A Quick Ride to a Minuteman Missile Silo

September 1, 2023

In what seems like a previous lifetime, about 50 years ago, I’d been forced into involuntary servitude and found myself, among other places, as security guard on a U.S. Army nuclear missile site near Wackernheim, Germany.  There I spent 14 months working 24 hours on followed by 24 hours off, repeat.  It was, thankfully I guess, as boring as can be.  The missiles were Nike/Hercs and the site was one of the first put in under NATO and, as such, rather primitive in that it was all above ground.  The missiles were stored in 3 “barns,” large warehouses, scattered about our 55 acre site cut into a German forest, surrounded by a double row of fencing and 4 guard towers.  When the Nike program was deactivated in 1979, the site was dismantled and let to return to nature.  Here is an aerial view of it today.  The barns were located where those square pads appear:

According to the reviews of the area on Google maps, it’s now a nature preserve and an artist built a lookout hill and stairs that were dedicated to peace.  The hill is located at the blue point above.  I picked up a couple photos from the reviews shown below.

So what does this have to do with FJR Adventures?  Well, Montana is one of the main locations for the Minuteman ICBMs which are stored in a variety of places across this part of the country.  These are stored in underground silos that are barely detectable from nearby roads but clearly viewable with satellite imagery.  And they are no secret as numerous web site discuss their locations.

I was shooting pool with friends yesterday and our host, Keith, who rides a Gold Wing and was on the recent group ride, asked if I had a ride planned.  I didn’t but after a few minutes we decided to do one today. He came over a bit before 9am and we discussed several options, trying to keep it at or around 3 hours due to his schedule.  We thought that the Pryor/St. Xavier, Hardin loop would be good but there is a large wildfire burning in that area so that’s out.  Natural Bridge south of Big Timber would be awesome but we really didn’t have the time.  Riding to Hysham out and back to see the Yucca Theater might be possible and the remaining one would be to Harlowton and back.  We both favored the latter and it would work for me because I’d been wanting to check out the Minuteman site 7 miles north of town.

Off we went with Keith in the lead.  A beautiful and cool morning with only a slight breeze.  We went out Hwy 3 and passed through Acton, Broadview, and Lavina before turning west on Hwy 12 which took us to Harlowton.  Keith pulled into Ray’s for gas, a place that was really busy.  I told him I’d meet him at the Rest Area next door.

We headed north on Hwy 191 for 7 miles and pulled over.  This is the missile site in the background.

Here’s a view from Google Maps. The silo is covered by a pentagon shaped cap.

Looking north toward the wind farm.

We rode north another 3 miles and pulled into what amounts to a visitors center for the wind farm company.  It’s really just 3 panels that discuss what they do there.  It was plenty breezy but nothing like the strong winds I’ve experienced here in the past.

Hear a panoramic video.

And that was it.  I led on the way back and we separated at Zimmerman and Hwy 3.  I stopped for gas before heading home, finishing up a 202.3 mile ride.