When I was six we lived in Navy housing next to a Nike site (San Pedro). My older brothers went in there a couple times, and I always wanted to go with them, but it wasn't safe, even then. I don't think the site exists anymore. From that early age, I was amazed with the idea of underground missile sites, and the Nike has always fascinated me. Thanks so much for this video!
I was only able to find a very limited amount of info on these old bases and my curiosity finally got the best of me. I saw the radar facility as well (located on the ridge of Oat Mtn) and wished I could have seen this place when it was operational...
I worked on these systems during my active duty days (1963 - 1967). There were a number of these old Nike-Hercules Army bases throughout the country.They were designed and operated by the US Army with the first ones installed in New York and Boston. They were referred to as the Missile Master (MMS) System. I took my training at Fort Bliss, Texas and the total traing program to repair the computers was about 8 months long. The Los Angeles MMS HQ was located at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro. The 16 "bases" are actually individual missile batteries and while each battery could only fire on missile at a time together you could fire 16 missiles at the incoming bombers. Because they drilled constantly they could fire the second missile within minutes. I was assigned to the Chicago facility between 1964 -1966. The Chicago MMS HQ was located in Arlington Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) with batteries as far north as Milwaukee (WI) and as far south as Gary (IN). In 1967 my last assignment was the St Louis system on "Turkey Hill" near Belleville, Illinois ( Scott Air Force base was our supply location). They were beginning to Phase out the Army system back then and replacing them with Hawk missile systems which were smaller, less costly and more efficient while the Air Force focused on ballistic missiles and fighter jets . I believe all of the MMS main control centers are gone now while thr batteries are as you see them now (when they still exist). As to the jets and, meaning no disrespect to anyone, the North American F-86 Sabre (subsequently replaced by the Boeing F-100 Super Sabre) was designed in the late 1940's and saw combat in Korea from 1950-1953 against the Soviet built Mig-15, long before the MMS was designed and operational. The Air Force which became its own branch of Service in 1953 (prior to that it was the US Army Air Corps) developed their missiles as offensive (ballistic) weapons while the Nike-Hercules was the most powerful defensive weapon. Not trying to be a "know it all" but having lived and worked through that era, it brings back a number of fond memories.
Robert Brode Robert, Very insightful comments on your part! I live in Brea Calif not far from the location of the former Nike Herc site known as LA-29. Sir,, thank you for your service for our country. Jim Busbin, US Army, Retired 5th SFG (ABN), Laos, Thailand and Nam (71-75)
Robert Brode Thank you for your service! In Jacksonville, we don't have these but there is a place in cecil field. Yellow water weapons facility. they used to store nuclear weapons in these huge earthen bunkers. Check it out :)
+Robert Brode The Air Force became an independent branch in 1947. The F-100 was built by North American. There was a Missile Master blockhouse near my home (Seattle,WA) up to a few years ago. It was torn down. That was the only chance I had to get a look inside. I well remember the piping system on the roof to wash away radioactive fallout.
I was the assembly sargeant for one of the 4 sites at Minneapolis-St. Paul in 1968-1969. The radar control area is in used today for private use, but the underground missile ranges are is all covered but still locked up. The assembly and warhead buildings, and guard barracks are still there.
of all the urbex vids of old missle bases and silos, bro you get a thumbs up for being the most informative. i understand in a way why sites are kept secret but there are some "real" people on other sides of the world who would like to do just what you did, just look. Hats off to you bro!
I grew up on a nike site in Massachusetts in the sixties, as a young man, I got to go down and do inspections with my dad (cw4), my whole family lived at this remote site and guess what, I ended up in the army as a missle control officer for hawk and later patriot missle systems.
Brett Delarios I get you Brett, but in Uncle Sam's eyes all that garbage IS invisible and will only be cleaned by third parties or junk scavengers. the recycling of the metal alone would be valuable. One mans garbage is another mans....
I found one site just like this in Gaithersburg Maryland 20+ years ago. Now there is a army reserve building in front along the highway but if you go on the right side of the reserve building you can drive through a corn field right to the back gate which was unlocked the last time I was there. Boy that place had a LOT of big copper wire cables that were dead. :)
Great video - thanks for the tour! I've lived in LA/OC area all my life, heard about these Nike bases from my Dad & Uncles (WW-II vets) but haven't ever actually been to one. Yet.
I've been here multiple times, the first time I went was probably around 4 years ago. The only real advice I can give is watch out for rattlesnakes there are a ton, the main door that he went down into is now welded shut as well but different parts of the underground section are open.
