The Black Jack Lights - El Dorado Springs, Missouri

In 1960, strange lights began to appear near the tiny community of Blackjack on the west side of the old Sac River Bridge in a field owned by a man named Charlie Vilhauer. The lights were variously described as either red, green, or white. Former resident Dwain Witt told the El Dorado Springs Sun, “I remember them. It was just something I couldn’t understand. It’s been so long. I saw them, whatever it was. I think the first time I saw them they were red and green like a traffic light. One time we started towards it and it just went over the tops of the trees. All you could see was a light. It got to the point people were driving from town just to see if they could see it. Sometimes it would be there and sometimes not.” The lights created quite a sensation and cars would line up along the road for a half mile or more to try and catch a glimpse of the ethereal performance. Some local residents tried to chase after the lights, but without successes. Explanations ranged from swamp gas to UFOs. One thing was clear: it was one of the most exciting things to happen in that area for a long time.