Tour a missile base at Everglades National Park

RVers who visit Everglades National Park expect to see swamps and maybe an alligator. But not many would expect to find an important relic from the Cold War era. But they can: for the second season, the park is offering ranger-led tours of the Nike Hercules Missile Base HM-69. The site remains virtually the same as when it closed in 1979.

This missile base was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1963 at the height of the Cold War, immediately following the Cuban Missile Crisis. At a time when national security against Soviet attack was America’s main priority, the United States Army chose this strategic site within Everglades National Park, located 160 miles from the Cuban coast.

The area today includes 22 contributing buildings and structures. Some that are part of the tour include three missile barns built to contain 41-foot missiles (some with nuclear warheads) a missile assembly building, a guard dog kennel, barracks, control centers within berms that served as blast protection, and a number of other features.

This base is one of four that were built in South Florida; one in north Key Largo (now Key Largo Hammocks State Park), one in Miramar (now a Publix shopping center), one that is now the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Krome Detention Center, and the site in Everglades National Park.

The free interpretive tours are held daily at 10 am and at 2 pm on weekends only. To join a tour, reserve a space at the park's Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center or by calling 305-242-7700. Tours are by car caravan, thus tour participants should arrive at the visitor center 30 minutes before each tour and be prepared to drive 14 miles round trip. The Ernest Coe Visitor Center is located 9 miles southwest of Homestead on State Road 9336.

Long Pine Campground with 108 drive up sites is close by. It has restrooms, water and a dump station, but no hookups. Sites are on a first-come, first serve basis.

Photo: While there are no missiles currently stored at the base, these are images of missiles that were once commonplace on this site.