Great video. I was actually stationed at the Malibu site from 71 to 73, a year before it closed. They were preparing to shut it down and turn it over to the fire dept. Being a kid I wasn't paying attention to what was going on but I have come to assume these sites were phased out because of one of the disarmament treaties with the Soviet Union. It had been used as a marine base in one of the Planet of the Apes movies as well as a couple episodes of TV shows. Mannix was filmed when I was there. I went back to check it out a couple of years later and saw the launch area had been destroyed. I found an areal photo of it recently on another website. Sadly it wasn't recognizable. It would be nice to see a video on that one posted.
Thanks for sharing this. There were several Nike SAM Sites in the SF Bay Area as well. One directly across the Bay from where Facebook's headquarters are now.Only one base remains as a museum in the Marin Headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Good video! I have been to all of the Los Angeles Nike bases (or at least their former locations...several of them were buried or built over), but only actually inside one...the former Ajax base in Palos Verdes. Funny thing though, they were'nt all THAT secret =) A few of them were well within civilian view, most notably LA-96 (Sepulveda basin on Victory) and LA-43 (White Point). To keep folks from freaking out, they would announce drill days in advance, posting in newspapers and on news radio. My dad took us to watch drills at both places back in the late 60s. The one that is most intact in Los Angeles is LA-78 above Malibu, now a LACFD facility. Another one that is easy to visit is LA-94 at Bear Divide above Sylmar...another LACFD facility. A list of all of the Los Angeles area launch and radar sites can be found here:www.ftmac.org/lanike3.htm Have yet to visit the facility/museum in San Francisco, SF-88
These sites were placed in number around any location considered to be a bombing target in the Cold War days. (Transportation hubs, industrial centers, anything of strategic value.) These Batteries held Nike Ajax, and Hercules missiles. Although no one would allow anybody to wander around them, the Sites were well known to locals. It was fairly common to see missiles in the launch position during Drills, or maintenance. Many Sites have been stripped by the Corp of Engineers, and filled with concrete. (probably to meet the terms of some treaty or other.)
Very informative video and comments by Robert. Would like to mention that while it is true that this type of anti-bomber defense was becoming somewhat obsolescent by 1971 (when it was de-commissioned) it was actually the SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) that began in 1969 between the then USSR and the USA, that resulted in not only this site but most of the others like it to close down. That was a very strict limit on the number of defensive missile sites that were allowed and the US choose to get rid of the Nike Hercules sites and keep more advanced missile sites elsewhere in the country. Jim Busbin, Brea-Calif
+James Busbin The Nike Missile system was incapable of intercepting ballistic missiles. The threat of an aerial bomber attack from Russia is actually what made the system obsolescent. By the late 1960's they were mostly manned by National Guardsmen, not regular Army.
+MrShobar Never stated this system was capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, rather that the US used the then obsolescent system to meet the numbers game with the USSR on how many missile sites needed to be closed to comply with the terms of SALT 1. Please explain how the threat of a Russian bomber attack made the system obsolescent? That is the reason they were installed in the first place in the 50s'.
We also had them in Europe (West Germany) and Asia (South Korea) well into the 1980's,plus the Germans had them,as well as the French,Belgians,Dutch,Norwegians,Italians,Turks and Greeks. (And those are just the ones off the top of my head??) And we also trained them all here?? (Ft.Bliss,Tx,Redstone Arsenal,Ala)
Whats the security like over there ? do they have anyone guarding or driving around ? i know the gas company is right by there too but theres a road above the gas company that leads to the nike missile site right now it's gated says its orcutt ranch property or some shit but i know theres basically no one up there on that high road right along the mountain ridge
I think that this was an honest john missile defense system. My dad was stationed at one in Holland during the cold war. They were everywhere in the world back then!
No, this was Nike...part of the air defense system for the Los Angeles area. Honest John was a tactical nuclear missile and they deployed it all over Europe in case of a Warsaw Pact attack (a predecessor to Pershing).
@@DrOlds7298 Yes indeed, it was a truck mounted system (M31, M50), purely ballistic with no guidance. After retirement, most of the rocket motors went on to be used in rocket sled tests at various tracks around the US. Some others were used to launch scientific packages into the upper atmosphere.
Yeah kinda creepy though haha. Have you ever been to the very top? Where theres a white building I'm not sure if its abandon or not . Its right ontop of the missile base more high up
I have been to the top only once. It too is also abandoned... In one of the building there's a giant metal door that probably weighs over 1500 pounds that's open. When you walk through the vault like door it leads to a stairway 2 stories down. It is pitch dark down there (where you can't even see your hand in front of your face) and the area is completely cleared out.
