Sinister sculptures and secret bunkers. Swastika-shaped runways and murals that point to a New World Order takeover or alien invasion.
And what about those gargoyles hanging out by the baggage claim?
Conspiracy theories about Denver International Airport have soared for more than two decades.
Not that the airport discourages the speculation.
Photo Credit Andy Cross, The Denver Post One of two gargoyles at Denver International Airport “Notre Denver” by artist Terry Allen October 20, 2016.
Let us look at one example.
Underground bunkers — and aliens
Photo Credit Andy Cross, The Denver Post An image of an alien scribbled on a wall by an employee near the tunnels underneath Denver International Airport October 20, 2016.
The theory: Hidden beneath the airport’s underground baggage-transport tunnels is a secret bunker (or series of bunkers) designed to house billionaires and global political elite in the event of an apocalypse. Lizard people (a.k.a. “Reptoids”) and/or evidence of aliens are also thought to be lurking down there.
The history: Contractors who originally worked on the airport, which went over budget and opened 16 months behind schedule, reportedly saw evidence of bunker entrances and unexplained tunnels. A multi-million dollar automated baggage system failed to work as designed, fueling doubts about the intent and scale of the construction. An “alien” drawing has appeared on the walls, and blurry footage of “lizard people” has appeared on conspiracy websites.
The facts: Roughly 1,000 people work daily in the various levels underneath the airport, ferrying luggage among ticket counters, planes and baggage claim areas in a pair of 7,000-foot long tunnels that run alongside the airport’s underground trains — which were not immediately ready to use upon the airport’s opening. As seen during a tour of the tunnels provided to The Denver Post, all plumbing and electrical infrastructure appears to end at the underground area’s lowest level; hiding anything else under it would be an engineering feat on par with the “Chunnel” that connects England to France. Furthermore, “Over the years, little personal touches have been made,” Montgomery said of the tunnels, pointing to the hand-drawn alien image (as well as decidedly non-alien-themed “graffiti” like smiley faces) as he drove an electric golf cart under the B concourse. The automated baggage system was actually used in various capacities, mostly by United Airlines, up until 2010. “There’s a certain mystique to anything you can’t see,” Montgomery said of the 470,000 square feet of underground space. “The fact of the matter is, it would take me three days to show you everything down here.” Finally, airport workers have been known to don lizard masks as pranks while the media are on tours — including one caught on camera by Fox 31 KDVR-Denver in a video that has since been circulated (often uncredited) as evidence of their existence.
To read more about the conspiracies please read the article from the Denver Post that I was given permission to use from. You can find it here . Denver Post Article I would like to thank Monica at the Denver Post for allowing me to use the article.
HOW TO CLAIM
To earn credit for this Virtual Cache, please email me the answers to at least ONE of the questions below. You are welcome to answer as many as you wish, but only ONE is needed as I tried to make sure no matter what side of security you were on you could get this cache. Please enjoy the cache. In the Main Terminal is the location where you will not need a ticket to claim.
- In the Main Terminal there is a big USA Map. What is Wyoming the birthplace of? And, please post a picture of you thumbs up, face not required, and the answer not in the photo.
- On Concourse A in the center looking over at the train system describe what you see? And, please post a picture of you thumbs up, face not required, and the answer not in the photo.
- On Concourse B what is the Tail Number of the Biplane hanging here? And, please post a picture of you thumbs up, face not required, and the answer not in the photo.
- On Concourse C what is the Tail Number of the Jet hanging here? And, please post a picture of you thumbs up, face not required, and the answer not in the photo.
- Favorite Points always enjoyed.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.