Nekoma Safeguard Complex
Cavalier County
The Nekoma Safeguard Complex is a unique place in the history of the US military’s anti-ballistic missile effort. A portion of the Wikipedia entry for this place: the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard complex in Nekoma, North Dakota, with the separate long-range detection radar located further north near the town of Cavalier, North Dakota, was the only operational anti-ballistic missile system ever deployed by the United States. It defended Minuteman ICBM missile silos near the Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota.
It had reinforced underground launchers for thirty Spartan and sixteen Sprint nuclear tipped missiles (an additional fifty or so Sprint missiles were deployed at four remote launch sites). The complex was deactivated during 1976 after being operational for less than four months, due to concerns over continuing an anti-missile-missile arms race, cost, effectiveness, and changing political rhetoric.
We took these photos not a moment too soon… we were promptly thrown off the property by an angry man in a black truck. We went through two gates (they were standing wide open) to get these photos, and we missed one ‘No Trespassing’ sign which was partially obscured by a fence post. Apologies to the property owner. We meant no harm.
This feature is occasionally referred to as “Nixon’s Pyramid”
This anti-ballistic missile defense facility was linked to other remote facilities in the countryside around Grand Forks Air Force Base. Terry’s dad took some photos of RSL #3 here if you’d like to see an example.
Photos by Troy and Terry
Copyright Sonic Tremor Media LLC
Wow–I was born and raised in Langdon and these pictures bring back many memories! Thanks for posting…..
The flag is still flying so somone must be around, right? Do they still man the buildings?
They still clean it and take care of it. They do this so they can reactivate the base whenver.
That’s some pretty heavy frost looks like a buaitufel place to take a walk. Do you have any shots of it during spring or summer, possibly fall? I bet it’s gorgeous there year-round.
My husband was a W-4 and we were stationed at this site. It was a great place to be and we thoroughly enjoyed living in North Dakota. There were 100 housing units on the base and we had a 4 bedroom house and it was very comfortable. The Winters were cold, but beautiful and the summers were very mild. My sons started to school in a school house that was built in the 1800′s and was heated by Coal.
It was a wonderful experience for all of and the people there were the best. Very friendly and helpful.
We even had a garden at one of the farms and the growing season was from June 1 to September 1 and of course, it was daylight until about Midnight.
I have never lieved anywhere that I enjoyed more than Nekoma, North Dakota.
We saw the flag, but whomever was using some of the buildings (several of them were obviously unused) seemed to be using them for agricultural purposes. It is our understanding that the property is privately owned now, as versus by the government.
I thought state historical society owned this now. Wow…eerie. Even on a sunny summer day.
I understood the North Dakota Historical society was dontated the property also its on their web site anyway
Wow! That thing is going to throw the aliens way off when they come to visit, thinking they are in Egypt… LOL
there was an article in the GF Herald about a year ago saying that part of this site was being redevloped for use in the UND UAV program. Maybe the building with the flag is part of that. Otherwise, that site has been empty for many years.
you shoud get a hold of Buzzy Holeman, I believe he is the caretaker for it. He has some pretty good stories to go along with the place. He lives in edmore, he has double h construction.
Buzzy was probably the angry old guy. LOL The site just south of Nekoma was the original Nelson homestead.
Wow, fascinating place! Whoever the caretaker is, they sure keep it mowed up and trimmed very nicely.
Buzzy is a good guy. If he was the one giving you a hard time, it’s probably just because there are some spots around the site where a person could fall in/down and get hurt, and so they like to keep the area clear of unguided visitors. Gotta protect the foolish and/or over adventurous from themselves, at least on state property!
I’ve had the chance to take a guided tour of the site, including some of the missile storage bunkers. It’s pretty fascinating.
I wonder what folks will make of this a few milleniums from now…..
I’m pretty sure it won’t last a few millennia. The government doesn’t come anywhere near the quality of ancient Egyptian builders.