What did the LAPD do to you guys? I wanted to check this place out, it looked like an awesome experience. I like abandon places! I'm from San Diego and I love adventures like this. Give me some tips please :)
+Bev Mo There's one in San Diego in Sycamore Canyon that you may have heard of. However, it's on the outskirts of Marine Corps property that has been recently been placed under heavy MP patrol due to ongoing long rifle training. There is a really good chance that you'll end up in cuff and pinned with a heavy fine. I strongly suggest not going there at this time.
Very well done. A fact about military complexes around the country and other places around the world where US military installations are or were, had contaminated all surrounding areas to the extreme of causing to activate the SuperFund Act. It cost millions of dollars to close this facilities. In those days was easier to close them and leave behind everything, but this days is kinda different but the same. They give the land back to the city and they basically remediate under the fund act, so the DOD does not clean after. All they do is to monitor the contamination. Why do you think this country keeps fighting conflicts all over the world? To get rid of their nuclear waste under depleted uranium bullets and so. :)
Last time I was there..I was escorted down the hill by an LAPD helicopter. I want to go back and do some light painting photography. Creepy Crawl with Sobaire Presents - Inside The Underground Missile Silo
Really damn i didnt know that. I saw it from where the missile base was. Seemed like a big white ball shaped buildingg. Have to go back soon to check it out. Do u just continue going up the road?
Definitely worth checking out. Yes you have to go all the way to the top by taking that very old road. The big white ball thing is not part area LA88. That big white ball is channel 7s news weather radar system (Doppler 7000). The view of the valley from that location is top notch!
Oh really so the big white ball isn't abandon? Is there buildings around there that are abandon? And btw has anyone ever kicked you out of there for going?
Correct. The white ball thing is not abandoned and is not very old. There are a handful of video cameras at the top by the doppler radar but never encountered any type of security.
I do enjoy seeing videos of old places like this. One thing I do gotta say is if you guys are going into places like this make sure to wear gas masks and gloves when entering the enclosed areas. At least I would lol
Just a bit of a question... Did you contact the local authorities about entering the site, or did you just go in? I'd ask this because there are NIKE Missile Defense bases around me, and I want to use them as a film location, but I'm not sure about the repercussions that might come if I were to be caught or what-not. I guess if you're filming it's not much of an issue, but regardless. I like to be safe. Also, loved the video.
Hello Brandt and thanks for the compliment. No. I did not get any permission before shooting this video. I had seen other videos done and wanted to make my own. Many people have have accessed this area and the only ones that have got in trouble are some people that tried stealing some of the property. They were caught and arrested. Good luck with your film!
VERY IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE! GOING INTO ABANDONED PLACES. PLEASE WEAR A RESPIRATOR! and throw away clothes. A dust mask is NOT enough and putting on shirt/sweater does less.The reason it may be abandoned, is because of lead, asbestos and other toxic materials. The cost to mitigate / clean the property could be in the multi millions.
+Brett Delarios Yes, the asbestos is a major concern. Never disturb the old dust, especially in areas with old steam pipes! It is unlikely that you would have that asbestos worry there at that location in CA.
rolomatic Z We have asbestos all over California and most military bases have asbestos, lead and other HAZMAT. California was a major military production area, for years, and as a result, there is asbestos and lead in most factories, buildings and homes built before 1980. Asbestos is found in old floor and ceiling tiles, installation and as you stated, old steam pipes.
Seems that the military dont have the funding for a proper cleanup. Here in Canada public pressure forced the govt. to clean up radar sites in the north. Its disgraceful that they can just walk away!
I haven't been up there for over 1 1/2 years so I'm not sure what the security is currently like. I know that a couple was arrested up there within the last year because they were trying to steal stuff. I know the rangers are around and that LAPD fly's over the area quite a bit but other than that I'm really not sure...
I really liked the video, it was well done.I wanted to let you know that th Army should not have evr been there to clean up or for any other reason.The Army doesn't have anything to do with Nuclear Missiles.That would be the Air Force, or the Navy.Other than that...really great.
Yeah, you are most wrong. I was Army in mid 80's and was a Lance Missie Crewman which was the Neutron Bomb. I got to see the last 2 Nike Hercs the US Army ever fired go off in Crete in 84'.
