PINAL

Abandoned Arizona 'Domes' still frighten, fascinate

Shari Rose
The Republic I azcentral.com
The unfinished Domes as they were built in 1982. They're found to the side of Thornton Road in Casa Grande.

Once a cutting-edge electronics manufacturing plant, the abandoned group of domed structures found off Interstate 8 is the center of teenage shenanigans and rumors of the supernatural.

Built by InnerConn Technology Inc. in 1982, the factory was left unfinished on the side of Thornton Road in Casa Grande when the California-based company went bankrupt more than 30 years ago.

Blogs report that the structures, known locally as the "Domes," attract supernatural enthusiasts from around the country who believe the abandoned plant is haunted. Some theorists swear they have seen a shadowy figure and heard whispering noises, sounds of children screaming and footsteps.

Other online theories suggest some members of a coven practice rituals in the Domes by burning animal carcasses and household objects.

The Domes remain a topic of interest to people around the country. Many travel to the location to share their experience on Internet blogs and forums. The online community continues to be fascinated by the possibility of a haunting or even an alien presence in the structures.

By and large, however, the Domes reportedly serve as a hub of underage drinking and teenage graffiti. Much of the debris in the structures are broken glass bottles, food wrappers and burned household objects.

Casa Grande residents Daniel and Karon Peer bought the property in 2006. To handle the flow of illegal trespassers, they built a short wire fence around the Domes; however, the site reportedly remains a popular meeting spot for locals.

According to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, there have been 23 calls to law enforcement regarding the Domes. Most crimes cited were traffic violations, though vandalism and the presence of suspicious vehicles were also reported.