Desert Driving with ‘The Men Who Stare At Goats’

In the latest George Clooney box office hit, ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats‘ tells the somewhat-true story of a U.S. Army Special Forces unit — the New Earth Army, in the film; the First Earth Battalion in real life — dedicated to studying New Age philosophies and the paranormal in an attempt to create a band of psychic spies.
 

 
With a cast of Hollywood heavyweights — including George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges as a tuned in and turned on army officer — we imagine this film was one fun — and manly — shoot in the desert. Find out where it took place…
 

 
While the movie takes place in the war-torn deserts of the Middle East, it was actually shot on-location in the U.S., very near a legendary hotbed of real-life paranormal activity, Roswell, New Mexico. The sweeping desert was played by the White Sands National Monument, known for its massive gypsum sand dunes. To experience the desert in the heart of the southwest for yourself, embark on the eight-mile Dunes Drive, a 40-minute tour of the area. In the summer, the park is open until 10 p.m., in the off-season (Labor Day to Memorial Day), it’s open from 7 a.m. to sunset. Just be careful popping clouds with your mind, you don’t want to hit a rock George Clooney style.
 
photo by Jeff Kubina/Flickr