We have 19 bases around DC and Baltimore, all in varying conditions. The ones that are not being used by the communities are unpatrolled and decaying. You can just go right in and it's unlikely that anymore would notice or care. It's still trespassing, but there's nothing secret or valuable left. Most of the underground spaces are full of water, since they fill up over time if there are no pumps to keep them dry.
www.pe.com/articles/-739600--.html I just figured theyd have it locked and secured for no other reasons than safety. We had a similar place near by that was demolished after two kids were murdered. ( see Hawes radio relay site )
Right you are, the link you sent didn't say US Army on it, that I could see, so I looked it up and the Army was in fact in charge of the base.It was an Army base with Air Force personnel attached to it. It was considered an artillery battery, that's where the confusion was for me.Large missiles would nowadays be controlled by the Air Force, but back then, things were different, I found some other sites and info on the project.I was in the Army and we didn't have any airborne craft except helicopters and helicopter mounted missiles. That was from 83-91 Thanks for straightening that out for me. I couldn't wrap my head artound the Army having anything to do with large missiles..here is another one...www.radomes.org/museum/nikeinfo.php
I know it seemed kinda weird to me too that the Army was in charged of this facility. If you watch the video again you will see that even the missiles say U.S. Army on them. :) I really searched for as much info as I could find before making the video and was shocked of the lack of information that was available. That makes sense that the Air Force handled the eyes in the sky. The radar facility was actually in a different location (on the top ridge of Oat Mtn) and that place was cleaned out very well in comparison to the missile base.
Hi thanx for replying, I would buy a proper mask if I was too go in places like that and is it also a nuclear bunker because my friend says that they used it because it can withstand the heat from a nuclear detonation
+Joseph Denny I had a mask on when I went underground. I didn't want to take any chances. I don't think the missile silos could take a direct nuclear hit. These silos were created before nuclear missiles were even existed. The control tower at the top of the mountain had a deep bunker that better off handling a bomb from a soviet bomber.
When I was six we lived in Navy housing next to a Nike site (San Pedro). My older brothers went in there a couple times, and I always wanted to go with them, but it wasn't safe, even then. I don't think the site exists anymore. From that early age, I was amazed with the idea of underground missile sites, and the Nike has always fascinated me. Thanks so much for this video!
I was only able to find a very limited amount of info on these old bases and my curiosity finally got the best of me. I saw the radar facility as well (located on the ridge of Oat Mtn) and wished I could have seen this place when it was operational...
This was most likely the White Point launch facility. It was (is) located on Ft MacArthur. It is now a park and you can walk around the property.
I was stationed there in 1959-60. Brings back a lot of memories. They once filmed an episode of Lassie there.
Very cool Thomas!
I worked on these systems during my active duty days (1963 - 1967). There were a number of these old Nike-Hercules Army bases throughout the country.They were designed and operated by the US Army with the first ones installed in New York and Boston. They were referred to as the Missile Master (MMS) System. I took my training at Fort Bliss, Texas and the total traing program to repair the computers was about 8 months long.
The Los Angeles MMS HQ was located at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro. The 16 "bases" are actually individual missile batteries and while each battery could only fire on missile at a time together you could fire 16 missiles at the incoming bombers. Because they drilled constantly they could fire the second missile within minutes. I was assigned to the Chicago facility between 1964 -1966. The Chicago MMS HQ was located in Arlington Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) with batteries as far north as Milwaukee (WI) and as far south as Gary (IN). In 1967 my last assignment was the St Louis system on "Turkey Hill" near Belleville, Illinois ( Scott Air Force base was our supply location). They were beginning to Phase out the Army system back then and replacing them with Hawk missile systems which were smaller, less costly and more efficient while the Air Force focused on ballistic missiles and fighter jets . I believe all of the MMS main control centers are gone now while thr batteries are as you see them now (when they still exist).
As to the jets and, meaning no disrespect to anyone, the North American F-86 Sabre (subsequently replaced by the Boeing F-100 Super Sabre) was designed in the late 1940's and saw combat in Korea from 1950-1953 against the Soviet built Mig-15, long before the MMS was designed and operational.
The Air Force which became its own branch of Service in 1953 (prior to that it was the US Army Air Corps) developed their missiles as offensive (ballistic) weapons while the Nike-Hercules was the most powerful defensive weapon.
Not trying to be a "know it all" but having lived and worked through that era, it brings back a number of fond memories.
Wow! Great information and thank you for your service Robert!
Robert Brode Robert,
Very insightful comments on your part! I live in Brea Calif not far from the location of the former Nike Herc site known as LA-29.
Sir,, thank you for your service for our country.
Jim Busbin, US Army, Retired 5th SFG (ABN), Laos, Thailand and Nam (71-75)
Robert Brode Thank you for your service! In Jacksonville, we don't have these but there is a place in cecil field. Yellow water weapons facility. they used to store nuclear weapons in these huge earthen bunkers. Check it out :)
Very informative!
