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All the United States California Los Angeles Nike Missile Control Site LA-96

Nike Missile Control Site LA-96

A Cold War site complete with rusty structures, hiking trails, and beautiful views.

Los Angeles, California

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Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96, 1/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
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  AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96, 1/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Informative signs are made to look like relics from the original military site.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
  Avoiding Regret (Used with permission)
from afar   Avoiding Regret (Used with permission)
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96.   AnnaIF / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In San Vicente Mountain Park, you can drive pretty close and then take a quick hike up to this Nike Missile Site, named for the missile project, not the shoe.  

During the Cold War in the late '50s, Army specialists monitored the skies from this high point between Los Angeles and the Valley, looking for Soviet air strikes. The technology at the site could both detect enemy aircraft and assist anti-aircraft missiles launched from a nearby facility.

Years of disuse later, the missile site is now part of a public park. People can stomp up the steel structures and enjoy the sweeping views in all directions. Not much has changed, or what's been added is deliberately made to match the existing structures, so it still sort of feels like somewhere you're not allowed to be.

Related Tags

Cold War Military History Missiles Parks Military

Know Before You Go

The dirt road is usually open to vehicles. If not, the missile site is about a 10-minute walk from the parking area. You can find a map of the park here.

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Added By

AnnaIF

Edited By

Craig Baker, Avoiding Regret, Keri Kilgo, MtnLady

  • Craig Baker
  • Avoiding Regret
  • Keri Kilgo
  • MtnLady

Published

October 31, 2019

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  • https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-01-me-20296-story.html
Nike Missile Control Site LA-96
Mulholland Dr
Los Angeles, California, 90049
United States
34.128402, -118.513046
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