Though he didn't appear in Tilden, the novel, Paul Solem did appear near Tilden Bridge for a week in 1969--the UFO's he claimed to be able to bring in did not show up, however, according to most who attended (some claimed otherwise).
Solem believed himself the recipient of messages from Venutians in UFO's, their communications entailing a mishmash of Mormon doctrine and Native American beliefs that entailed a new world of peace and harmony (sound familiar?). He camped out below Ferry Butte Road, on the north side and down by the river, while hamburgers were sold from a shack in a fairlike atmosphere attended by hundreds. That crowd dwindled in size as Monday's failures became Tuesday's, and by Saturday only a dozen or so faithful remained.
Solem made the prophet rounds and the news for another three decades, getting kicked off reservations and embraced by elders on others. Read about the 1969 events in the July 16 issue, 1969.
You can really go in depth to Solem's "visions" at http://www.ignaciodarnaude.com/contacto_alienigena/Solem,Paul,Contactee,1948,J.Clark.pdf
Ralph Thurston is the author of "Tilden", a novel set in turn-of-the-century (twentieth) Bingham County. You can find a copy in Blackfoot at Kesler's Market, in Idaho Falls at Winnie and Mo's, and online at https://www.amazon.com/Tilden-Ralph-Thurston/dp/166557223X?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
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