+Robert Brode The Air Force became an independent branch in 1947. The F-100 was built by North American.
There was a Missile Master blockhouse near my home (Seattle,WA) up to a few years ago. It was torn down. That was the only chance I had to get a look inside. I well remember the piping system on the roof to wash away radioactive fallout.
I was the assembly sargeant for one of the 4 sites at Minneapolis-St. Paul in 1968-1969. The radar control area is in used today for private use, but the underground missile ranges are is all covered but still locked up. The assembly and warhead buildings, and guard barracks are still there.
Very cool Call Callistus and a big thank you for your service back in the day!
of all the urbex vids of old missle bases and silos, bro you get a thumbs up for being the most informative. i understand in a way why sites are kept secret but there are some "real" people on other sides of the world who would like to do just what you did, just look. Hats off to you bro!
Love videos like this, great job! You should find more abandoned locations and add commentary whilst exploring them it would be cool :D
Thanks Antro! I agree commentary next time. :)
One of the best videos I have ever seen on You tube. Very well done. the Cold War was a very fascinating time.
Thank you very much John! :)
I grew up on a nike site in Massachusetts in the sixties, as a young man, I got to go down and do inspections with my dad (cw4), my whole family lived at this remote site and guess what, I ended up in the army as a missle control officer for hawk and later patriot missle systems.
You and your family lived at LA88?
This is a really well put together video, thank you.
Great video and cool captions. Very entertaining and educational. no clean up needed, outa sight outa mind.
Thanks Mike! However this old missile base is now located next to a park with hiking trails so it's really not out of sight and out of mind...
Brett Delarios I get you Brett, but in Uncle Sam's eyes all that garbage IS invisible and will only be cleaned by third parties or junk scavengers. the recycling of the metal alone would be valuable. One mans garbage is another mans....
Mike Hollins You nailed it Mike! :)
Well done! Great editing, love the comparison with stills and video of the base when it was active.
Thank you doggonemess!
Very cool the way you show the now & then images/videos. Very informative!
Thanks Mike!
wow, that was an awesome video, well done
Thx Ken!
Was there today. Creepy and cool at the same time. Thank you for the video.
That bus looks like it belonged to the Los Angeles mta. Did it?
good video before and after pictures are great
Very well done and lots of cool info.
Thank you for sharing. Great video.
Wow great vid, thank you.
Thank you Daniel!
I found one site just like this in Gaithersburg Maryland 20+ years ago. Now there is a army reserve building in front along the highway but if you go on the right side of the reserve building you can drive through a corn field right to the back gate which was unlocked the last time I was there. Boy that place had a LOT of big copper wire cables that were dead. :)
I think it lived up to the hype! Nice video.
Great video - thanks for the tour! I've lived in LA/OC area all my life, heard about these Nike bases from my Dad & Uncles (WW-II vets) but haven't ever actually been to one. Yet.
Thank you! They really are worth checking out. :)
I've been here multiple times, the first time I went was probably around 4 years ago. The only real advice I can give is watch out for rattlesnakes there are a ton, the main door that he went down into is now welded shut as well but different parts of the underground section are open.
very cool. I went here 4 years ago but didnt know what it looked liked before or what some of the building were
Thank you! Definitely an interesting place. :)
Very nice - thanks for sharing
Thanks Richard!
Great video. I was actually stationed at the Malibu site from 71 to 73, a year before it closed. They were preparing to shut it down and turn it over to the fire dept. Being a kid I wasn't paying attention to what was going on but I have come to assume these sites were phased out because of one of the disarmament treaties with the Soviet Union. It had been used as a marine base in one of the Planet of the Apes movies as well as a couple episodes of TV shows. Mannix was filmed when I was there. I went back to check it out a couple of years later and saw the launch area had been destroyed. I found an areal photo of it recently on another website. Sadly it wasn't recognizable. It would be nice to see a video on that one posted.
Thanks for sharing this. There were several Nike SAM Sites in the SF Bay Area as well. One directly across the Bay from where Facebook's headquarters are now.Only one base remains as a museum in the Marin Headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge.
GrandsonofKong Thank you! I actually visted SF88 (bay area site) last year and took the tour. The two sites were identical . :)
Good video! I have been to all of the Los Angeles Nike bases (or at least their former locations...several of them were buried or built over), but only actually inside one...the former Ajax base in Palos Verdes. Funny thing though, they were'nt all THAT secret =) A few of them were well within civilian view, most notably LA-96 (Sepulveda basin on Victory) and LA-43 (White Point). To keep folks from freaking out, they would announce drill days in advance, posting in newspapers and on news radio. My dad took us to watch drills at both places back in the late 60s.
