A Local's Guide to DIA Conspiracy Theories (2024)

Even before construction began in September 1989, there were a number ofDenver International Airport (DIA) conspiracy theories. Arguably the tamest of these (or those that would follow) was that there was no need for the airport in the first place and that its construction was a subterfuge designed to hide or disguise the construction of other, far more nefarious structures. In fact, despite claims that Stapleton International Airport was perfectly serviceable, the concourse crowding and tightly packed runways often created schedule disruptions on a national (and even international) level whenever there was inclement weather in the region.

The wild conspiracies didn’t end there, however. In fact, the initial claims barely scratched the surface, and couldn’t foretell the theories that would arise once the facility’s construction was completed. It’s hardly possible to construct a precise timeline of which notion first burst onto the scene, or the subsequent claims that pop up on an almost daily basis. So, while I’ve tried to make this as comprehensive as possible given the time and space allotted, know that this is still an incomplete record.

Nazi Runway Models

One of the more prevalent theories is that the runways at DIA are arranged to form a swastika as a tribute to the fascist New World Order. As can be seen below, this one isn’t quite as far-fetched as it may seem upon hearing the claim. The layout does bear a resemblance to the notorious symbol, particularly if you choose to selectively ignore some parts of the scheme. Far from the nefarious claims, however, the reasoning behind this configuration is pretty straightforward. Simply put, having the various runways splayed out in this pinwheel design makes it easier for multiple runways to be used at once, and minimizes the chance of having to shut down all runways during inclement weather or strong winds.

Not That Close Encounters

One of the stranger (and most easily dismissed) claims began with an anonymous individual watching (or re-watching) the 1977 Steven Spielberg classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In the film, a mysterious broadcast purportedly reveals the coordinates for Devil’s Tower, a Wyoming landmark that is pivotal to the story. However, for some unknown reason, the coordinates don’t actually correspond to the location of said landmark. Years later, the mystery of the strange coordinates was revealed; they actually indicated the future location of (you guessed it!) Denver International Airport…a dozen years before construction on the airfield began!

Pretty mind-blowing, isn’t it? At least until you scrutinize the claim, at which point you’ll discover that the numbers provided actually point to the longitude and latitude of Ault, Colorado, a small town in Weld County. While Ault (an acronym for “A Unique Little Town”) is indeed closer to DIA than the Devil’s Tower, it still logs in at over 65 miles away from the airport, far enough away that if a DC-10 were to land there, it would likely make national news.

Welcome to the New World

Few things immediately raise the hackles of conspiracy theorists as quickly as the phrase “New World Order,” and few organizations are as frequently targeted by conspiracy theories as the Freemasons. Given that the dedication capstone at the airport not only prominently features a Masonic crest, but also lists members of the “New World Airport Commission,” it should come as no surprise that the mere existence of this monument became a bit of an “Aha!” element in many of the more conspiratorial corners of the internet.

In addition to the capstone, there are inscriptions on the floor at various locations of the terminals, which have aroused the suspicions of some not-so-great internet sleuths. In many cases, there is a claim that the engravings are in some secret cabalistic language, and that nobody outside of some feted secret society knows what they mean. In actuality, they are in the Navajo language, and the translations are as follows:

BESH DITGAII: White Metal (silver)

DZIT DIT GAII: The Mountain that is White (or, more simply, White Mountain)

NIINENII NIICIE: Tallow River (the translated Navajo name for the branch of the South Platte River which flows near DIA)

SIS NAAJINI: A mountain sacred to the Navajo people, said to be the eastern boundary of the Dinetah (Mount Blanca or Blanca Peak)

In addition to the Navajo inscriptions, there’s one other item inscribed in the floor which has had quite a fuss made of it, despite being arguably the least mysterious of the lot. It’s an image of a mine cart, with the cryptic letters “Au Ag” inscribed within.

You might be tempted to think, given that Au and Ag are the chemical symbols for Gold and Silver respectively, that this image was a fairly straightforward acknowledgment of Colorado’s history of mining both gold and silver. And you would be correct. However, that hasn’t stopped this benign and innocuous design from raising alarm bells among people who can’t take anything at face value.

