Haunted Airfields
For Halloween, a collection of weird tales about airports and aircraft.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, October 25, 2011
DIA
Nothing says "fear of flying" like a good aviation-related ghost story. So, in time for Halloween, we present a few haunting tales for your reading pleasure.
First up: It makes sense that the United States’ largest international airport is home to both ghosts and outsize conspiracy theories. At least one Web site claims that Denver International (pictured during a lightning storm) is built atop Native American burial grounds. The rumor may have started, says the site, when the airport’s public art program began playing Native American chants on a continuous audio loop near the pedestrian bridge linking Concourse A and the Jeppesen Terminal building. To be safe, in April 1995, Native American spiritual leaders performed a night-time ceremony to put any ancient spirits to rest. (Read the 1995 story in the alternative weekly newspaper Denver Westword here.)
Laura Coale, the director of media relations at Denver International, confirms that blessings were done at the site, but notes that archaeologists surveyed the area before airport construction began, and found no traces of any burial grounds.
Other reasons for the spooky vibe at DIA include the 32-foot-tall sculpture “Mustang,” by artist Luis Jimenez (who was killed while working on the sculpture), which inspired 200 “protest haiku” to be delivered to the Denver mayor’s office (Sample: Because of this thing / People think they are in hell / instead of Denver). The airport's underground tunnels, originally meant for a computerized baggage system, also are believed by some to be secret bunkers built for the 2012 apocalypse, or a place to warehouse space aliens. Then there are the airport's
“scary” murals depicting the destruction of the environment and the horrors of war, and a Masonic plaque (under which a time capsule is buried) bearing the words “New World Airport Commission.”
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Comments (2)
While I'll admit that I'm a fan of ghost tales and that I like to watch or read them with as little light as possible at night, I'm also chilled to the marrow in broad daylight by these stories of "Haunted Airfields"--even the ones that might simply be--as you so eloquently put it--"a wild ghost chase." Thank you so much for getting into the--uh--spirit.
Posted by Diane Williams on October 28,2011 | 09:51 AM
The two murals mentioned actually depict the children of the world, dressed in authentic native costumes of approximately 26 countries, overcoming the forces of evil and destruction. The positive panels are roughly twice the width of the dark and depressing panels, and are bathed in light and bright colors, showing dancing happy children. In "In Peace and Harmony with Nature", the artist's mother is depicted on the far right dancing in a bright red swirling dress, because, he said, she wasn't allowed to dance in life.
The gargoyles are seated in Samsonite suitcases (made in Denver), one in each of the two baggage claim areas. Gargoyles are not evil, but are protective and are in the baggage claim areas to protect your luggage. They were some of the last artworks to be installed. Had they been in place earlier that baggage system would have worked like a charm! The title of the work, "Notre Denver".
Posted by Marilyn Shaw on November 26,2011 | 08:35 PM