We hopped from Big Brutus to an overnight stay with power available at a dairy farm just outside Hutchinson, Kansas, a lovely place with lots of dairy and meat products for sale.
We just had to include the picture of us stopped here……it’s just so…..Kansas…!!! Don’t you think….!!!
It was a lovely quiet spot…..well….farm quiet…..just animal noise…no traffic noise….
A peaceful overnight stop….with 50 amp power (keeps the A/C running) and farm fresh products (meat, dairy and honey)available for purchase.
We also met the neighbours….LOL…lovely couple came and knocked on our door….fellow Airstreamers dropped in to say hello and brought us cookies….😋
I was very pleased with myself for not planning too far ahead on this part of the trip……and having started with no great expectations of Kansas….Boondockers Welcome threw up another intriguing spot just outside Wilson, Kansas. The Atlas Ad Astra missile silo. Camping available on site and tours of the decommissioned missile silo……well…..that sounds like a spot….!!!
The weather was still a bit too warm to leave the fuzzball without A/C…so I booked a campsite at an RV campground in the nearby town of Wilson (and that’s a whole ‘nother story..stay tuned..!!!) and we drove out to the missile silo.
The last part of the road was like something from and apocalyptic movie set…..
We were glad to not have the trailer behind us…(it was rough…!!!)
So….first thing next morning…bright and early we met up with Matt….Under the metal hat is the emergency exit, the underside of which you’ll see later. On the right is the main entrance and the lower left is the main missile doors, once again photos of the underside later.
This exceptional human has spent the last ten years restoring and repurposing this incredible piece of American history purchased from the U.S Government. His story is as fascinating as the history of the silo itself, a real project of passion.
There were 12 Atlas missile silos built in Kansas in the late 1950’s, opened in the 1960’s during the cold war in response to fear of nuclear attacks. There is a comprehensive explanation of the history on Matts website …click here. Incoming missiles arrived with around 40 minutes warning, it took 30 mins to raise the missile and launch.
The construction of these things was of such high quality that, other than having been stripped out when they were decommissioned, the structures themselves show very little deterioration considering how old they are.
Below left is the top of the escape hatch, and on the right the back up radio mast. Radio communication to the silos was essential to maintain, especially after an attack, so should the main antenna be destroyed the back up would rise out of the ground once it was safe to re-establish contact.
As you descend into the chambers it’s striking how fresh the air is…..and how roomy it feels……tho maybe that’s only cos we knew we were not going to have to stay there for an indefinite time…..
Below left, doors were shaped to dissipate the force of the blast, should it ever arrive.
It’s surprisingly light and bright…….and the blast resistant doors are huge and heavy…….
This level has been converted into a complete living space…and beautifully done, actually available as an Air BnB….you can book this and stay here….and you would not be slumming….!!!
The middle picture and the one on the right show the bottom of the escape hatch as built in the original silo.
The original control panel is still in situ…..but with all the electronics stripped out by the government….Matts future plans include revamping this panel with modern screens and controls.
In order to weather the anticipated blast….all the floors in the silo are suspended on springs inside the main’tube’of the construction and not connected to the walls…..
The connecting tunnels lead you through to the other half of the silo….this one has been completely stripped…allowing you to see the vastness of the structure….and a view of the underside of the launch doors. You can see the springs on the walls where the structure for raising the missile was attached.
The bottom of this shaft has flooded over the years as water has seeped in through the concrete, he estimated the water at 70′-90′ deep…..you can see the humidity in this section….Matt demonstrated the point by emptying the humidifier tray and tossing the water down into the dark….
As we made our way back out…Matt suggested that I try closing the door ….just to see how powerfully heavy….and expertly engineered it is….Still working perfectly 65 years later.
We don’t usually do the selfies….but he offered to do a pic for us….it’s not everyday you find yourself deep underground in a cold war missile silo.
Back outside again….the ventilation shaft air intake bottom left, it could be closed in the event of an attack……the outside of the launch doors…..and the old base of the transmission tower top right ….
Matts grand plans are to turn this place into an educational centre and include constructing proper full service RV sites…. an incredibly beautiful spot with terrific views of the surrounding landscape.
We also got the explanation for the condition of the road in. It’s the original road built by the military way back when the installation was being constructed……The municipalities response to being asked to tend the road (to support this historical landmark and local tourist attraction) was to erect the sign stating that the road was not maintained…..!!!
Even if you are not in the area….this is a visit that is well worth the price of admission….and if you are looking for a cause to support…..consider making a donation.
Extra Pix
OsteoPraxis on the road 