Nuclear past persists with missile silo up for grabs, as property transactions fail to wipe clean the military history
In a surprising turn of events, a decommissioned Atlas F missile silo, part of the United States' first operational generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), has been listed for sale on Zillow. The property, located at 1441 N. 260th Road, Lincoln, Kansas, offers a unique blend of history and potential for redevelopment.
During the early 1960s, these Atlas F missile silos were a critical component of the United States' nuclear deterrence strategy. They housed the SM-65F Atlas nuclear missile, capable of delivering a 4.5-megaton nuclear warhead, a destructive power more than 250 times that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The Atlas F variant was unique in that the missile was stored vertically underground and raised by a hydraulic elevator to the surface for fueling and launch. However, this process made the missile vulnerable, taking about 10 minutes for the launch procedure. With advancements in missile technology, the Atlas F system was retired by 1965 and replaced by faster Minuteman missiles.
Despite being decommissioned, these silos are not just Cold War relics but living artifacts of a strategy the United States and other nuclear-armed countries have yet to relinquish. After decommissioning, many silos, including specific ones in Kansas, have been sold or repurposed, often as private properties.
The property at 1441 N. 260th Road, Lincoln, KS, is rebranded as Rolling Hills Missile Silo and is marketed as a potential party venue, art gallery, climate-controlled wine cellar, mushroom farm, Airbnb, and more. The listing highlights the property's unique features, such as a private driveway and underground temperatures between 54 and 62 degrees Fahrenheit, referred to as "nature's free HVAC."
However, the Zillow listing does not mention the original military purpose, the power of the warhead, or the terror that surrounded these sites. The property includes twin above-ground concrete pads, 75-ton blast doors, and an escape hatch, remnants of its Cold War past.
The property is priced at $520 per square foot, and it is stated that it is "NOT your typical fixer upper" and is "waiting for your vision." While the listing does not emphasize the nuclear threat embodied by the property, its unique history and potential for redevelopment make it an intriguing prospect for those seeking a one-of-a-kind property.
[1] Sources: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Smithsonian Magazine, Arms Control Association, and Zillow listing for 1441 N. 260th Road, Lincoln, Kansas.
[1] The unique property listed on Zillow, a decommissioned Atlas F missile silo, was once part of the United States' first generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), capable of delivering a destructive power more than 250 times that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
[2] The property's historic significance goes beyond being just a relic of the Cold War, as it represents a strategy that nuclear-armed countries still have not relinquished.
[3] Despite the property's dark past, potential buyers are drawn to its unique features such as the twin concrete pads, 75-ton blast doors, and an escape hatch, and the opportunity for redevelopment into various business ventures such as a party venue, art gallery, climate-controlled wine cellar, or even a mushroom farm.
[4] The Californian real estate market might have diverse investment opportunities, but this Kansas missile silo, priced at $520 per square foot, offers a real estate investment with a uniqueness that's hard to come by. In the realm of finance and investing, this real-estate property presents an opportunity for unusual and potentially profitable ventures.
