On a stormy night in November 1980, 32-year-old Granger Taylor left his parents’ home in Duncan, British Columbia, and vanished without a trace. Before his disappearance, Taylor, a mechanical genius with an obsession for space travel and UFOs, had left behind a cryptic note stating that he was leaving on a 42-month interstellar journey aboard an alien spaceship. To this day, his fate remains one of Canada’s most perplexing unsolved mysteries.
Born in 1948, Taylor had an uncanny ability to understand and build machinery. As a self-taught mechanic, he restored antique vehicles, including a locomotive and a World War II fighter plane. His most ambitious project, however, was a life-sized UFO replica built in his backyard, where he often spent time contemplating extraterrestrial life. Taylor believed he had established communication with aliens through telepathic means and became convinced they would soon take him on a journey beyond Earth.
On November 29, 1980, Taylor left his parents a note explaining his departure: *"Dear Mother and Father, I have gone away to walk aboard an alien spaceship, as reoccurring dreams assured a 42-month interstellar voyage to explore the vast universe, then return. I am leaving behind all my possessions to you, as I will no longer require the use of any. Please do not worry. I am in good hands."* Alongside the note were detailed directions on how to access his financial assets, suggesting he had carefully planned his exit.
That night, a powerful storm rolled through Vancouver Island, and Taylor’s pickup truck disappeared along with him. Authorities launched an extensive search, but no sign of Taylor was found—until six years later. In 1986, forestry workers discovered remnants of a truck deep in the woods near Mount Prevost, not far from his home. The area showed evidence of an explosion, and investigators concluded that Taylor had likely transported dynamite—a substance he was known to handle—into the wilderness, where it accidentally or intentionally detonated.
While this discovery suggested a tragic end, many of Taylor’s friends and family struggled to accept it. Some believed he had staged his death to start a new life elsewhere. Others, inspired by his own words, speculated that he had, in fact, been taken aboard an alien spacecraft and had left Earth behind.
The mystery of Granger Taylor remains unsolved, with his disappearance sparking countless theories, books, and documentaries. Was he a troubled man who met an untimely end, or did he embark on the extraordinary journey he always dreamed of? Over four decades later, the truth remains as elusive as the stars he longed to reach.
If you want to dive deeper into this fascinating mystery, be sure to check out our episode on The Disappearance of Granger Taylor on Unsolved Canadian Mysteries. You can listen to it now on Spotify and YouTube!
