Simple Flying
Victoria Agrosky
18 October 2026
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) has uncovered a 50-ton boulder buried approximately 30 feet (9 meters) beneath its airfield, turning an unexpected construction discovery into a public naming contest, according to CBS News Chicago. The rock was found during excavation work for a stormwater management facility connected to the airport’s ambitious ORDNext expansion project.
After receiving nearly 3,000 public suggestions, the City of Chicago announced six finalists on October 16, 2026, and opened online voting to decide the boulder’s official name. The winning entry will eventually be displayed alongside the enormous rock in a new airport exhibit.
The shortlisted names are:
Sweet Stone Chicago
No ORDinary Rock
Chicago Rocks
O'Rock
Orchard Rock
Da Rock...
