- $300-a-night former weapons base is located in the Smoky Hills
- Up to four guests can sleep inside the silo which is 180 feet deep
- The site was built in 1959 and remained active until 1965 during the Cuban Missile Crisis
A decommissioned nuclear missile silo deep under the Kansas countryside has been transformed into an eerie Airbnb.
The $300-a-night former weapons base 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 with the Cold War relic, while still enjoying modern amenities including TVs, a microwave, fridge and coffee maker.
Images show the quirky accommodation, which is accessed by an ominous looking concrete door leading below ground.
Inside, the comfort of the king size bed clashes against the austere grey color scheme and metal work throughout the structure.
‘Over the last year, I’ve been working diligently with the power washing, demolition and rebuilding it into a destination where people can actually stay,’ owner Matthew Fulkerson told KSN. ‘I’m still in the process of finishing the lower areas.’
The bunker sits on a 24 acre campground offering further accommodation, 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 City of Wilson in Ellsworth County, the Atlas F Missile Base provides the perfect location for exploring the nearby Wilson State Park.
Fulkerson describes it as a ‘hidden gem for tourism’ due to its proximity to one of the state’s biggest lakes.
However, when it was built the bunker was designed to house nuclear deterrents.
The structure was created in response to Sputnik, the first artificial earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union.
More than 70 Atlas F Missile Silos were built in the United States, many of which are in the great plains.
The site cost $12.8 million to build at the time, equivalent to more than $120 million today.
Fulkerson bought the property in 2013 with the help of an investor and has been developing it since.
He received additional funds from Airbnb through its OMG! Fund, which allocates $100,000 to 100 hosts with unique properties.
‘I hope to have my full-fledged RV park with water and electrical hook-ups 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 center, and an event center for hosting larger events.
‘I have some big visions and dreams for the future development of the site.’
The missile silo is a huge structure with a 52′ inside diameter approximately 180′ deep.
Originally, there were nine floors built inside the silo, approximately 2,000 square feet each.
Today, most of the Atlas F silos have been salvaged leaving only the structural walls, according to Fulkerson’s website.
