Published January 24, 2023, for State 48 A2Z
Roadside oddities may not be as prevalent today as they were back in the 1950s and 60s, but you can still find quite a few around Arizona if you look. This week we delve into a recently demolished Arizona oddity and one you may have heard of, or possibly not. Have you ever taken a drive a bit south of Interstate 8 and the town of Casa Grande? Well, if you have and you have driven south on Thornton Road you probably already know about these cement-domed buildings that were in the middle of nowhere. Either way, come join us this week as we head a few miles south of Casa Grande and discuss the mysterious Domes of Casa Grande. (Note: we visited here in late 2022; the site was demolished in January 2023).
For this week's article, we do not need to travel as far back in our time machine as we do with most places that we visit on this page, but we will still travel back a few decades to the 1980s. Punk Rock was coming out of its infancy of the late-70s, Disco was dying a slow death and Rock and Roll was taking on many cha-cha-cha-changes (shout out to David Bowie) in its style assuring its everlasting presence. The early 1980s was also the dawn of the computer era and tech companies, especially semiconductor and circuit board manufacturers were all trying to capitalize on the upcoming boom. It was also the time when a California electronics company called InnerConn Technology announced its relocation to the desert of Arizona.
InnerConn Technology, which manufactured circuit boards for computers and watches, made the move in preparation for the upcoming boom that was projected in the computer and electronics fields. In making the move to the open desert south of Casa Grande, InnerConn owner, Patricia Zebb decided on these dome-shaped concrete designs for three main reasons. First, it was quick to build as opposed to more conventional building methods. Two, it was cheap to build – it was basically cement and foam insulation with next to no rebar used. And third, the design would help with temperature regulation amidst the scorching Arizona heat.
At some point, InnerConn connects with builder Lonnie Mikkelsen who agreed to take on the very unusual construction request. “It’s anyone’s guess why InnerConn Technology chose to build such unusual buildings,” Mikkelsen told PinalCentral.com in an October 2017 article, “though the business owners from California did seem to be eccentric.” Eccentric or not, Mikkelsen took on a very unusual project which would never see completion. So, how were these manufacturing domes, or bubbles, built?
According to Mikkelsen, the crew used large inflatable balloons with steel frames erected on the outside of the balloons to form the domes' inside shapes. Then they entered the inside of the balloon and sprayed several inches of foam insulation on the inside followed by a thin layer of concrete. Another layer of concrete was added to the outside of the domes to create their outer layer. Each of the four domes took six weeks to manufacture at a cost of $150,00 each.
One of the domed buildings was shaped like a flying saucer and was slated to become InnerConn’s main office building. The other three buildings were more of a caterpillar shape with each being constructed from four smaller domes. The site also has a series of narrow tunnels underground that were planned for use as ventilation shafts as well as to supply manufacturing liquids throughout the facilities. In all, plans called for seven buildings but three were left uncompleted with their remains basically only visible by air.
So, why were the other three buildings not finished? Very simply put, Zebb and InnerConn ran out of cash before they would see their new manufacturing plant in operation. InnerConn was obviously already in financial trouble when they made plans to exit California for State 48, and it didn’t take very long before they defaulted on their construction loan and the bank took control of the Domes' property as well as their business operations. As a result, the Domes were abandoned and left to waste away in the Arizona sun.
As with most abandoned properties, this quickly became a place for locals to dump their trash and useless household items, as well as a place for teenagers to hang out to drink and do drugs, graffiti artists to ply their trade, and UFO hunters looking to catch a glimpse of a real spacecraft (although this one confuses me as it was just a spacecraft shaped building). Over the following decades, the domes would start to crumble and decay. With so much activity surrounding these abandoned buildings, it didn’t take long for stories of ghosts and conspiracy theories to spread like wildfire.
Visitors to the domes reported hearing unusual sounds and seeing strange ghost-like figures and shapes. Some reported hearing children screaming in the distance while others reported being stalked by mysterious figures. Many have reported a feeling of uneasiness when entering the domes, which today are fenced off with no trespassing signs. As for the sounds, they may be able to be explained away as the wind blowing through the holes in the domes and creating weird and unusual noises.
It seems that the Domes were built on old Tohono O’odham and Anasazi burial grounds, something that should have made this land sacred and not allowed construction to occur. According to legend, a Tohono O’odham medicine man placed a curse on the lot. Based on the legend, this curse may have been the reason InnerConn went bankrupt before it could complete the construction.
Other unusual reports from the area surrounding the Domes include malfunctioning electronics, taping noises on vehicles parked nearby on Thornton Road, and being attacked by disembodied hands. There have also been reports that several murdered victims have been buried at the Domes, which given its extreme remoteness in the desert, is very possible.
For decades now, local residents have reported seeing a cult of mysterious robed figures occupying the Domes for Satanic rituals and sacrifices. According to these cultists, the shape of the Domes allows them to easily open portals and summon demons from other dimensions. Reports have also stated that some of the cult members sacrificed both animals and Humans during their rituals here, a claim that may be true given the police have found remains of a dog here as well as several human body parts. Some people have also claimed to be followed home by demonic apparitions following their visits.
Despite the strange background of the Domes and the reports of satanic rituals at the site, the Domes remain a popular hangout for underage drinking, as well as a popular spot for tourists to stop at as they are passing through the area. In 2017, Pinal County ordered that the site be demolished and cleared by the new owner. While tearing down these buildings and removing the debris that is accumulating around the crumbling site was necessary, a long drawn-out court battle would ensue over the future of this site. Given the buildings’ current state during our visit, complete demolition was needed before someone got seriously hurt here.
The Domes were finally demolished on January 9, 2023, a few months following our visit. The decision came following a year-long court battle which eventually ruled that destruction was necessary for public safety. It's too bad that no one come up with a solution to save this piece of history before it became a complete public nuisance.
With that, we will wrap things up for another week’s travels. Let’s get back on our magic bus and make our way back to the Phoenix west valley. We thank you for riding along with us on our weekly travels and look forward to your joining us again on next week’s trip to another amazing place in the Great State 48.
Until then, please be sure to comment on our articles, share our posts with your friends and family, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linked In to have our other posts and photos delivered directly to your newsfeeds. Peace!
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