During the Cold War in America, it was common for missile bases to be built in rings around large, urban areas. LA-88 was one of the bases built in the hills of LA that hadn't been converted into a business or anything of the sort and ran from 1957 until 1974.

Originally opened in 1956 as one of 16 missile sites throughout Southern California known collectively as the "Ring of Steel." The missile base was the first in Los Angeles to house a Nike Hercules, a missile equipped with a nuclear warhead, according to the Nike Historical Society. The surface-to-air missile was designed to shoot down enemy bombers during the height of the Cold War. For 18 years, the local base was bustling with more than 100 military personnel whose motto was: "If It Flies, It Dies."


Nike Missiles were named after the goddess who was no bigger than a mug. The site, now long forgotten, is home to buildings still standing, rotting buses and equipment, and underground bunkers where one hatch continues to remain open for anyone who dares to explore it.1.


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Nice set! I love this location.

The current status of this fine Nike site is troubling. Upon my last visit here I encountered two determined scrappers - one was actually using power tools inside a silo. Unfortunately, they've really torn the place up within the past couple of months.

underground bunkers where one hatch continues to remain open for anyone who dares to explore it

The hatch you mentioned was opened recently by the power-tool wielding scrapper, and he continues to work down there. I wouldn't necessarily suggest going in for this reason. Were you able to check it out?

Also, helicopters. They're patrolling the area again. Two showed up the last time I went.

I'm glad you were able to experience the history (great write up by the way) without any problems.

Posted by Austtie Nice set! I love this location. The current status of this fine Nike site is troubling. Upon my last visit here I encountered two determined scrappers - one was actually using power tools inside a silo. Unfortunately, they've really torn the place up within the past couple of months. The hatch you mentioned was opened recently by the power-tool wielding scrapper, and he continues to work down there. I wouldn't necessarily suggest going in for this reason. Were you able to check it out? Also, helicopters. They're patrolling the area again. Two showed up the last time I went. I'm glad you were able to experience the history (great write up by the way) without any problems.

Thanks!

Wow, I had no idea. That is so weird. I visited in late December with some friends after a visit to Hollywood. We had to hike up to the site and we were alone. We came across one truck that left but didn't see us.

Really? It might be a different one. We looked in and didn't see anyone or hear anything, it looked like it had been open for a while but I could be wrong. I probably am. We didn't go in due to it being sunset and we didn't bring the right equipment to explore, but I wanted to go back eventually. We didn't expect to stop by and did it last minute.

That's intense. We didn't see any helicopters at all. I wonder why that's suddenly going on. It was dead quiet when we visited, not a single person or evidence of people in the area.

Thank you! It means a lot. I'm happy to have had the experience to check it out. I really hope the city/state doesn't touch it. It makes for a great urban playground.

The hatch you mentioned was opened recently by the power-tool wielding scrapper, and he continues to work down there. I wouldn't necessarily suggest going in for this reason. Were you able to check it out?

I'm thinking it was either Walter and Jesse...



or potentially Le Tourment Vert decided to have a look inside.

Posted by DrWindyNibbles I'm thinking it was either Walter and Jesse... http://images.wiki...Using_thermite.jpg or potentially Le Tourment Vert decided to have a look inside.

I literally could not stop laughing.

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Shame how badly this place has been vandalized-and I thought several of the SF sites were in a bad state. Hopefully the police keep the scrappers away but not you.

Posted by Clostridium Shame how badly this place has been vandalized-and I thought several of the SF sites were in a bad state. Hopefully the police keep the scrappers away but not you.

Not as much vandalized as you think. It looks beat up, but there was a forest fire in the hills back in...2008 I think and the buses there are now just skeletons. My friend beat up some glass on the ground but for the most part the place is pretty intact. Though, I do wish the buses and some of the buildings had more to offer. It took me FOREVER to hike up there and it was awesome but a shorter visit than I had anticipated.

Posted by Flashyfashionfraud Really? It might be a different one. We looked in and didn't see anyone or hear anything, it looked like it had been open for a while but I could be wrong.

My last visit was in January. It was my first trip back since early Fall. All the changes were apparent upon my revisit.

We didn't see any helicopters at all.

We were actually inside the bunker when scrapper #1 (without power tools) started yelling at us, saying the helicopter was coming (scrapper #2 entered the scene later that night, when we tried to return to the bunker). Sure enough, we could see and hear it coming from the South. At this point, we went (with the scrapper) outside the fences, while this (police) helicopter circled around the Nike site several times. Shortly after, another helicopter came, this time from one of the local farmers, and he circled as well (possibly concerned for his land?).

I wonder why that's suddenly going on. It was dead quiet when we visited, not a single person or evidence of people in the area.

