What could the "flying saucer"-shaped object located on a mountaintop in Southern CA be?

[Starflint]

Recently came across an old news story from 2020, Californian TikTok user @dropofgold has filmed (or TikToked?) what appears to be a large, metallic UFO hovering above a mountain behind her house. According to @dropofgold, who does not appear to be shaken very much by the site of a UFO hovering above a mountain directly behind her house where it could easily shoot an alien death beam directly into her back yard, reports that the UFO was first spotted around 2pm and that "right now it's 6:40". So, if our math is correct (and there's a high probably it might not be because we majored in English Lit) the UFO hovered over the mountain for FOUR HOURS!*

Source: https://www.tiktok.com/@dropofgold/video/6872526968907123974

and the follow-up to the video：

Source: https://www.tiktok.com/@dropofgold/video/6872737575493258501

In the comments section, I saw someone speculating that it was in the Indio area, and the blogger's earlier videos also mentioned having been in the Indio area.

https://earth.google.com/web/search...c5a2t1IAE6AwoBMEICCABKCAjJsf2oARAB?authuser=0

Therefore, I tried to find a courtyard and hilltop building in that area that matched the one in the video, but I couldn't find any

Could this be a radar station or a scenic lookout tower?

 

[jdog]

Indio itself is pretty flat, but it's near the foothills, which is where water tanks are generally located to provide water pressure, like these:

These particular foothills are more jagged than what's in the source photo, though some sort of water tank or tower peeking over a ridge is a good candidate for the "UFO."

 

[Trailblazer]

I found what I am pretty sure is the same house. I won't post the address though. Matching fence.

Just scouting round to see if I can match the viewpoint...

Edit - I had forgotten that the video is mirrored, which confused me!

Actually ignore that - it starts off mirrored on the front camera but then flips to the back camera and is not mirrored.

This is the view with the "UFO" location circled.

I thought these hills as viewed from the house were a match but I cannot quite make it fit.

Not posting the exact address but look around the intersection of Lake Forest Drive and Potomac Drive in Menifee.

It seems too far away from the hills, but the fact that it has an identical fence and was the registered address of the woman in the video is a heck of a coincidence!

 

[Ann K]

g

Recently came across an old news story from 2020, Californian TikTok user @dropofgold has filmed (or TikToked?) what appears to be a large, metallic UFO hovering above a mountain behind her house.

The still photo, were it not part of a video, is very strange. The area below the object appears to be significantly lighter than the sky, and also is remarkably uniform in width. I think this resembles a very crude fake, using something like a white sharpie to cut off a pointy section of the mountain or a structure on the top of the mountain so it looks as if it's hovering. But as it's in a video, it would appear that those are actual lights, such as would be used by, for example, workers repairing a road.

 

[Trailblazer]

and the follow-up to the video：

Source: https://www.tiktok.com/@dropofgold/video/6872737575493258501

This second video was
Uploaded on: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:31:53 GMT (UTC)
which is 8:31am local time

And the first one was
Uploaded on: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 01:54:37 GMT (UTC)
which is 6.54pm the previous day.

So the timescales fit the video content.

And also provide a clue to the view direction, as the morning video has a pronounced shadow on the fence.

The sun would have been just south of east at that time which suggests the view is roughly north.

I am fairly sure we are looking at the hills around Menifee but I cannot find the right viewpoint.

 

[kotare]

not sure of scale/distance but could this be a blue topped, white marquee set up on the top of the hill there? nice spot, and day, for a wedding?

 

[dlk1728]

It looks like a regular building to me. Possibly a white building with a dark roof.

 

[JMartJr]

It looks like a regular building to me. Possibly a white building with a dark roof.

Yes, but in that case it would have been there the day before, and still been there the day after, and for a number of days in either or both directions. A pop up tent or similar might come and go in a matter of hours, and so not be familiar, and have limited time to figure out what it was through additional observation.

 

[John J.]

These particular foothills are more jagged than what's in the source photo, though some sort of water tank or tower peeking over a ridge is a good candidate for the "UFO."

There is at least one structure that looks like a water tank or maybe a gasometer on higher ground visible from the Potomac Drive and Lake Forest Drive intersection, viewable pretty much due north along Lake Forest Drive

Not posting the exact address but look around the intersection of Lake Forest Drive and Potomac Drive in Menifee

but try as I might I can't persuade myself that the terrain matches, at least as viewed from the Potomac Drive/ Lake Forest Drive intersection.

