The Southwest has a bit of reputation for being a hotbed for UFO sightings and rumors of aliens. Area 51 and Roswell are just the tip of the iceberg, and although Nevada and New Mexico hold the majority of these alien-related attractions, Arizona gets in on the alien action a bit as well. This strange and creepy Arizona roadside attraction immediately stirs up thoughts of UFOs, secret military installations, and other-worldly phenomena: but the reality of Casa Grande’s Thornton Road Domes and where they came from is a lot more mundane. However, even when you know the story of these domes, you can’t help but be creeped out by them!
What Are They? What Do They Want?
The Thornton Road Domes look like they were built to transport aliens across the vacuum of space, but in reality they were designed by a computer company in 1982 to build circuit boards. Unfortunately for the company, production never began and the domes sat empty for decades, quickly becoming a favorite place for young people to hang out, get drunk, and spray graffiti on the walls. Although the domes are of various sizes, one in particular is large enough to house a convention, so it’s not surprising that graffiti artists would want to take advantage of this large, neglected canvas. Of course, many people report creepy sounds and occurrences in and around the domes, like the sounds of chains rattling and bottles breaking even when no one is around.
Will They Hurt Us?
Actually, they might. According to the current owner of the site, the ceilings of several domes are collapsing due to age and vandalism. In addition, the dangerous chemical trichloroethylene, which was used during the construction of the domes, was found in groundwater beneath the site. The owners are adamant that people should not trespass on the site, although they will consider requests for use of the domes if people ask permission beforehand. Strangely enough, there was even a church barbeque held on the site, which the site owners said “worked out really nice.” Just goes to show that there’s something for everyone!
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This article is part of a series on Arizona’s Amazing Roadside Attractions
