Welcome to the Denver International Airport, a massive travel hub that has gone viral for decades due to its endless conspiracy theories. For years, the public has believed that something mysterious is buried beneath the terminal's chaos. There have been whispered rumors of apocalyptic bunkers built for secret societies and thoughts of a demonic 32-foot blue mustang stallion with glowing red eyes that guards the entrance. But the Denver International Airport is far more than just a place to catch a flight; it is a maze of confusion. This begs the question, were the severe delays of the construction and the underestimated cost a case of poor management or the cover-up for a subterranean city?
The construction of the airport began in 1989, and in May, 1990, it was estimated to cost $2.08 billion. The DIA was going to be opened in 1993, but instead, it was finished in 1995 with a total cost of $4.8 billion. Many people believed this new airport was unnecessary because Denver’s original airport was still a fully functioning hub. This construction developed into a conspiracy that the airport construction must be covering something up. Underground tunnels and bunkers are part of the main theory. This could be one of the reasons why the cost increased dramatically. The airport is also located 23 miles from downtown Denver. Some believe that this “random” location was provided by space aliens because it would be able to expand underground for miles without getting noticed.
Overall, the construction was filled with issues and many setbacks. One of the first was an overwhelming amount of problems with the design. More examples include the construction running extremely over budget and the poorly timed metal workers' strike. There are also secret runways buried below the surface that extend 4 or 5 miles each. People believe they are used whenever the time comes so that massive planes can land safely. This leads to the underground bunkers. When the world inevitably comes to an end, some secret societies are believed to take advantage of the bunkers. These complexes are complete with everything needed to keep a colony of “elites” alive while an apocalypse they created is happening.
Found in and outside the airport, there are many apocalyptic artworks. Several paintings depict the “future” with impending disasters. One painting shows what will happen to the Earth because of climate change. It illustrates that humans are not immune to the impact of climate change. Then there is the 32-foot blue mustang. This horse is commonly known by its nickname, “Blucifer.” Luis Jimenez, the artist who created the sculpture, was killed by "accident" when a piece of the statue broke loose and severed an artery in his leg. His death has helped fuel the rumors about the structure. The most eerie part of the statue is its eyes, glowing red.
The evidence that there are secret societies associated with the airport is also backed up by the time capsule located inside. This capsule is buried in the Jeppesen terminal under a granite dedication capstone and is to be opened in 2094. The capstone features a Freemason symbol and a reference to the non-existent “New World Airport Commission.” This has fueled popular conspiracy theories regarding secret societies and the underground bunkers. The DIA will always be more than just an airport. Whether it is a product of mismanagement or the staging of a secret survival bunker, it will always remain a cultural phenomenon. Until the time capsule is opened in 2094, the secret of Denver’s underground will continue to live on in the minds of travelers and residents alike.
Sources- https://history.denverlibrary.org/news/denver/locals-guide-dia-conspiracy-theories
https://visitdenver.com/blog/post/myths-denver-airport/
https://www.denvercenter.org/news-center/why-is-dia-so-creepy/
Image source- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/denver-international-airport-conspiracy-theories-b2868333.html