Mysteries of the Mile-High Airport: Bizarre Tales From Denver International Airport

As I find myself traveling again, this time to celebrate my tenth wedding anniversary, I’m heading towards one of the most beautiful places in the world: the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Once again, I find myself passing through a location I’ve heard many stories about and that has fascinated me for years—Denver International Airport. Denver International Airport (DIA), located approximately 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver, is the largest airport in the United States by total land area, covering 33,531 acres. Officially opened on February 28, 1995, DIA was constructed to replace Stapleton International Airport, which had become too small and congested to serve the growing needs of the Denver metropolitan area.

The construction of DIA was an ambitious project, costing $4.8 billion and taking nearly five years to complete. The airport’s distinctive design, featuring a tent-like roof structure inspired by the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, was created by architect Curtis Fentress. This iconic silhouette has made DIA one of the most recognisable airports in the world.

Since its inception, Denver International Airport has grown to become a major hub for both domestic and international travel, serving as many as 70 million passengers a year. Despite its success and state-of-the-art facilities, DIA has also garnered a reputation for being at the center of numerous conspiracy theories and bizarre stories, ranging from secret underground bunkers to mysterious artworks. These tales have only added to the airport’s mystique, making it a fascinating topic for travellers and conspiracy enthusiasts alike.

Stories about the airport began almost as soon as construction started. Stapleton International Airport, located only 10 miles from downtown Denver, was deemed too small due to its inability to handle the growing number of flights into the area. Instead of receiving an upgrade, a decision was made to build a new, larger airport. The site chosen was approximately 25 miles from downtown Denver, which many people found strange, as there were several closer locations that would have been suitable for the new airport. Construction was slated to be completed by 1993, but setbacks, including design changes and contract disputes, delayed the project until 1995 and resulted in it running $3 billion over budget. The unusual choice of location, as well as the overrun in time and budget, led many conspiracy theorists to claim that these were the results of a secret facility being built underneath the airport.

Whilst construction was taking place, it was reported that an unusually large amount of dirt was being removed from the site, leading to rumours that a much larger facility was under construction. This fuelled stories that a secret base exists beneath Denver International Airport, but who controls this alleged base? While many people agree on the existence of such a facility, they are divided on who controls it.

The New World Order is said to be a secret group of the rich and powerful who are conspiring to achieve world domination under a single totalitarian government. Members of this group are rumoured to come from various sectors, including the financial world (e.g., the Rothschilds), business (e.g., Bill Gates, George Soros), former world leaders (e.g., George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair), secret societies (e.g., the Bilderberg Group, the Freemasons), and even NATO. These entities are said to be the power behind this secretive group.

Aliens are also said to have a secret base under the airport. Reptilians, who are believed to originate from either the Draco or Orion constellations, are alleged to rule not only the Earth but also large parts of the galaxy. Said to be overlords of the galaxy and hiding in the shadows, many influential people are claimed to be Reptilians with the ability to shape-shift into human form. These allegedly include the Rothschilds (whose names often appear in conspiracy theories), the Bush family, and the British royal family. The Reptilian base underneath Denver International Airport is said to be many floors deep and one of their main bases on this planet. Along with the Reptilians, it is said that the Greys work alongside them as well as human conspirators. Stories have surfaced from people who claim to have been inside the base, saying that there are several floors where humans are stored in tanks to be used as a food source by the Reptilian overlords.

The Illuminati, like the New World Order, are a secret society consisting of the rich and powerful, that seek power. Founded in Bavaria in 1776, they believed that the monarchy and the church were responsible for repressing free thought of the public. The Duke Of Bavaria outlawed secret societies in the late 1780s, which led to the group allegedly disbanding. This was said to be the birth of the secret society that is now known as the modern-day Illuminati. Today, The Illuminati is said to be very similar to the New World order, with the powerful and wealthy working in secret in order to gain even more wealth and power, with some believers even claiming that the true Illuminati leaders are not even human, but the earlier mentioned reptilians.

Others claim that the underground base is controlled by the United States government, as a secret underground nuclear bunker that is capable of housing the government in the event of a nuclear attack, or the US military, with stories of secret tunnels linking it to the nearby Cheyenne Mountain military complex.

Above ground, people claim to have seen clues that support the airport’s links to secret societies. As you walk around the terminals, you will see many murals that allegedly contain symbols linked to groups ranging from the Freemasons (whose square and compass insignia is prominently placed on the airport’s capstone) to the New World Order and the Illuminati. One particular mural appears to depict a Nazi stormtrooper rounding people up in the ruins of a destroyed building. The runway layout is also said to resemble the shape of a swastika.

As you enter or exit the airport by road, you can’t fail to notice the large blue mustang with striking red eyes at the edge of the property. The statue, known as Blue Mustang, was originally commissioned in 1992, but due to various incidents, many believe it is cursed, leading to its most commonly used name, Blucifer. It was not erected at the site until 2008. Luis Jimenez, a sculptor, was chosen to create the 32-foot masterpiece. Medical setbacks and legal disputes caused various delays, but its place in conspiracy theory lore was cemented on June 13, 2006, when Jimenez was working on his creation and a large section of the sculpture came loose from a hoist, pinning him against a steel support beam and severing an artery in his leg. He was found some time later, having died of blood loss as a result of the severed artery. Some people believe that it is meant to represent one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with ties to one of the groups residing in the secret underground base, and is a sign of the forthcoming apocalypse. At night, the sculpture is a breathtaking sight with its striking blue skin and glowing red eyes, and it is not hard to see why some believe this imposing figure might be more than just a stunning art piece.

As with any conspiracy theory, there is no definitive evidence to prove that Denver International Airport is anything other than a transport hub. However, it seems that the airport itself is more than happy to embrace the conspiracy theorists. There is a fake alien skull on display along with other artefacts that were supposedly found during construction. During upgrades, posters can often be seen referencing Reptilians, secret bases, and other conspiracies associated with the airport. In baggage claim, you can even converse with a gargoyle.

But is any of it true? There are a large number of tunnels beneath the airport that are used for access to various areas, and there are also tunnels that contain the baggage transfer system. There are two previous versions of the baggage transfer system that are now unused, as they were updated and replaced. Several buildings were built but then found to be unsuitable, so instead of being demolished, the replacement buildings were constructed on top of their predecessors. So yes, there are underground tunnels beneath Denver International Airport, but is there a secret base? If we knew, it wouldn’t be a secret.

And what of Blucifer? There were many setbacks during its creation. Sculptor Luis Jimenez suffered from health issues, including a heart attack and requiring surgery on his hands, before he tragically died in his studio while working on his project. There were also legal disputes between Jimenez and the city over missed deadlines. But were all these the result of a curse, or just bad luck? Only Blucifer knows.