The claim relating to this inscription is that it secretly reveals the means by which the Illuminati, Reptilians, and/or New World Order will wipe out the bulk of humanity. The “Au Ag” ostensibly refers to a virulent pathogen known as the Australian Antigen. Of course, an “antigen” is something that actually triggers an immune response, not a pathogen itself. Also, while there is in fact something called the Australia Antigen (so named because it was first found in an Australian Aboriginal patient), it is used to diagnose and treat Hepatitis B. Hardly something destined to wipe out all of humanity except the “elites,” and those destined to toil in the underground fungus mines under their watchful gaze.

Claims with Baggage

Perhaps the most widely known clue to the airport’s “evil agenda” (aside from the big blue horse, of course) was Leo Tanguma’s three-paneled mural titled “Children of the World Dream of Peace.” The painting, particularly the first panel, contains within it some disturbing imagery which has, unsurprisingly, stoked the imaginations of a great many people. There are many claims that it foretells the One World Government; a fascistic future in which the New World Order (or the Illuminati, or the Reptilians, etc.) has wiped out most of the population, and ruthlessly rules over what’s left of humanity with an iron fist.

Of course, once the overarching concept the artist had in mind is explained, the panels make more sense.

The final, central panel is a scene of hope and optimism for the future. In it, people of all races and nationalities are seen embracing each other, smiling happily, and singing. Weapons of war are bundled in nationalistic flags, with children bearing them forward, to be beaten into plowshares. A broken statue of the soldier from the first panel lies buried and forgotten.

Put together, the mural implies humanity moving past its aggressive tendencies, and defeating the ecological challenges we face. Taken as a whole, the predominant theme is one of hope for the future. Nevertheless, it’s hard to argue that much of the imagery isn't disturbing, even within the intended context. In 2018, as part of the preparation for a large-scale remodel of the Jeppesen Terminal, Leo Tanguma’s infamous murals were removed and put into storage.

Another piece of artwork that receives more than its fair share of online attention is “Mustang,” the giant blue rearing horse statue with glowing red eyes, more commonly known by the nickname “Blucifer.” The fact that Luis Jiménez, the artist who created the sculpture, was killed when a piece of the artwork broke loose and severed an artery in his leg has undoubtedly helped fuel the rumors and speculation regarding the 32-foot-tall creation. However, the so-called “demonic” nature of the installation remains unsubstantiated beyond the fact that people find it eerie. The red eyes often pointed to as “proof” of its nefarious nature were actually a tribute to the artist’s father, who owned and operated a neon sign shop where Jiménez learned to weld and paint and the value of working with his hands.

His wife has also recounted a story of Jiménez investigating a noise late at night and being frightened by a pair of glowing red eyes in his living room. After his initial shock, he realized that they were those of his horse Black Jack, who had somehow gotten into the house. She speculates that he chose the red eyes to illustrate the point that sometimes things can seem frightening simply because they’re unfamiliar or unexpected. Black Jack was also the model Jiménez used for the work, and the blue color was chosen because the horse was a Blue Roan Appaloosa, a breed with a mix of black and white hairs, giving it a distinctive blue tint.

Beneath the Surface

The construction of the airport itself was rife with problems and setbacks, triggering an early onset of conspiratorial claims. One of the first was that the various problems with the design, the construction running wildly over budget, and even a badly timed metalworkers strike, were all due to the fact that the facility was being built on an ancient Native American burial ground. Note that no tribe or Native organization has ever made claims to that effect, as would be expected if that were the case. Also, the archeological evidence suggests that, while the site may have been a hunting ground, there is no evidence of remains that one would expect in a burial ground.

Again, as with so many of these claims, there is no actual evidence to support any of these assertions, and it’s all just based on speculation, conjecture, and paranoia. For those who have decided that the underground structures, or any of the other things listed in this post, have an insidiously evil secret purpose, no mundane explanation will satisfy, regardless of how reasonable and well-supported it is. The question remains: If a secret organization really was conspiring to wipe out humanity (or whatever else their evil schemes entail), why would they deliberately and intentionally leave so many clues behind?

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SOURCES USED:

Clippings File: Denver. Airports.Denver International Airport.Conspiracy Theories

The New World Airport Commission archival collection (WH858).

Conspiracies Take Flight at Denver Airport (Snopes.com)

(For further information on these and future conspiracy theories, type "DIA" into the search engine of your choosing, and strap yourself in.)