Arizona is pretty well-known for being home to ruins and ghost towns. Review any "Things to do in Arizona" list and you will find plenty of recommendations for abandoned places to roam and explore. But what about those places that are off limits, the ones with large "No Trespassing" signs spread out every fifty feet down a barbed wire fence? Today, we're going to take a look at one such place; the domes at Casa Grande.

Editor’s Note: As of January 2023, the Casa Grande Domes are no longer standing, having been torn down following a lengthy legal and safety advisory process. However, Casa Grande-area visitors should definitely check out this historic hotel to see a completely different side of AZ architecture.

A quick search for the place on Google maps elicits a view of what appears to be a broken catepillar resting in pieces along a series of small washes. A round head sits next to pieces of a thorax and abdomen strewn behind it, as well as ghosted outlines for where other parts could have or, in this case, should have sat.

As with any strange, long abandoned area, assumptions and rumors abound for possible origins of the structures. Everyone has their own story, ranging from alleged hauntings to the perfect site for cult happenings to smuggling and trafficking activity. In truth, though, the domes have a much more humble story.

In 1982, InnerConn Technology began preparations to move their headquarters from Mountain View, California to the then very rural Casa Grande. This included establishing an electronics manufacturing and assembly plant on the site for circuit boards, which in turn could have brought a promising economic increase for the area. That summer, the company broke ground and began celebrations for their perceived future with a mid-summer luncheon.

However, not long after the champagne stopped flowing and the buffet trays were cleaned, the company defaulted on their loan for the property but not after several buildings were established and an office briefly opened. The Union Bank of California owned the land and buildings from 1983 until 2006 when a local communications company took ownership of the property.

In those 32 years, however, little progress was ever made on the property, save for owners installing fencing to keep explorers, bored teens, and vandals alike from entering. That hasn't stopped them. While some have used the area for art and commercial projects after obtaining permission from the owners, it also has been known to be a site for less savory activities like underage drinking and homeless squatting.

Today the site continues to sit in its abandoned, delapidated state with trepassing warnings scattered about. How long will they continue to stand? Who knows. For now, they continue to attract those looking for a simple fright or to momentarily feel close to something that appears otherworldly.

Instead of risking trespassing charges, check out the video below for an intimate look at the haunting beauty of these domes and find out why they continue to intrigue more than three decades after construction.