The one that is most intact in Los Angeles is LA-78 above Malibu, now a LACFD facility. Another one that is easy to visit is LA-94 at Bear Divide above Sylmar...another LACFD facility.
A list of all of the Los Angeles area launch and radar sites can be found here:www.ftmac.org/lanike3.htm
Have yet to visit the facility/museum in San Francisco, SF-88
+orangelion03 Hey, thanks for the link!
Holy shit, the link has the actual addresses. Thanks +orangelion03Cool background stories too about drill days and your dad.
These sites were placed in number around any location considered to be a bombing target in the Cold War days. (Transportation hubs, industrial centers, anything of strategic value.) These Batteries held Nike Ajax, and Hercules missiles. Although no one would allow anybody to wander around them, the Sites were well known to locals. It was fairly common to see missiles in the launch position during Drills, or maintenance. Many Sites have been stripped by the Corp of Engineers, and filled with concrete. (probably to meet the terms of some treaty or other.)
Thank you Sketchv! It kind of became a mission to find out as much as I could about his facility. :)
great video
nive video man thats really intresting :)
nicely made video
Thank you Andrew!
Thanks,very interesting!
Cheers;)
Thanks PRTEVYBMW!
I heard of it and saw what was left on UA-cam and it didn't look like there was much left.
Great vid. Thank's.
Awesome urbex, man!
Thank you!
I'd totally take one of those old typewriters, what a neat souvenir
Very informative video and comments by Robert.
Would like to mention that while it is true that this type of anti-bomber defense was becoming somewhat obsolescent by 1971 (when it was de-commissioned) it was actually the SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) that began in 1969 between the then USSR and the USA, that resulted in not only this site but most of the others like it to close down. That was a very strict limit on the number of defensive missile sites that were allowed and the US choose to get rid of the Nike Hercules sites and keep more advanced missile sites elsewhere in the country.
Jim Busbin, Brea-Calif
+James Busbin The Nike Missile system was incapable of intercepting ballistic missiles. The threat of an aerial bomber attack from Russia is actually what made the system obsolescent. By the late 1960's they were mostly manned by National Guardsmen, not regular Army.
+MrShobar Never stated this system was capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, rather that the US used the then obsolescent system to meet the numbers game with the USSR on how many missile sites needed to be closed to comply with the terms of SALT 1. Please explain how the threat of a Russian bomber attack made the system obsolescent? That is the reason they were installed in the first place in the 50s'.
We also had them in Europe (West Germany) and Asia (South Korea) well into the 1980's,plus the Germans had them,as well as the French,Belgians,Dutch,Norwegians,Italians,Turks and Greeks. (And those are just the ones off the top of my head??) And we also trained them all here?? (Ft.Bliss,Tx,Redstone Arsenal,Ala)
there is a base like that on the marin county side of the golden gate bridge ,that you should check out .
That was called SF88 and is now a tourist attraction.
Whats the security like over there ? do they have anyone guarding or driving around ? i know the gas company is right by there too but theres a road above the gas company that leads to the nike missile site right now it's gated says its orcutt ranch property or some shit but i know theres basically no one up there on that high road right along the mountain ridge
I could not find the one at Travis, supposedly it is under a bus garage.
I wonder if this place is still accessible! i would love to go check it out
It's still accessible
I think that this was an honest john missile defense system. My dad was stationed at one in Holland during the cold war. They were everywhere in the world back then!
No, this was Nike...part of the air defense system for the Los Angeles area. Honest John was a tactical nuclear missile and they deployed it all over Europe in case of a Warsaw Pact attack (a predecessor to Pershing).
@@orangelion03 Honest John I seem to recall was also a Mobile Launch system? (Mounted to a Truck Chassis)
@@DrOlds7298 Yes indeed, it was a truck mounted system (M31, M50), purely ballistic with no guidance. After retirement, most of the rocket motors went on to be used in rocket sled tests at various tracks around the US. Some others were used to launch scientific packages into the upper atmosphere.
I like the soundtrack
Awesome i've always like abandoned buildings.
Thank you Santiago!
How long ago was it abandoned?
I totally agree and thanks!
thats cool !
Thx Anthony!
The weird thing is that in every abandoned place someone has been there before them and destroyed the place :P
Just went here yesterday dope spot'
Cool! Did you go down below closest to the burned out buss?
Yeah i went underground also into the bunkers
Sweet!
