Quick Info
On the warm summer night of July 24 1991, Fred Arcuri and his good friend Lou Piazza decided to go night fishing in a canoe on Nine Mile Swamp near Hubbardsville, New York. What started as a relaxing evening on the water turned into one of the most intimate and detailed close encounters in modern UFO history when the two men came face-to-face with a strange craft and a humanoid being that seemed to be trying to communicate with them.
A Quiet Night on Nine Mile Swamp
Fred and Lou had paddled out onto the calm, dark waters of the swamp just after dark. The area was familiar to them and usually very peaceful. They were casting lines and enjoying the quiet when, around 11 p.m., they noticed unusual lights in the distance that did not look like car headlights, boats, or anything they had ever seen before.
The lights were steady but had an odd quality that made both men pause and watch more closely. And then...
The Lights Draw Closer
As Fred and Lou continued fishing, the lights slowly moved closer to their position. They realized the source was not on the water’s edge but set back slightly into the woods along the bank.
The lights belonged to a large, UFO that was hovering just above the trees nearby. The craft had a metallic appearance and emitted a soft, steady glow all around it. Fred and Lou both felt a mix of curiosity and growing unease as they drifted nearer in their canoe.
The Humanoid Being Appears
What happened next left both men speechless. Standing in front of the craft was a humanoid figure. The being was clearly not human. It was tall and slender with a distinct shape that Fred later described and drew in detail. The figure appeared to be gesturing or moving its arms in a deliberate way, almost as if it were trying to communicate or signal to the two men in the canoe.
Fred and Lou both said they felt that the being was aware of their presence and was actively attempting to make contact with them.
“It was like it was trying to talk to us without words.”
- Fred Arcuri
The encounter felt strangely personal. Neither man felt immediate terror, but both described a strong sense of awe mixed with fear. They remained in the canoe, watching intently as the being continued its gestures for several minutes. The craft and the figure stayed visible long enough for the details to be burned into their memories.
The Encounter Ends
After what felt like several intense minutes, the craft and the humanoid being simply disappeared. There was no dramatic takeoff or loud noise. One moment they were there, and the next they were gone. As you can imagine, Fred and Lou sat there in stunned silence on the water before they began paddling back to shore. They immediately knew they had experienced something extraordinary and neither would ever forget that night on Nine Mile Swamp.
The Long-Term Impact
Fred and Lou remained deeply affected by the event for a long, long time. Their friendship grew stronger because of what they shared, and both men have always stood by their story. Twenty-three years later, in 2014, Fred and Lou returned to the exact same spot with the fantastic Richard Dolan and a film crew.
Their memories of the incredible event were still vivid and completely consistent with what they had described right after the encounter. Fred even drew a detailed sketch of the craft and the being that matched his original recollection.
Timeline of the Hubbardsville Encounter
- Evening of July 24 1991 - Fred Arcuri and Lou Piazza launch their canoe for night fishing on Nine Mile Swamp.
- Around 11 p.m. - Unusual lights appear near the tree line.
- The Sighting - They observe a conical craft and a humanoid being attempting to communicate.
- Encounter Ends - Craft and being disappear suddenly.
- 2014 Return Visit - Fred and Lou go back to the site with Richard Dolan for filmed interviews and new documentation.
Great video on this event from the awesome @EyesOnCinema
More videos from @EyesOnCinema on YouTube
What Do You Think?
Two ordinary friends out for a quiet night of fishing suddenly find themselves only yards away from a strange craft and a being that seems to want to communicate with them. Fred and Lou’s accounts have stayed consistent for over thirty years now, and their willingness to return to the exact spot with cameras rolling adds real weight to the story. Was this a genuine attempt at contact from something not of this world, or is there another explanation?
All I can say personally is that I've watched both Part 1, and Part 2, of the videos and I'm just going to say I believe these guys, they seem totally legit. It's these kind of very up-close and personal encounters with beings that continue to be some of the most compelling in UFO history. I'd love to hear you thoughts on this case.
