Illuminati, Lizard People, and 'Blucifer': The History of Denver Airport Conspiracies

Do you know why the Denver International Airport, the largest in the United States, has become a hotbed of batsh*t bonkers conspiracy theories over the past decade? Secret Illuminati symbols? A hidden nuclear launch site? An Area 51-esque alien research facility? These are all real (and by real, we don't mean true) theories that have been floating around the Internet. In this episode, we dive into the admittedly dicey history of DIA, find out how "Blucifer," the notorious mustang statue outside of the airport, became "cursed," and uncover how the airport's marketing team has totally leaned into the madness. Hot Janae Price covers all this and more, in just under 7 minutes.

Did you know the history of the sex toy dates back millions of years? Or that McDonald's McRib drew inspiration from the U.S. military? Or, that the modern tailgate might have been invented during a Civil War battle? In History of… Thrillist is taking you through a rapid-fire crash course on some of humankind's greatest innovations in food, drink, travel, and fun. Hey, if you can keep up, you actually might learn something!

Credits:

Senior Development Producer
Wil Fulton

Associate Producer
Mia Faske

Editorial Assistant/Voice Over
Janae Price

Motion Graphics & Animation
Danna Windsor

Senior Designer
Maggie Rossetti

Editor
Zach Lapierre

Production Coordinator
Charles Ross

Post Production Supervisor
Daniel Byrne

Director of Production
Anna Frangos

Senior Director -
Development & Production
Leo Fernandez

Creative Director
Audra V Pace

Head of Video
Jim D’Amico

Chief Content Officer
Meghan Kirsch

Check out our website for more food, drink, travel, and entertainment.

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Sign up for our newsletter

#Thrillist #HistoryOf #Denver

[Timothy]

This airport is creepy af, and this was before I started googling about the theories lol

[wickedgarage]

Best way to hide something that people know is going on is to do it in plain sight, and make it all a joke

[erickschiavone]

It's funny how every time I try finding videos that try to expose things like this, they always mock it and call them conspiracy theories right away.

[Dougiefresh]

This video made me believe even more that all the theories are true because they try so hard to cover this stuff up.

[adrthegreatball]

There was a time you could use YT to do research on things like this. Not anymore. Censorship is real. Save videos.

[austineisert]

Maybe don’t call your target audience “the dumb and suspicious”

[zm]

History 101: It's NOT an outlandish conspiracy theory when the Freemason logo is on the airport's dedication plaque.

[jkroon]

🤦‍♂️ love how the “truth” for the artwork is “the artist says it’s environmental.” So ok, I can paint creepy shit with kids being abused and say “oh, this? It’s for environmental reasons.” Ok, junior.

[AlvaBarr]

How dumb of the narrator to think she was in any way convincing. The truth is that this video did exactly the opposite in debunking any conspiracy. Between her poor delivery and her name calling her audience, she reassured the validity of what people already knew. The truth is, this entire video is a joke.

[Kaniac]

I was at DIA in 2004 and I saw the mural with the Nazi’s and the children. It seemed so strange and out of place- one of the strangest things I have seen. It had such an impression on me that I told the story of this mural often. So once the conspiracy theories began surfacing, I was able to relate.

[brendaschultz]

I went to DIA in 2006 and I saw workers in the middle of nowhere installing huge tunnels that masses of people could walk thru coming from the direction of Denver and going towards the airport. I felt fear. I have also heard that the fences built around the airport have barbed wire and they bend inwards, not outwards. I hate the vibe that I feel from this airport. Something definitely feels not right about it.

[andrewsutherland]

So here's the thing. Even though they give some credible explanations, the fact that there is so much creepy shit that each raises it's own suspicion (as opposed to trying to connect everything to one creepy aspect) makes me believe there's something bigger

[lostcoast]

I'm from Colorado and have been to DIA my whole life... It always has had a weird vibe to it. And it's sooo crazy now they are embracing all of it as a "joke". Like man, they legit have alien paintings up on the construction zones making a joke out of it. it's all in plain sight. Idk what to think about it. I don't wanna believe it's all true but honestly when your there in person... Something's up. Too many bizzare paintings and architecture. one time I was picking up my sister and I found a random tunnel from the parking lot headed into baggage claim and there were demon statues and little lighting. And the tunnels underground?? Dude it's wack Forsure 😕👎👎

[adriandeshazo]

The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he doesn't exist.

[A_Stereotypical_Heretic]

I like it when she says "the truth..." And then says something more ridiculously dumb than any of the theories about this elitist monument to the suffering of us plebs.

[squigglyline]

Anytime you search specific conspiracy theories now the only results you can find are videos/articles mocking them.

Didn't used to be that way.

[NicholeKess]

Yeah you're covering up for these evil socialites

[gelatinous]

There are some extremely likely "conspiracy" theories around denver though. There is very likely some sort of underground bunker there, as construction teams reported weirdly overbuilt classified work areas underneath the airport. In all honesty, it makes sense. It's right in the very middle of the country, it connects the coasts and the south. It's the closest international airport to the Cheyenne Mountain nuclear complex. It's built oddly far out from civilization. I'm sure there is some sort of government facility there due to it's location.

[theateam]

Only time I was ever here was when I was a kid. And I remember being so scared of the paintings as we went by that I held my moms hand so tight and was trying not to cry. That place is so fucking creepy. You know whats "dumb"?. How there's people out there that think that creepy shit is okay for little kids to see even if it is "conspiracy ".

[ironknightgaming]

I'd rather be dumb and suspicious than a well educated sheep.