Yeah kinda creepy though haha. Have you ever been to the very top? Where theres a white building I'm not sure if its abandon or not . Its right ontop of the missile base more high up
I have been to the top only once. It too is also abandoned... In one of the building there's a giant metal door that probably weighs over 1500 pounds that's open. When you walk through the vault like door it leads to a stairway 2 stories down. It is pitch dark down there (where you can't even see your hand in front of your face) and the area is completely cleared out.
What did the LAPD do to you guys? I wanted to check this place out, it looked like an awesome experience. I like abandon places! I'm from San Diego and I love adventures like this. Give me some tips please :)
+Bev Mo There's one in San Diego in Sycamore Canyon that you may have heard of. However, it's on the outskirts of Marine Corps property that has been recently been placed under heavy MP patrol due to ongoing long rifle training. There is a really good chance that you'll end up in cuff and pinned with a heavy fine. I strongly suggest not going there at this time.
another SD resident here! Big fan of cold war era equipment.
+Bev Mo Check out Mt.Laguna AFS east of SD.
Thanks notesleb!
super genial tu video toda una sensacion fantasma.... ^.^!!!
Thank you Beatgumtab Spray!
LA-88 Nike Missile Site, Palo Sola Truck Road, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Very well done. A fact about military complexes around the country and other places around the world where US military installations are or were, had contaminated all surrounding areas to the extreme of causing to activate the SuperFund Act. It cost millions of dollars to close this facilities. In those days was easier to close them and leave behind everything, but this days is kinda different but the same. They give the land back to the city and they basically remediate under the fund act, so the DOD does not clean after. All they do is to monitor the contamination. Why do you think this country keeps fighting conflicts all over the world? To get rid of their nuclear waste under depleted uranium bullets and so. :)
Have you been up there recently biker? I made this video almost 1 1/2 years ago and I would be surprised if the doors to the silos are still open.,,
Last time I was there..I was escorted down the hill by an LAPD helicopter. I want to go back and do some light painting photography. Creepy Crawl with Sobaire Presents - Inside The Underground Missile Silo
this is so bad ass. going to try to hike up to Brea site.
Really damn i didnt know that. I saw it from where the missile base was. Seemed like a big white ball shaped buildingg. Have to go back soon to check it out. Do u just continue going up the road?
Definitely worth checking out. Yes you have to go all the way to the top by taking that very old road. The big white ball thing is not part area LA88. That big white ball is channel 7s news weather radar system (Doppler 7000). The view of the valley from that location is top notch!
Oh really so the big white ball isn't abandon? Is there buildings around there that are abandon? And btw has anyone ever kicked you out of there for going?
Here's what the location looks like at the top... www.themilitarystandard.com/missile/nike/sites/la-88-ifc.php
Correct. The white ball thing is not abandoned and is not very old. There are a handful of video cameras at the top by the doppler radar but never encountered any type of security.
Lots of video cameras protecting this location (right next to the doppler radar). www.airsites2000.com/oat_mountain_11.htm
Open the middle drawer, then the side drawers open.
I do enjoy seeing videos of old places like this. One thing I do gotta say is if you guys are going into places like this make sure to wear gas masks and gloves when entering the enclosed areas. At least I would lol
Just a bit of a question...
Did you contact the local authorities about entering the site, or did you just go in? I'd ask this because there are NIKE Missile Defense bases around me, and I want to use them as a film location, but I'm not sure about the repercussions that might come if I were to be caught or what-not. I guess if you're filming it's not much of an issue, but regardless. I like to be safe.
Also, loved the video.
Hello Brandt and thanks for the compliment. No. I did not get any permission before shooting this video. I had seen other videos done and wanted to make my own. Many people have have accessed this area and the only ones that have got in trouble are some people that tried stealing some of the property. They were caught and arrested. Good luck with your film!
Thanks for the response so quickly. Yeah, places like these seem perfect for filming.
whats the cawordanits
VERY IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE! GOING INTO ABANDONED PLACES. PLEASE WEAR A RESPIRATOR! and throw away clothes. A dust mask is NOT enough and putting on shirt/sweater does less.The reason it may be abandoned, is because of lead, asbestos and other toxic materials. The cost to mitigate / clean the property could be in the multi millions.
+Mike William Excellent point Mike!
Thanks, Very cool videos.
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback...
+Brett Delarios Yes, the asbestos is a major concern. Never disturb the old dust, especially in areas with old steam pipes! It is unlikely that you would have that asbestos worry there at that location in CA.
rolomatic Z We have asbestos all over California and most military bases have asbestos, lead and other HAZMAT. California was a major military production area, for years, and as a result, there is asbestos and lead in most factories, buildings and homes built before 1980. Asbestos is found in old floor and ceiling tiles, installation and as you stated, old steam pipes.
