Nike Missile Control Site N-85 – Newport News, Virginia - Atlas Obscura
Nike Missile Control Site N-85 is permanently closed.

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Nike Missile Control Site N-85

This former POW camp was transformed into a Cold War missile installation.  

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During the Cold War, the United States opened hundreds of Nike Missile Sites across the country, designed to protect the country from attack. Eight of these installations were located in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

This site was originally a World War II POW camp and staging area known as Camp Patrick Henry. After the war, a portion of Camp Patrick Henry was converted into a Nike Missile Control Site in 1955 where it housed the US Army’s Nike Ajax, and later in 1958, the Nike Hercules missiles.

In 1971, the Nike Missile Control Site N-85 was decommissioned.

Today, the looming radar towers and scattered abandoned buildings are all that remain.

Know Before You Go

Best to visit on the weekend or a holiday as it is located right next to the airport which is pretty active during the week. Also, wear bug spray and watch for snakes.

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May 2, 2022

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