Maybe this or a similar structure had a temporary dark covering over its roof during maintenance or something, giving us the dark "hovering" UFO.
Watching the video, as the OP says the witness doesn't seem overly concerned, and 4 hours forty minutes is plenty of time to bring it to the attention of others. And for others in the witness' locality to notice. I don't think we should take this "sighting" particularly seriously, though it'd be nice to work out what it was.

I did wonder if maybe the witness was looking at a gasometer. Some have telescoped cylindrical sections and their height increases as they fill, so become visible (or are more noticeable) from further away.
But I guess @jdog's suggestion of a water tank is more likely.
Re. the cylinder to the north of Lake Valley Drive, at the northern end of that road (actually on El Rancho Drive) at the foot of the hill there's a sign for a water company, but I've no idea whether there's any connection with the cylinder

 

[Starflint]

There is at least one structure that looks like a water tank or maybe a gasometer on higher ground visible from the Potomac Drive and Lake Forest Drive intersection, viewable pretty much due north along Lake Forest Drive


View attachment 89954




View attachment 89959

The water storage tank is very large and visible even without using a mobile phone's telephoto lens, and there are prominent trees next to it. The object in the video has a very clean surrounding with nothing near it. Furthermore, it is barely visible at the default focal length (suggesting its actual size is likely not that large). A large, dark-colored canopy tent seems to be a better fit. If the photographer's specific yard could be located, perhaps the exact location of that object could be determined and its approximate size calculated?

 

[Trailblazer]

Re the location, the TikTok user had posted a video that included her full name, and so I Iooked for address records that match that name.

She currently lives in Indio, which was clearly not the right location, but White Pages-style online records suggested that address in Menifee/Sun City during 2020. Looking more closely it doesn't seem to be the right house, but the type of terrain and the matching fence style makes me think that the actual location is close to that address, likely on the same development.

She refers to the road being a dead end, with a dip (ditch maybe?) between the yard and the hills.

 

[Trailblazer]

I think I found the hills.

Pin location is approximate. In 2020 there was vacant land behind, but as of 2026 it is being developed. 33.7065N, 117.2158W.

Properties along this road (Milky Way) have the same style of fence seen in the video - this is the dead end road (Delphinus Drive) just to the west, seen in 2022. It's fenced off (which it wasn't in 2018), as mentioned in the voiceover.

And in fact matching the garden to aerial imagery from 2020, I think my pin was only one house off:

Confirmed: searching that address brings up real estate listings with a garden and canopy that matches the video:

View matches - UFO hill is here:

The UFO hill is at 33.714277,-117.217925.
No permanent structure there but there is a hiking trail along the ridgeline. So likely a gazebo/tent?

So, nothing conclusive but a fun geolocation exercise!

 

[Matt33]

Good find. On a ridge behind the hill is some kind of building, connected by a straight line to the camera view point. According to Google Earth the ridge is as high or a little bit higher than the hill.
In Google Maps 3D View there is an unspecified structure.

 

[Trailblazer]

There are some photos on Google Maps from May 2020 showing the "UFO hill", which from this angle is a fairly inconspicuous rise - the lighter coloured hilltop in the middle foreground on this view. Maybe someone just set up a gazebo to enjoy the view.

 

[Trailblazer]

Good find. On a ridge behind the hill is some kind of building, connected by a straight line to the camera view point. According to Google Earth the ridge is as high or a little bit higher than the hill.
In Google Maps 3D View there is an unspecified structure.

View attachment 89981
View attachment 89983

That looks like a bulldozer (earth mover)?

And looking back the other way I am sure that wouldn't be visible from the camera location. The house is way below the "UFO hill" (yellow pin).

 

[jarlrmai]

Sitrec with a building playing the part of the UFO

https://www.metabunk.org/sitrec/?custom=11433/Mountaintop CA/20260429_101314.js

 

[Z.W. Wolf]

I have very little time...

But could this be a superior mirage effect due to an inversion layer? The "white layer" would then be the sky, with an inverted image of the peak above it. This would explain the transient nature.

 

[Trailblazer]

I have very little time...

But could this be a superior mirage effect due to an inversion layer? The "white layer" would then be the sky, with an inverted image of the peak above it. This would explain the transient nature.