Aye bro is it true that masons are up there sometimes? Preforming weird rituals? Or is all that a myth?
Sounds like a big M Y T H.
Nice walk through what is probably a highly asbestos-contaminated ruin....
+Tim Hardy Add to that: lead-based paint, toxic mold, PCB-contaminated oil, etc.
Seems that the military dont have the funding for a proper cleanup. Here in Canada public pressure forced the govt. to clean up radar sites in the north. Its disgraceful that they can just walk away!
I haven't been up there for over 1 1/2 years so I'm not sure what the security is currently like. I know that a couple was arrested up there within the last year because they were trying to steal stuff. I know the rangers are around and that LAPD fly's over the area quite a bit but other than that I'm really not sure...
I really liked the video, it was well done.I wanted to let you know that th Army should not have evr been there to clean up or for any other reason.The Army doesn't have anything to do with Nuclear Missiles.That would be the Air Force, or the Navy.Other than that...really great.
Yeah, you are most wrong. I was Army in mid 80's and was a Lance Missie Crewman which was the Neutron Bomb. I got to see the last 2 Nike Hercs the US Army ever fired go off in Crete in 84'.
@@MrChe1964
I know what you mean when you say it's creep and cool at the same time. If only those old buildings could talk...
great video
Much appreciated!
so i guess you can just show up to this place and walk around where ever you want with a camera..
We have 19 bases around DC and Baltimore, all in varying conditions. The ones that are not being used by the communities are unpatrolled and decaying. You can just go right in and it's unlikely that anymore would notice or care. It's still trespassing, but there's nothing secret or valuable left. Most of the underground spaces are full of water, since they fill up over time if there are no pumps to keep them dry.
www.pe.com/articles/-739600--.html I just figured theyd have it locked and secured for no other reasons than safety. We had a similar place near by that was demolished after two kids were murdered. ( see Hawes radio relay site )
Right you are, the link you sent didn't say US Army on it, that I could see, so I looked it up and the Army was in fact in charge of the base.It was an Army base with Air Force personnel attached to it. It was considered an artillery battery, that's where the confusion was for me.Large missiles would nowadays be controlled by the Air Force, but back then, things were different, I found some other sites and info on the project.I was in the Army and we didn't have any airborne craft except helicopters and helicopter mounted missiles. That was from 83-91 Thanks for straightening that out for me. I couldn't wrap my head artound the Army having anything to do with large missiles..here is another one...www.radomes.org/museum/nikeinfo.php
I know it seemed kinda weird to me too that the Army was in charged of this facility. If you watch the video again you will see that even the missiles say U.S. Army on them. :) I really searched for as much info as I could find before making the video and was shocked of the lack of information that was available. That makes sense that the Air Force handled the eyes in the sky. The radar facility was actually in a different location (on the top ridge of Oat Mtn) and that place was cleaned out very well in comparison to the missile base.
Brett Delarios
you'll find it's because the army handle the artillery side
we all should be happy those things are scrap now
Very true!
Brett Delarios Indeed, very interesting video, but a little bit scary
Only 16 top secret missile bases? If they're secret maybe there are 600 of them you don't know about yet?
one still stands in turnbull canyon
Yes but it is better for this site to be a crumbling rusting ruin... then for us to be a crumbling rusting ruin...
+syntaur That is a sobering thought. Well said, Sir!
These places have asbestos in them!
Most definitely! Gotta mask up...
I'm pretty sure it's trespassing...
That was probably asbestos insulation u were pointing at so dont touch anything
Hi Joseph. That's exactly what I was telling my friend while I was pointing at that old insulation. :)
Hi thanx for replying, I would buy a proper mask if I was too go in places like that and is it also a nuclear bunker because my friend says that they used it because it can withstand the heat from a nuclear detonation
+Joseph Denny I had a mask on when I went underground. I didn't want to take any chances. I don't think the missile silos could take a direct nuclear hit. These silos were created before nuclear missiles were even existed. The control tower at the top of the mountain had a deep bunker that better off handling a bomb from a soviet bomber.
No bunker can take a direct hit, not even the most avanced ones, and btw did you get wrong from the police
Joseph Denny Nah.. The police didn't give us any trouble.
Do ya glow at night now that was the worst nuke spill area in the u.s.a. also .they use to burn waste there 40s and 50s
Doug... Get your facts straight before making a ridiculous post like that. You're referring to Rocketdyne in the city of Simi Valley.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Susana_Field_Laboratory
Lapd
sad to see
so creepy youll shit bricks
I would have shot the lock off the first door. :|
sounds pretty sketch
great video