US Army Space and Missile Defense Command
Near Olga, ND
Vacant as of Summer '05

A different kind of abandoned place.

In the Cold War, North Dakota was a northern stronghold of military technology; a frontline of defense against evils which could strike from over the North Pole at any moment. The state boasted numerous Air Force Bases, Radar Bases, and Space and Missile Defense Bases like this one. Indeed, Grand Forks Air Force Base can briefly be seen on a map in the movie "WarGames" as a supposed Soviet "First-Strike" target.

Although we don't know the story of this particular base (we'd love to find out if someone would like to enlighten us), many of the bases in North Dakota have fallen victim to budget cuts and a changing political climate.

North Dakota's Early Warning Radar bases closed in the 70's with the signing of the SALT II treaty by President Jimmy Carter, which was a mutual stand-down of northern bases in both the Soviet Union and the US.

Another notable former base in North Dakota is a former Early Warning Radar base just south of Minot. At last check, that base had been bought by a developer and turned into a housing development.

Photos by Robert Hinnenkamp

Click Here to see a county-by-county North Dakota map of the Ghost Towns we've visited.