I lived on the base while in 9th & 10th grade at Langdon High School. We eventually moved into Langdon as the base neared completion and civilian workers families were no longer allowed to ive on base. I left ND in 1978 and returned only once in 1986, for my 10 year class reunion. Most, if not all of the housing units had already been removed. It’s sad to think about all the millions and likely billions of dollars our government poured into the Safeguard program only to shut it down shortly afterit became operational.
You should contact Carol Goodman of the Cavalier County Job Development Agency. She is working on the next chapter in the Nekoma site story. She could give you accurate information about the ownership and proposed future of this site.
I’ve been there. It’s creepy, to bad they can’t find some use for these empty buildings. I am surprised someone was around to chase you off.
The place is taken care of By Buzzy Holman who is out there almost every day. He mows and keeps the grounds neat. The government still owns it because they dont want to pay billions to tear it down. It costs less to hire someone to take care of it than fill in many holes and tear down the perimid which would cost billiions to tear down. Langdon is looking at buying the facility but most likely will not beable to get the UAV in because it is heavily based in Grand Forks.
The site is managed by the corp of engineers. I don’t believe the property has changed ownership although Cavalier County economic development is trying to work with the government and UND for uav training. I worked there in the early 70′s and went to a reunion there in 2010. It was organized by Janet Schiller of Nekoma and was very informational and a good time.
Who said that the U.S. Government can give away millions or billions of dollars worth of stuff. Used or unused. It should have become a museum before selling it for a buck.
I worked at this site when it was just a hole in the ground with people scrambling everywhere–it was 1970. I watched this being built and then abandoned. I married a farmer from here who worked at the Remote Sites, MSR and PAR. I still live here and it always makes me sad to drive by and see the remnants of this Government project. I guess it provided a lot of jobs for awhile.
Don Axtman: Worked at both sites 1st at PAR site near Concrete ND for Napolean Steel and 2nd for Johnson Control at the MSR site near Nekoma ND. We were preparing for transfer to Montana for the second facility when Nixon shut the progam down.
i I was a firefighter there from the fall of 74 – and this place became operational 30 Sep 75 adn salt II treaty with Gerald Ford provided for a closure (missile removal) in 76 and as a reasult I left. This was like something out af a james Bond movie, security, blast doors, 9 ft thick walls of steel/concrete – were told it could take a direct hit form an atomic bomb (500 megaton) and survive, most ofthe stuff inside that was technical was on big shock absorbers hanging form ceilieng (as I recall there were 7 floors) and would then swing and remian intact during a strike ont he bldg. this ought to be a museum. the storyy inthe 70′s (prior to the space shuttles) was the US was going to b uild space shuttles, and with the capabilities of this building and the flatland in the area, a 10 mile landing strip would be built to be the spaeport for the shuttles Met and worked with LOTS of good people there!
Darrell Graf
I worked there under the YACC Program in 1978-1979. This was a youth program developed under President Carter. Any other YACC program people out there. We cleaned out the buildings, painted dorms, opened the gym and youth center and did a bunch of other stuff. What exactly was the deal with that program anyway. Now that I am older it really make me wonder.
This facility is listed on the GSA website as “for sale.”
https://rc.gsa.gov/ResourceCenter/PRHomePage/loadProperty.do?propId=2174
This would be a doomsday prepper’s dream. Fascinating.
PS: Like this website and knowledgeable commenters. Thanks!
We were stationed there from 1972 to 1976 and thoroughly enjoyed our tour of duty there.
The people were warm and friendly and it was a great place to be.
My two sons went to school in Nekoma and never missed a day in the winter because of the weather.
We had so much fun at Senator Young Dam riding snow sleds down the dam. What wonderful memories I have ot Nekoma and Langdon.
I haven’t been back but would really like to some day.
I am researching the power generation facilities used at Nekoma. I believe they used Cooper-Bessemer engines with GE generators. I’d love to hear from anyone who has information about the power system.
Thanks! Eric
eric.lowell@yahoo.com
I worked at the MSR site in the 70′s left in 1977. I lived in Edmore. Spent some time in the Nekoma bar lol.
I remember driving past it on our way to Missle Alerts at Alpha-0 ICBM control site. Miss the Dairy Queen at Langdon. Lot’s of memories of North Dakota.