The Domes at Casa Grande

Posted: 01.25.2021 | Updated: 10.16.2025

Just south of Casa Grande lies a group of eerie structures known as The Domes. The collection of round concrete buildings have been abandoned for nearly thirty years and are a curiosity to both tourists and Pinal County locals alike.

The Domes are shrouded in mystery with all sorts of folklore. They’re regarded by passersby as a roadside stopover, a cool place to explore and take a few photos. But some say the place has a dark past and a haunted present.

Keep reading to uncover the morbid mysteries of the Casa Grande Domes. When you are ready to visit abandoned and scary places in Arizona for yourself, book a Phoenix ghost tour with Phoenix Ghosts!

Are the Domes at Casa Grande Haunted?

Local teenagers use the remote location to stage bonfires and drinking parties. But those who are familiar with the Domes say that the site is home to something far more sinister.

• Many visitors report seeing ghosts and hearing voices.
• Others say they hear tapping sounds on their vehicles when approaching the location.
• The Domes may even be frequented by Satanists, who perform rituals and animal sacrifices there.

Because of the numerous spooky stories surrounding the Domes, many locals and tourists alike belive it is a haunted place.

Origin of The Domes

The origins of the Domes are actually fairly benign. In 1982, an electronics company called InnerConn Technology announced its move from California to Arizona. InnerConn manufactured circuit boards for computers and watches. The company was preparing to make it big during the coming tech boom. The owner of  Innerconn, Patricia Zebb, decided on the dome design because it was cheap, quick to build, and would help with temperature regulation in the hot Arizona sun.

Giant balloons served as the foundation, with steel frames built around them. The balloons were coated with polyurethane foam, which hardened to create a layer several inches thick. Construction crews then poured the concrete over the frame. Another layer of concrete made the outer shell of the structure. Each building took about six weeks to build and cost about $150,000 each.

There are four structures in total. The main office building is shaped like a flying saucer. The other three are long and caterpillar-like in appearance, each being made of four smaller domes. A network of narrow tunnels runs under the site, intended to serve as ventilation shafts, which also pump manufacturing fluids around the complex.

There were supposed to be seven buildings in all, but three were left unfinished. The foundation for these buildings is still visible and easily seen from the air. The shape bears a resemblance to the three other caterpillar-like buildings, indicating that they were also used for manufacturing.

Unfortunately for Patricia Zebb and InnerConn Technologies, the money ran dry. They defaulted on a loan, and their bank took control of the company’s assets. Land surveyors also discovered that the groundwater in the area was contaminated, further cementing the facility’s bleak future. The Domes remained an unfinished project, left to rot in the Arizona desert.

Urban Decay

The Domes became a permanent fixture in the desert just south of Casa Grande. They’re the only thing visible amongst the huge expanse of flat land. Like many abandoned buildings, the Domes quickly became a haven for graffiti artists and drunk teenagers.

Locals also used the location as an illegal dumping ground, leaving behind tires, furniture, and hazardous waste. Since it is the Southwest, the Domes also attract a steady stream of UFO hunters looking to catch an alien spacecraft.

Over the years, the concrete on the Domes began to weaken and fall apart. There are holes in the ceiling. On a few of the buildings, most of the outer concrete shell has fallen off, exposing the polyurethane coating. The inside walls were painted with graffiti.

The remote location made it an ideal place for parties, raves, underage drinking, and drug use. With so much traffic and unusual activity, the ghost stories and conspiracy theories began to spread like wildfire.

Strange Encounters at the Domes

The land where the Domes stand was once a burial ground site for the Anasazi tribe, ancestors of the modern Pueblo. People from the Tohono O’odham tribe also occupy reservations near the area. Originally from the Gulf of California, they were moved to Arizona over the years. A medicine man from the Tohono O’odham supposedly cursed the lot, which may have been the catalyst that caused InnerConn to go bankrupt.

On windy nights, the holes in the concrete coupled with the structure’s unusual shape make an unusual howling sound. The eerie noise scares away most visitors. Many say they feel a sense of uneasiness and panic upon entering the Domes.

The location also abounds with ghost stories. Visitors report unusual sounds and strange figures lurking around the site. Some have heard children screaming in the distance. Others have been stalked by mysterious figures. Those brave enough to visit at night might hear someone faintly whispering in their ear.

Other unusual occurrences have been reported, such as malfunctioning electronics, tapping and knocking noises on vehicles parked nearby on Thornton Road, and being attacked by disembodied hands. Some theorize that strange electromagnetic phenomena may be to blame.

There are supposedly a few murder victims buried at the Domes; considering the remoteness, the possibility is a real one. Many say that the strange figures seen wandering around may very well be the ghosts of the murder victims, or worse, the murderers themselves.

Dark Rituals

According to the locals, the Domes also attract occultists. Witnesses say that a cult of mysterious robed figures uses the Domes to perform blood rituals and sacrifices in an attempt to channel energy from the shape of the structure. The occultists have claimed that the unique shape allows them to open portals and summon demons from another dimension.

According to some, the cults not only sacrificed animals in their rituals but humans as well. There is some evidence to back this up. Police have found the remains of a dog in the Domes, as well as parts of a human body stuffed into a plastic bag.

A few visitors say they have been followed home by demonic apparitions after leaving. They claim to have been slowly driven insane by a mysterious dark force that lingered after spending some time at the Domes. It’s possible that the satanic cult may have succeeded in opening a dark portal and have summoned some otherworldly demon.

Lasting Fascination

Despite the stories and folklore, the Domes remain a hangout spot and an interesting stopover for tourists. The graffiti and architecture make it a popular location for photoshoots and drone photographers.

Unfortunately, the Domes are destined for demolition. In 2017 the Pinal County government ordered the site to be cleared, and with good reason. Piles of hazardous waste and a crumbling foundation means that it’s a liability for the municipality. Given the drug use and underage drinking parties, someone’s bound to get hurt. The Domes and the surrounding areas are a safety hazard and a disaster waiting to happen. One of the buildings has already collapsed.

Though no steps have been taken toward demolition, local law enforcement monitors the Domes. Tresspassers may face a fine or arrest if they are caught.

Haunted Arizona

The Domes at Casa Grande are only one of the many haunted places in Arizona. This is a weird place, with lots to see and even more that goes unseen… Cowboys, native burial sites, UFOs, and of course ghosts: the Grand Canyon State has it all.

Feeling brave enough to explore Arizona urban legends and ghost stories in person? Book a ghost tour with Phoenix Ghosts today, and prepare yourself for a fun and frightening adventure!

Discover authentic haunted places in more than 150 cities: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more spooky stories. Keep reading our blog for more real hauntings from the Valley of the Sun.

 Sources:

• https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/07/ghosts-and-high-strangeness-at-arizonas-haunted-domes/
• https://abandonedway.com/2020/12/the-domes-of-casa-grande-a-mysterious-abandoned-place-in-arizona/
• http://www.placesthatwere.com/2015/11/mysterious-abandoned-casa-grande-domes.html
• https://netflixlife.com/2019/05/23/ghost-adventures-casa-grande-domes/