention from outer reaches of community

HELPER, Utah — A unique neighborhood display is already receiving attention from the “outer reaches” of the community and beyond.

John and Debbie Jones said they’ve spent the past three months designing and building the front yard display that features several life-size alien statues and a homemade flying saucer.

“It just evolved,” John said in an interview with KSL TV on Tuesday. “It’s still a work in progress.”

Jones said the flying saucer or UFO was made of two satellite dishes acquired from KOAL Radio and John M. Howa and Son’s Inc.

Debbie said they may still reposition the aliens on the property and add other features — possibly including a cow.

A UFO scene wasn’t always the plan.

Jones said he initially envisioned two T-Rex dinosaurs in his front yard and was on his way to Vernal to pick up one from a seller when they decided instead to purchase several alien statues.

He said he has always been a “tinkerer” and this project captured his and his wife’s imaginations when it came to making their yard more drought-resistant.

“We want to do this area so it doesn’t take water,” Jones said. “We’re having water problems in Carbon County.”

At night, the UFO lights up with a bright white light as well as flashing colored lights, something Jones acknowledged neighbors have not minded.

A unique neighborhood display is already starting to draw attention from the ‘outer reaches.’ Where it is and why the homeowners say they did it…TONIGHT @KSL5TV at 10p #KSLTV #Utah pic.twitter.com/90iNTUDgoI

— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) August 3, 2022

“I was worried because there was a lot of light and I didn’t want to be offensive to anybody,” he said.

As Helper has rebuilt in recent years it has increasingly developed a reputation as a community for artists.

Jones said this was their way of contributing to that reputation, and he hoped anyone who wanted to see it would come to Canyon St. to check it out.

“I think we get as much thrill out of watching other people come by and look at it as building and enjoying it ourselves,” Jones said. “Hopefully people will want to come and see it, stay in Helper. It’s a great place to be.”