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MIM-14
Location: Texas Gender: Male
| | Nike Site in Alvarado < on 7/13/2011 11:54 PM >
| | | Hello Fellow UERs: I've been a lurker here for a long time and I finally joined a few days ago. For the past year I have been busy trying to visit all eight Nike sites in Texas. I’ve been to four of the eight so far. I need to hit the two in Austin this fall when it cools down some. I’ve really enjoyed seeing and reading the stories of other UER members visits to the Nike sites in Denton and Austin and I am looking forward to visiting these sites myself. This Texas heat is just killing me (and I work in an un-air-conditioned warehouse) this summer so I’ll have to wait until at least October. But that’s another story... I saw an old thread in the archive section about the Alvarado site. I was lucky enough to visit this site last fall and so I wanted to post some of my photos of the site (named DF-50). I contacted the control site owner and he was very gracious with his time in showing me around. He lives at the former IFC (Integrated Fire Control) site and keeps an eye on the launch site for its owner. Enough talk, onto the photos. The guard shack at the entrance to the IFC Site:
Here's the one radar tower still standing - the LOPAR (LOw Power Acquisition Radar) tower:
This is a view from the top of the LOPAR tower looking at the four remaining buildings:
This tile Nike Missile silhouette was still located on the foundation of the radar control building/van pad which I though was pretty cool. This building was destroyed in the 80s during a gun powder explosion. The previous owner of this site was a gun powder manufacturer!
The former launch site was located about ½ mile down the road. While it was overgrown, I believe all the original buildings are still there as well as the three underground magazines. The front gate and overgrown guard shack:
Here’s a shot of the warhead assembly building. Part of the hoist/crane is still standing next to it:
The thick walls of the fallout shelter were interesting:
The former generator building had lots of great original markings (the breaker panel) and another Nike Missile painted on the outside corner along with what looks like a US Army ARAACOM crest:
The last stop at the launch site was the three underground magazines. One still has working lights and all three have pumps to keep them dry. This was amazing to see. Here’s the overgrown guard shack leading into the former exclusion area and Some above ground shots showing an entry door, escape hatch, missile doors, and some of the remaining missile rail hardware:
And below, some shots inside of one of the magazines. I went into the magazine with power and also one of the magazines without power.
That's about it for my first post. I have a ton more pictures of this site but this post was waaaaay too long as it is. Thanks for checking it out. -D [last edit 7/14/2011 12:04 AM by MIM-14 - edited 3 times]
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Captain_Slow The infamous Buttram Manfist
Location: Dallas, Tx Gender: Male
Obviously capable of mediocre things.
| | Re: Nike Site in Alvardao <Reply # 1 on 7/14/2011 12:05 AM >
| | | Hey buddy, welcome to UER! I live in Denton, I know exactly where the NIKE site is, it's actually split into two sites here and can be a trick to find. I can take you there, I haven't been inside it yet but I'm very familiar with the area.
PM me, let's set something up.
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MIM-14
Location: Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 2 on 7/14/2011 1:02 AM >
| | | Posted by Captain_Slow Hey buddy, welcome to UER! I live in Denton, I know exactly where the NIKE site is, it's actually split into two sites here and can be a trick to find. I can take you there, I haven't been inside it yet but I'm very familiar with the area.
PM me, let's set something up.
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Thanks, nice to be here officially instead of just a lurker I would very much like to set something up with you this fall to see the Denton site. I think it's a shame that UNT tore down all the buildings at the launch site as it was very complete. Can one still access the three underground magazines? What about the control site? It's got a private owner, wonder if he would allow visitors onto the property to photograph the buildings? It seems to be pretty complete on the satellite views of the place... At any rate, I'll drop you a line when things cool down some. -D
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Barry Kooda
Location: The Cliff Gender: Male
Trees
| | | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 3 on 7/14/2011 2:17 AM >
| | | Very cool! I've been by that site on occasion but heard it had been bought by a church group several years ago and never pursued it. My loss! Thanks for showing it!
I'm a blatant waste of time and resources. |
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RevSM
Location: South Central Texas
| | | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 4 on 7/14/2011 2:31 PM >
| | | Very nice first post! Looks like a really interesting place. Unfortunately, a trip to look at the Austin Nike site may be less than worth it since it was bought quite a few years ago by the National Guard and is in active use. The last time I went there about 5 years ago, there was an armed guard at the gate.
Tetanus for Breakfast! http://www.shatteredshutter.com |
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MIM-14
Location: Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 5 on 7/14/2011 2:57 PM >
| | | Posted by RevSM Very nice first post! Looks like a really interesting place. Unfortunately, a trip to look at the Austin Nike site may be less than worth it since it was bought quite a few years ago by the National Guard and is in active use. The last time I went there about 5 years ago, there was an armed guard at the gate.
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Hmmm. Well that's just the control site on Bee Cave Road right? Does the Guard own the launch site too or can you get to that site? From the aerial view it looks like they have an actual Nike Hercules Missile there (at the control site). Looks like the buildings have been improved quite a bit. I don't suppose I could just pull up there and expect a tour, eh? An Austin trip would still be worth it. The Elroy site looks like it is accessable. And I've been meaning to visit the Camp Mabry Museum too... -D
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MIM-14
Location: Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 6 on 7/14/2011 2:59 PM >
| | | Posted by Barry Kooda Very cool! I've been by that site on occasion but heard it had been bought by a church group several years ago and never pursued it. My loss! Thanks for showing it!
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Thanks glad you liked the photos. No, the church group never owned this site. The current owner just had a building leased out to them. That's all over with now. -D
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RevSM
Location: South Central Texas
| | | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 7 on 7/14/2011 3:55 PM >
| | | Actually, I started looking into it and I've never actually been to the launch site on the South side. I don't know anything about it except for the same Google Earth pictures you are likely looking at. I might check it out myself. It's too bad they don't have street view in that area.
Tetanus for Breakfast! http://www.shatteredshutter.com |
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/-/ooligan
Location: Las Vegas area Gender: Male
When in danger, when in doubt, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT!
| | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 8 on 7/18/2011 3:38 AM >
| | | DF-01 (Denton sites) as-of 2005:
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people. |
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MIM-14
Location: Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Site in Alvarado <Reply # 9 on 7/18/2011 1:09 PM >
| | | Nice pics of the Denton sites, thanks for posting them. Things looks much different up there now. And not for the better
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