If you are new to WebUrbanist, click here to sign up for the RSS feed and take a look through our archives and galleries
(Check out our complete collection of 100+ Abandoned Buildings, Places and Property.)
Missile silos might be the world’s most amazing abandonments. There is something about their immense scale, implicit secrecy, loaded history and and underground location that makes them an exciting target for urban exploration. Here are some fascinating examples of deserted silos one can visit and even purchase!
One set of intrepid building infiltrators set about breaking into the above missile silo (location undisclosed) at risk of both personal injury and federal penalty. Despite their retroactive warnings not to follow their example, these adventurers produced an amazing photo-documentary of their journey. As you navigate their website, it becomes a kind of choose-your-own-adventure tale allowing you to pick your path.
The Minuteman Missile Tour exists at the opposite end of the legal spectrum, providing a fun and interesting but completely safe and legitimate tour through an abandoned missile complex. Located in South Dakota, annual summer tours regularly fill completely with people who are curious about America’s past and the days of the Cold War, when fears of Mutually Assured Destruction haunted the country’s psyche. Also be out this amazing collection of missiles, rockets and other weapons.
Last but not least, it is even possible to buy your own abandoned missile silo and associated complex! Even better: you can do so from the comfort of your computer via eBay for 15 million dollars. Of course, you may have have to sell your house to afford the $300,000 downpayment, but wouldn’t it be worth it? The people who bought one and converted it into a luxury home with a private landing strip certainly thought so (below) as well as the retired couple living in one shown in this video.
Check Out These Great Related Articles:
7 Abandoned Cities and Towns of the World
Check out these urban abandonments of the post-modern world.
Urban Exploration and Building Infiltration Images and Resources
Here are some great urban exploration photo collections and other links related to building infiltration and draining.
7 More American Abandoned Towns & Cities
Ever see an impressive derelict structure and wonder just how a building so elegant, sizable or centrally located could be abandoned?
13 Comments
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 am
Truly amazing abandonments! If I had the money I’d totally buy one!
November 4th, 2007 at 3:57 am
wow… I really like such stories of underground/unknown spaces and the interest of different people in it. any examples of people using silos as homes? yup $300,000 sounds really steep, wonder if there such things in India and what they would cost…
November 4th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Very interesting post. I watched discovery channel a bit ago to learn about the minute man, and it made me wonder if there were any other things similar! Thanks for the post.
November 5th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I want one to be my art studio! too bad they are so expensive… I’m poor =[
December 19th, 2007 at 11:41 am
back in 96 i think it was i was privileged to go along on an exploration of an abandoned missile silo in idaho somewhere. don’t have a clue how we got there and couldn’t get there again. i also heard that some of them were being used to store bio-hazardous waste later on. A shame, it was one of the most amazing things i have ever done. There were signs everywhere stating ‘buddy system beyond this point’ and ‘Danger, open pit’ There was a very scary climb down in the dark 5 or 6 stories down ladders and steep stairs and then a LONG tunnel continuing deeper still for a 100 or more yards. Awesome experience!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
More stolen pictures on this web page too.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Great info!
Gr,
Bart
http://www.urban-travel.org
Trackbacks
What do you think? Leave a comment!