View attachment 89987

If it was a single brief sighting then I would think it was possible, but there are two separate videos, posted in the evening and the following morning, and clearly at very different times of day, both showing the same object.

 

[Giddierone]

They're developing the surrounding hillside. This just looks like a pop up gazebo, the kind of shade you'd need if your job was to do a land survey of the hillside.

EDIT: Also if you search for UFO videos in the area of Quail Valley, Sun City there's a couple of videos in that location that show what looks like a black kite with lights on it. So perhaps a local prankster?...
This is a useful tool. https://mattw.io/youtube-geofind/location

 

[Matt33]

There is something on that hilltop that appears between 08/2019 and 08/2021. In 2023 it seems gone.

 

[Giddierone]

Flying Saucer!

...or a wooden crucifix type thing? (33.714393° -117.220421°)

 

[Minus0]

A couple additional hypotheses ranked from least plausible

1. Collapsed structure somewhere along Smith Memorial Hiking Trail (it crosses the relevant hills).
   1. Pictures uploaded to the trail on Google Maps show a couple collapsed structures with similar roof geometry to the UFO. In addition, at the location on top of the UFO hill there is what appears to be an old foundation.
   2. 
      1. If you open the link to the trail pictures above, it shows a different angle, including both collapsed roofs. They look very old and it's possible the walls, if there had been any, had collapsed before the roofs.
   3. I thought perhaps it was an old carport or something that had collapsed since 2020 and been cleaned up (leaving only a foundation). However, I noticed after making the screenshot that the pictures from the trail were uploaded last year; it doesn't align because the ground would have been destroyed more than we see in the satellite image. Also, I didn't see any structures at there when looking with street view from before 2020 but the resolution was quite bad. There's a chance the location of the rubble was cleaned up by the bulldozer. I think it was already established it would not be visible, even if it was still standing by the dozer. So I would put the hypothesis as highly unlikely. But I already made the image so please indulge me
2. Paraglider
   1. As a paraglider myself, we spend a lot of time doing what's called ground handling, or kiting. You find somewhere with unobstructed airflow, often up on an hill or large field. It's an activity that gets one in sync with the glider so they can strengthen their fine motor skills and speed. Since paragliders can collapse in flight if the pilot is not actively flying (constantly deforming the wing to increase angle of attack/prevent deflation - the transition from flying to falling is often unpleasant), good pilots spend hours ground handling.
   2. 
   3. The geometry of the wing doesn't seem to fully match with the UFO, but from a low perspective as in the video, it could match. It could also be a hang glider. After setting up the glider, if the wind is too strong, or not strong enough, pilots will often put a stake in and tether the front of the wing to it as they wait.
   4. 
   5. I checked and it does appear there was a paraglider living there in Menifee. As of a couple years ago, he sold that glider.
   6. 
3. RC Glider or Kite
   1. There appears to be a glider club in the area that meets on "cross Hill". Unfortunately, I don't have Facebook, so can't see all the groups pictures. Google gave me this picture on the right with relevant search terms. Perhaps something like his glider was tethered to the hill?
   2. 
   3. Perhaps a Kite as well. @JMartJr thoughts?

 

[Ann K]

They're developing the surrounding hillside. This just looks like a pop up gazebo, the kind of shade you'd need if your job was to do a land survey of the hillside.

These things generally come just ten feet square (I had one for art shows), which I think is much too small for the object that's seen at a distance.

 

[JMartJr]

Perhaps a Kite as well. @JMartJr
thoughts?

She says it was there for a couple of hours. If that is accurate, it is unlikely to be a kite if it is anywhere on the mountain, as that's going to be a very turbulent area for the winds. (That time frame would also seem to rule out it being a hang glider, they move around a fair bit in that amount of time!)

Caveat: We don't have video of it being there for hours, do we? Her SAYING it was there for hours doe not make it so, especially since she is repeating secondhand claims from her boyfriend about when HE saw it.

It is possible that it is actually much closer than the mountain, however, and therefore much smaller than it appears,

THIS area does not look like great kite flying, but if the wind was from the left trough lower left to the lower side of the picture, it would not seem to be impossible, and there are a lot of paths and stuff there to make the area accessible.

On balance, a kite seems unlikely, but not impossible.

