By Tim Binnall
As part of an ongoing celebration of its place in conspiracy theory lore, the Denver International Airport has created an animatronic gargoyle that talks to travelers. The facility has long been the subject of rumors and innuendo suggesting that it housed a secret underground hub for all manner of sinister forces, such as the Illuminati or Reptilian aliens. These tales were largely relegated to the realm of urban legend and fringe researchers until the airport decided to embrace their odd reputation back in 2016 with a temporary art installation about conspiracies connected to the location.
The airport subsequently doubled down on the idea last year when they launched a conspiracy-themed ad campaign about renovations at the site. And, now, they've taken it a step further by replacing their iconic gargoyle statues, which are often cited as a 'clue' that the location has occult underpinnings, with a robotic replica that chats up unsuspecting people nearby.
In an amusing video released by the airport showcasing their new attraction, the "243-year-old" faux statue can be seen surprising travelers as it suddenly comes to life and begins cracking jokes about conspiracy theories or roasting passengers. While those who believe that the facility really does house some kind of clandestine base for nefarious forces may argue that the gargoyle is merely an attempt at discrediting the idea, anything that makes the tediousness of airport travel a little more tolerable is alright by us.