Denver International Airport Is Ready for Your Close-Up

I thought I was hallucinating when I flew into Denver late last Sunday night and ran past a tiny grove of aspen trees on Concourse A on my way to the train. Turns out, I had just had a close encounter with one of Denver International Airport's latest amenities: "Wish You Were Here" photo ops.

The brand-spanking-new installations join the original Mile High tableau in the Jeppesen Terminal, where visitors have been able to put themselves in a postcard-perfect Denver scene for years. Now concourses A and C each have a station, while two are located on the B Concourse. The scenes include that Concourse A hike through Rocky Mountain National Park featuring 3D boulders and trees; a winter wonderland atop a Colorado mountain with simulated peaks and a mountain goat; relaxing on a dock by a Colorado lake featuring a real canoe and chairs; a large photo of the famous "Mustang," and that classic Denver cityscape.

“Denver and Colorado are amazing destinations and we know that passengers are eager to share their experience upon arriving in our airport,” said airport CEO Kim Day in announcing the new program.  “The ‘Wish You Were Here’ sets depict quintessential Colorado scenes and provide an opportunity to take a memorable photo at the airport and share it with the world on social media.”

The stations, part of the twentieth anniversary celebration of DIA, will remain in place through next February; the airport is encouraging you to share photos on social media using #DEN20. But fair warning: If you were planning to just fake a summer vacation by hitting up DIA for some photo ops, the only one available without a ticket is the Mile High tableau...and you can recreate that simply by visiting City Park.

A few photo ops, courtesy DIA: