The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Thursday, October 1, 2026
George Van Tassel financed the construction of the Integratron by organizing and hosting UFO conventions, which were highly popular in the 1950s and 60s. These events attracted thousands of attendees and helped fund the project's development.
“The thing that paid for the Integratron were these UFO conventions. It's massively popular back in the 50s and 60s. And... You know, at one point there, there was, you know, up to 15, 20,000 people that would come out to giant rock.”
“George started throwing annual UFO conventions, like some of the very first ever thrown. He was the main draw, but they kind of took on a life of their own.”