Two quick additional thoughts:

Her giggly narration and the way her friend is laughing seem consistent with them pranking their viewers. Not probative, they may just be nervous or may be the kind of folks who giggle at most everything, I don't know.

and

is this definitely video of the object, as opposed to video of a sill photo with camera shake to hide the fact? I can't put my finger on it -- maybe my kite brain is looking for kite movement, or movement of the leaves in the breeze, and I'm not seeing that. But something about the cuts to the object look like a still image made to look like they took a video. (I notice that near the end she is standing and moving, holding the baby, with the mountain in the background. On the screen size I have, I can't see the UFO in that shot. Then there is the start of a zoom, on HER, not on the mountain, then a hard jump cut to a shot already zoomed on the mountain and nothing noticeably moving inside the shot other than camera wiggle. Plus a lot of editing throughout -- it feels very hoaxy to me.

Edit... cleaned up some typos.

 

[JMartJr]

These things generally come just ten feet square (I had one for art shows), which I think The is much too small for the object that's seen at a distance.

The "take one to the park or beach with you" ones are generally around that size -- but you can rent much bigger ones from a party supply company. Not sure what sort of party would be happening up there, but there might be nice views for a wedding or anniversary or something...

https://www.atent4rent.com/turn-backyard-party-tent-rental/

 

[Giddierone]

These things generally come just ten feet square (I had one for art shows), which I think is much too small for the object that's seen at a distance.

Depends how big you think the object is. It appears to be around 850m away estimating from the posts above. Square pop-up Gazebos can be pretty large at 4x4m.

 

[Matt33]

They do hot air balloon tours there, and sometimes the tour doesn't go to plan it seems. Screenshot from YouTube.

 

[jdog]

They do hot air balloon tours there, and sometimes the tour doesn't go to plan it seems. Screenshot from YouTube.
..

For that to make sense you'd have to have a balloon with a white stripe on top, followed by a dark stripe, and then another white stripe, and what are the odds of nearby California Dreamin' hot air balloon rides having that?

 

[Mick West]

https://www.metabunk.org/sitrec/?custom=1/DropOfGold/20260429_224306.js

Matching the hill profile and then the size of the object, comes out at about nine feet across, so some sort of canopy seems plausible.

Helicopter for scale.
https://www.metabunk.org/sitrec/?custom=1/DropOfGold/20260429_224822.js

 

[Trailblazer]

Helicopter for scale.
https://www.metabunk.org/sitrec/?custom=1/DropOfGold/20260429_224822.js

You've heard of Tictacs... now the M&Ms have landed!

 

[Giddierone]

 

[Trailblazer]

is this definitely video of the object, as opposed to video of a sill photo with camera shake to hide the fact? I can't put my finger on it -- maybe my kite brain is looking for kite movement, or movement of the leaves in the breeze, and I'm not seeing that. But something about the cuts to the object look like a still image made to look like they took a video. (I notice that near the end she is standing and moving, holding the baby, with the mountain in the background. On the screen size I have, I can't see the UFO in that shot. Then there is the start of a zoom, on HER, not on the mountain, then a hard jump cut to a shot already zoomed on the mountain and nothing noticeably moving inside the shot other than camera wiggle. Plus a lot of editing throughout -- it feels very hoaxy to me.

I am pretty sure it is a real object. It's there in the same place in two separate videos taken at clearly different times, and you can see it in the zoomed-out view (just about):

 

[jarlrmai]

I had AI make a Gazebo poly, attached

 

[Minus0]

The ongoing subdivision project, called "Enclave" by WD Land management, began marketing to developers in June 2020, three months before the sighting (ufo added to pdf screenshot)

The document outlines the remaining work for the buyers to conduct before building begins:

• Final civil engineering preparation of final map.
• Survey Control for the construction of grading, underground, and street improvements.
• Final monumentation including survey monuments, property corners, street center line, and swing ties.
• Soils Engineering for field controls during utility back-fill compaction, and final reports, but excluding lot utility services and foundation tests.

So yes, I agree with others a temporary gazebo likely for survey personnel/equipment is most probable. The timeline matches

 

[Ann K]

So yes, I agree with others a temporary gazebo likely for survey personnel/equipment is most probable. The timeline matches

A dark tent doesn't create a lighter area beneath it, and a tent with white sides is unlikely to have a black top. But if there are surveyors or construction people up there, perhaps several white trucks or construction vehicles form a line that visually seems to chop off the hilltop. The crooked line they follow might just be the shape of the terrain. That would account for the uniform lighter-than-the-sky line below the object.