A decommissioned nuclear missile silo deep beneath the Kansas landscape has been transformed into a spooky Airbnb.
The former weapons base at $300 per night is located in the Smoky Hills and sleeps up to four people.
The site was built in 1959 and remained active until 1965 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Today, visitors are offered the chance to get up close and personal with the Cold War relic while still enjoying modern conveniences, including a TV, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker.
Pictures show the whimsical abode, which is accessed via an ominous concrete door that leads underground.
A decommissioned nuclear missile silo deep beneath the Kansas landscape has been transformed into a spooky Airbnb
The former weapons base at $300 per night is located in the Smoky Hills and has room for up to four people
Inside, the comfort of the king-size bed clashes with the austere gray color scheme and metalwork throughout the structure
Inside, the comfort of the king-size bed clashes with the austere gray color scheme and metalwork throughout the structure.
“Over the last year, I’ve been working diligently on power washing, demolition and rebuilding it into a destination where people can actually stay,” owner Matthew Fulkerson told KSN. ‘I’m still finishing the lower areas.’
The bunker sits on a 24-acre campground and offers additional overnight accommodations, but Fulkerson encourages all visitors to take a tour.
“Most (missile silos) are abandoned or in private hands,” he added. ‘This is a very unique experience you can hardly find anywhere else in the world.’
Located just off I-70 near the town of Wilson in Ellsworth County, the Atlas F Missile Base provides the perfect location for exploring nearby Wilson State Park.
Fulkerson describes it as a ‘hidden gem for tourism’ due to its proximity to one of the state’s largest lakes.
But when it was built, the bunker was designed to hold nuclear deterrents.
The structure was created in response to Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union.
Owner Matthew Fulkerson describes it as a ‘hidden gem for tourism’ due to its proximity to one of the state’s largest lakes
The bunker is located on a 24-hectare campsite and offers additional accommodation
More than 70 Atlas F missile silos were built in the United States, many of which are on the Great Plains
More than 70 Atlas F Missile Silos were built in the United States, many of which are on the Great Plains.
The site cost $12.8 million to build then, equivalent to more than $120 million today.
Fulkerson bought the property in 2013 with the help of an investor and has been developing it ever since.
He received additional funding from Airbnb through its OMG! The Foundation, which awards $100,000 to 100 hosts with unique characteristics.
“I hope to have my full-fledged RV park with water and electric hookups and high-speed Internet ready for the 2024 season,” Fulkerson said.
‘Future plans include a wellness center for massage and sauna. A gift shop with a gourmet coffee shop and wine/whiskey bar, campground showers and laundry facilities, and an event center for hosting larger events.
‘I have some big visions and dreams for the future development of the site.’
Fulkerson bought the property in 2013 with the help of an investor and has been developing it ever since
The missile silo is a huge structure with an inside diameter of 52′ approximately 180′ deep.
Future plans include a wellness center for massages and sauna, a gift shop with a gourmet coffee bar and wine/whiskey bar
The missile silo is a huge structure with an inside diameter of 52′ approximately 180′ deep.
Originally, there were nine floors built inside the silo, approximately 2,000 square meters each.
Today, most of the Atlas F silos have been salvaged, leaving only the structural walls, according to Fulkerson’s website.