There's been a disagreeable amount of press on this location recently; it's landed on some high profile sites. Also, it's now a SWAT training ground. The scrapper we talked to said some SWAT helicopters and armed forces took him to the slammer when he interrupted their training (and yet he still scraps here). I'm not sure how often they use this site, but we found some new looking misfired 5.56 rounds in January.

Post by DrWindyNibbles I'm thinking it was either Walter and Jesse... or potentially Le Tourment Vert decided to have a look inside.

LOL!

Not as much vandalized as you think. It looks beat up, but there was a forest fire in the hills back in...2008 I think and the buses there are now just skeletons.

These were recently removed. Scrappers also tore down the garage door (in your first picture) tore up the black-top for high gauge copper wire (scrapper #1 was digging into the blacktop with a sharp metal spike while I was there). Also, two of the bunkers have been gutted recently, one of which is being disassembled for bonfires (taking place inside the bunker).

My friend beat up some glass on the ground but for the most part the place is pretty intact.

Wait, what? Why?

Anyway, you should be fine if you go back. Just be cautious.

Posted by Austtie My last visit was in January. It was my first trip back since early Fall. All the changes were apparent upon my revisit. We were actually inside the bunker when scrapper #1 (without power tools) started yelling at us, saying the helicopter was coming (scrapper #2 entered the scene later that night, when we tried to return to the bunker). Sure enough, we could see and hear it coming from the South. At this point, we went (with the scrapper) outside the fences, while this (police) helicopter circled around the Nike site several times. Shortly after, another helicopter came, this time from one of the local farmers, and he circled as well (possibly concerned for his land?). There's been a disagreeable amount of press on this location recently; it's landed on some high profile sites. Also, it's now a SWAT training ground. The scrapper we talked to said some SWAT helicopters and armed forces took him to the slammer when he interrupted their training (and yet he still scraps here). I'm not sure how often they use this site, but we found some new looking misfired 5.56 rounds in January. LOL! http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/9382859528_7618088aa1_z.jpg These were recently removed. Scrappers also tore down the garage door (in your first picture) tore up the black-top for high gauge copper wire (scrapper #1 was digging into the blacktop with a sharp metal spike while I was there). Also, two of the bunkers have been gutted recently, one of which is being disassembled for bonfires (taking place inside the bunker). Wait, what? Why? Anyway, you should be fine if you go back. Just be cautious.

That's intense! Thanks for the heads up, that's really freaky. I heard it was SWAT stomping grounds but I also heard it was a rumor to scare explorers off...

My friend is pretty stupid, to be honest. I have really bad knee problems and we decided to hike up the steep hill to get to the hole in the fence and it took me longer. He decided to go on ahead and when we got up there we found him pounding on what looked like part of some kind of window that was left on the floor. It wouldn't properly shatter and he kept going back to try to break it for no reason. Another reason why I don't often invite him, I don't want him breaking windows to places like this :\ It destroys what we're trying to explore.

Posted by Flashyfashionfraud I literally could not stop laughing. 1. click to view

XD That is epic.

Posted by DrWindyNibbles XD That is epic.

Right?? My sister got a t-shirt with that on it for Christmas. Too perfect.

I see what you did there...

Posted by Flashyfashionfraud Right?? My sister got a t-shirt with that on it for Christmas. Too perfect.

Leegit.

I came here recently, and I loved it. I'll post photos shortly.

Question: is there an asbestos hazard inside the silo itself?

Posted by SurlySilverback I came here recently, and I loved it. I'll post photos shortly. Question: is there an asbestos hazard inside the silo itself?

Nah.

I'd say the only hazard here aside from the scrappers is the rattle snakes.



It's a shame how much has been removed. This site used to offer a ton of cold war goodies, AKA an intact old image enlargement station, magazine loading equipment, etc.

I didn't run into scrappers, coppers, or choppers when I went up there. Just a serene hilltop facility with birds and buses.

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Posted by SurlySilverback 1. http://i.imgur.com/zZBB4THl.jpg 2. http://i.imgur.com/YbeQV7Sl.jpg 3. http://i.imgur.com/YoPs3kUl.jpg 4. http://i.imgur.com/pCrjFHBl.jpg 5. http://i.imgur.com/6qWVHsul.jpg 6. http://i.imgur.com/CjToHHll.jpg 7. http://i.imgur.com/qKpzmZvl.jpg 8. http://i.imgur.com/hm5cJwil.jpg 9. http://i.imgur.com/4DEjm8zl.jpg 10. http://i.imgur.com/On0dgvXl.jpg 11. http://i.imgur.com/NwuKCuwl.jpg 12. http://i.imgur.com/uSt8u9Fl.jpg 13. http://i.imgur.com/Cf6rW3il.jpg 14. http://i.imgur.com/3rVwpuvl.jpg 15. http://i.imgur.com/h3Racstl.jpg

Very nice! I know a lot of people who ran into trouble there, but seems like you and I got the luck of the draw.