In Pictures: An Abandoned Cold War Missile Bunker Left Unchanged For 60 Years

Step inside a Cold War relic

It's not often we get to peek inside a decommissioned nuclear silo, so you're in for a treat! Once home to the Titan II, the largest intercontinental ballistic missile ever deployed by the US Air Force, this underground haven was once one of the top secrets of US government assets.

But as time passed by it lay rusted and forgotten, that is until 2019 when it was ready for a new mission on the real estate market!

Click or scroll through to explore this military superstructure, which reveals a glimpse into the recent past.

A subterranean bolthole

Deep in Southern Arizona, the bunker structure is set within a 12-acre plot complete with tunnels, huge steel doors, living quarters and other original features.

Although it was once used by the government for top-secret business, it's now the ultimate private home as it last sold in December 2019 for $420,000.

Remote location

The listing stated that it was 'private yet not too remote' as, although the bunker is buried 60 feet under the desert, the land surrounding it offers uninterrupted views over the surrounding Arizonan landscape while remaining easily accessible to the city of Tucson.

So hardly the middle of nowhere and it's close to modern amenities, but what about its past?

An overview

A fascinating relic from the Cold War, the underground facility was finished in the 1960s and is built to withstand a nuclear attack. A response to the nuclear threat posed by the Soviet Union at the time, it stayed in operation for 24 years and was once monitored by military personnel around the clock.

Here you can see how the different subterranean areas are cleverly linked via underground passages and staircases. Of course, being a military facility, it's likely the bunker had more than one exit and hidden hatches and secret tunnels would have been installed to allow any workers to get out safely in the event of an attack or disaster. 

Hidden home

Designed to remain hidden from sight, the discreet escape hatches are all that give the location away above ground. The last owner bought the complex in 2003 with plans to convert it into a data storage facility, but his plans faltered with the economic recession.

Interested buyers had many ideas for the bunker's next life, with suggestions ranging from a destination restaurant or Hollywood film location to a greenhouse for medical marijuana! We wonder what it became after its 2019 sale.

Making an entrance

Not your average real estate viewing, those interested in buying the property first had to prove that they had sufficient funds and sign a liability waiver before they could even view it.

To gain access, you climb through one of three entrances and descend to the chambers below. Not for anyone with a fear of heights! 

Don't look down

The silo is only accessible by an extendable ladder and involves a 40-foot descent. Perhaps a modern elevator or sensible staircase might be a good idea when the time comes to renovate...

Blast door

Some of these rooms are going to need more than a lick of paint to turn them into a home, if that's what the buyer is planning, that is. But at least it's secure.

In fact, the bunker has several blast doors to make sure that, during its time in action, only military personnel were able to gain entry. This one weighs 6,000lb (or 2.7 metric tons) but, thanks to some amazing engineering, it can still be closed with one hand. 

Down the rabbit hole

Once you've made it down the ladder and through the blast door, you'll see the entrance to the missile access tunnel to one side. After the Titan sites were decommissioned in 1984, the US government had most of the access points backfilled with soil and rubble and sealed with concrete, so it's now blocked.

However, leading off in the other direction is this low metal tunnel...

New lows

From this tunnel, you'll gain access to the original control room. This would have been filled with equipment in its heyday, perhaps a desk and several chairs too. We'll have to use our imaginations for now.

A space with few luxuries, now the basic shell of the room only shows the metal staircases that lead upstairs and downstairs.

Take control

You can even see the original command console, which certainly looks the business. Some components seen here were actually added during a recent film shoot but you can clearly appreciate what this space would have looked like in action.

Spring into action

Here in the control room, you'll also notice more original equipment such as the floor-to-ceiling springs, which were used to isolate each level of the basement from seismic shocks. 

Another level

We'd advise anyone venturing down here to watch their step, as the rusty metal staircases that spider off the control center leave a lot to be desired.

Health and safety inspectors would have a field day so the new owner will need to put in some secure structures before any decorating gets done.

Escape room

If the main exit collapsed, this hatch, which leads to a vertical escape shaft, is how workers would get out safely. With enemy nuclear strikes thought likely during the time Titan II was active, a backup exit plan was something of a necessity.

Perhaps now the threat of war is somewhat less imminent, the new owner will simply see this exit as a back door to their new, ultra-secure home?

Burn baby, burn

You might notice there are several burn marks on the walls in this area. Interestingly, these are not from the time Titan II was active but actually marks left from when the metal salvage crew came through.

Original features

Some of the authentic apparatus still lingers in the bunker, such as the gauge that's mounted on the underside of the equipment level staircase. This kind of unique detail could tempt history-loving owners.

Some like it hot

During its time as an active nuclear bunker, the silo was home to military personnel who not only worked here but lived, cooked and slept here.

On the top floor (one level up from the control room) you'll find this area, which was originally the kitchen. To the right of the image, you can see where the stove used to be.

The pantry

This area would have been the pantry, where bunker workers would store food and provisions.

The new buyer certainly won't be short of storage space, should they want to move in here permanently, but this space is going to need huge amounts of work if the idea is to transform it into a luxury bunker home.

Wet room

No fancy private bathrooms here, the crew shared this communal latrine, you can still see the holes in the floor where the pipes from the sink, shower and toilet passed through to the lower levels.

Bunking down

And so to bed! This is the bunk room, where the crew would bed down for the night. A sign on the wall prohibits smoking in bed and warns there will be a punishment for such a violation. After all, ventilation gets trickier underground.

Keep the noise down

Here in the bunk room, you'll notice glue marks on the walls, where acoustic tiles were stuck to achieve better sound insulation. Any refurbishment work will not be easy; it'll take a lot of changes to make this space habitable.

Living quarters

This rundown spot was once the living room for military workers. You can see the circular shape of the curved walls and rusted metal walls, typical of a military underground bunker.

Ultimate protection

With military-grade enforcements, whoever bought the place can count on utter privacy and extreme security. Thanks to these heavy doors, they'll be as well defended as Fort Knox.

Whatever the future holds for the bunker, you can't beat its beautiful location in the middle of the desert. We can't wait to see what they do with the place!

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