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Gallifrey
location: Austin, Texas
The staircase is my archenemy.
| | Nike Missile Silo in Austin < on 3/2/2013 8:14 PM >
| | | So recently a few friends and I decided to go out and try to explore BG-40, which is an abandoned nike missile silo out in Del Valle, near the Circuit of the Americas. Since I'm not a full member, I don't know if there is additional info here that I didn't know about, but from my research I was under the impression that it was abandoned and unused by its owners, the Ensign Bickford Company. However, upon arrival at the launch site (we didn't visit the control site because of construction) we noticed that there were goats and donkeys on the other side of the fence. Nobody was there, however we got to the other side. Located on the other side was a trailer hidden inside a derelict building, lots of bullet holes, and makeshift firing range, and a hunting tower. We left as soon we realized he was armed, but I'd still like to know if he owns the property or whether he was squatting. If you have any info on the site, please say, because we saw an entrance into the underground area but fled before we could get a look at it. Also, is it usual to find armed squatters, especially in rural areas? And does anyone else have experiences like this around abandoned silos? Anyways, I just wanted to warn that if you're thinking of going here, please plan and research well, because who ever is there seems armed and perhaps dangerous.
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cdevon
location: west county Gender: Male
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 1 on 3/3/2013 3:09 AM >
| | | guns are evil and should be banned... people who own guns are hill-billy redneck morons.
that being said, other than the bullet holes, how do you know he was armed? (just kidding about the gun thing....)
When I say I'm 'clean and sober', it means I've showered and I'm headed to the liquor store. |
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Explorer Zero
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 2 on 3/3/2013 12:14 PM >
| | | to answer your question
yes
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Gallifrey
location: Austin, Texas
The staircase is my archenemy.
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 3 on 3/4/2013 1:06 AM >
| | | There were also empty bullet shells scattered along the ground and the hunting tower was too clean to have been abandoned for long. I suppose the evidence that he was armed wasn't that great, but at the time we couldn't prove he wasn't and we thought it better to assume he was and leave. How long do squatters usually stay in their rural abandonments?
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VBJag
location: Oklahoma Gender: Male
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 4 on 3/4/2013 1:59 AM >
| | | I've seen empty shells in numerous abandonments, and bullet holes. Didn't realize that it means it's the owner shooting up the place. If you're worried, just carry yourself.
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RevSM
location: South Central Texas
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 5 on 3/4/2013 2:56 PM >
| | | In Texas it is perfectly legal to shoot someone who is trespassing on your farmland, especially if you suspect they are messing with your livestock. I tried checking this place out a few months ago and left immediately upon seeing farm animals. The purple paint you might have noticed on the trees and posts surrounding the property is actually the same thing as a No Trespassing sign. http://law.onecle....enal/30.05.00.html This site is not abandoned. The farmer is probably leasing it from the brick co. Also, Nike sites do not have silos. It was more or less a concrete pad where a missile truck sits and some supporting buildings. Still interesting but not much of it would be found underground. Hope this helps.
Tetanus for Breakfast! http://www.shatteredshutter.com |
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Flavortext03
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 6 on 3/4/2013 7:50 PM >
| | | Posted by RevSM In Texas it is perfectly legal to shoot someone who is trespassing on your farmland, especially if you suspect they are messing with your livestock. I tried checking this place out a few months ago and left immediately upon seeing farm animals. The purple paint you might have noticed on the trees and posts surrounding the property is actually the same thing as a No Trespassing sign. http://law.onecle....enal/30.05.00.html This site is not abandoned. The farmer is probably leasing it from the brick co. Also, Nike sites do not have silos. It was more or less a concrete pad where a missile truck sits and some supporting buildings. Still interesting but not much of it would be found underground. Hope this helps.
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Not entirely true. There were two types of Nike sites. The sites around here in DFW were actually underground missiles. The doors on the surface would open and the missiles would elevate to the surface and fire.
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RevSM
location: South Central Texas
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 8 on 3/4/2013 9:03 PM >
| | | That is true, you are correct. There is some underground stuff but I'm not sure that the ones in Austin are that type. I don't remember now. I just wouldn't call it a silo since it's not silo shaped like the Atlas and Titan ICBM sites. That's all I'm sayin'.
Tetanus for Breakfast! http://www.shatteredshutter.com |
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Flavortext03
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 9 on 3/4/2013 9:22 PM >
| | | Posted by RevSM That is true, you are correct. There is some underground stuff but I'm not sure that the ones in Austin are that type. I don't remember now. I just wouldn't call it a silo since it's not silo shaped like the Atlas and Titan ICBM sites. That's all I'm sayin'.
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Agreed. And you are correct that there were also the strictly above ground Nike sites. I guess it depends on geography. I am unfamiliar with the Austin area sites. I know all 4 around DFW are the underground style.
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Raticus
Moderator location: Tyler Gender: Male
Ratus exploricus abandonae
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 10 on 3/5/2013 1:53 PM >
| | | Posted by RevSM In Texas it is perfectly legal to shoot someone who is trespassing on your farmland, especially if you suspect they are messing with your livestock.
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Very true. My advice is that if you feel that strongly about the risk, don't do it. Most people won't shoot before finding out what you're up to, but some will. Nothing you explore is worth getting hurt, killed, or shot at.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something. |
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Budroy
location: Austin Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 11 on 3/19/2013 3:32 PM >
| | | I've been to this site. The half you visited doesn't offer much, slabs and sheds nothing fancy. The other half of the site which lies across the road from the entrance to where you entered has what appears to be the radar station and perhaps the barracks and offices belonging to whomever was stationed there. Bring a respirator though, it's pretty dank in the buildings.
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RevSM
location: South Central Texas
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 12 on 3/19/2013 4:35 PM >
| | | You didn't visit very recently did you? I'm pretty sure that the command center across the road is currently being completely gutted and remodeled.
Tetanus for Breakfast! http://www.shatteredshutter.com |
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Budroy
location: Austin Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 13 on 3/21/2013 3:17 PM >
| | | Posted by RevSM You didn't visit very recently did you? I'm pretty sure that the command center across the road is currently being completely gutted and remodeled.
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Ah, a shame. I visited it like a year, year and a half ago.
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MIM-14
location: Texas Gender: Male
| | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 14 on 7/9/2013 11:45 AM >
| | | Posted by RevSM You didn't visit very recently did you? I'm pretty sure that the command center across the road is currently being completely gutted and remodeled.
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Yes, the IFC site across the road from the launch site has been remodeled. I was there this past November. New buildings with crazy red roofs:
The site is definitely NOT abandoned. As I was taking these photos from the road, a guy in a red pickup stopped and asked me what the hell I was doing there taking pictures... So be careful! And yes, the two Austin Nike sites both were the above ground "SAC" type Nike sites. The four around the DFW area did have the underground magazines (not silos). The two Nike sites around Abilene were also the above ground type. The only underground parts of the above ground launch sites are the crew shelter areas that would have been used if the missiles were launched. Bye for now.
[last edit 7/9/2013 11:47 AM by MIM-14 - edited 1 times]
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DevilC
location: Washington, District of Corruption Gender: Male
I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their views.
| | | Re: Nike Missile Silo in Austin <Reply # 15 on 7/9/2013 3:20 PM >
| | | The livestock should have told you someone gives a crap.
Posted by Gallifrey ... we noticed that there were goats and donkeys on the other side of the fence ...
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Science flies you to the Moon. Religion flies you into tall buildings. |
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