Searching for a home that's ready for anything the world can throw at it? Built during the Cold War, this abandoned missile silo complex in Kansas is about as secure as real estate gets. The fortified hideout was designed to withstand nuclear blasts, making it the perfect place to hunker down in the event of a disaster. The unique property came up for sale back in 2021 for $380,000 (£297k) but it didn't hang around long and was snapped up just four months later. 

Click or scroll on to tour this nuclear bunker complex and discover what makes it so special...

Tucked away in the Kansas wilderness not far from the city of Abilene, this decommissioned base was originally built to house an Atlas F missile and launch control centre. These ballistic weapons were deployed by the US from 1962 to 1965 and played a crucial role in deterring Soviet forces during the tense Cold War period. 

Now, from the surface at least, all that remains of the once secretive site is a handful of faded former military structures.

Situated on 11 acres (4.5ha) of land, the grounds are of medium size for an Atlas F missile silo complex. Reportedly, plot sizes would vary greatly from five (2ha) to 22 acres (8.9ha). 

Unsurprisingly, the military site piqued plenty of attention when it hit the market with Hirsch Real Estate at the end of 2021 for $380,000 (£297k). Prior to this, the property had been put up for sale back in March 2020 for $420,000 (£328k) but it was removed when no buyer could be found. Happily, the complex had more success in 2021 and has been under new ownership since April 2022.

So what exactly did the lucky buyer get for their money? One of the most secure structures out there it appears. As shown in this illustration of the subterranean shelter, the control centre is submerged just below ground level, while the main missile silo is nestled 170 feet (52m) beneath the earth.

Incredibly, the Atlas F design was built to withstand a 200 pound-per-square-inch (14kgf/cm²) blast, making it the first of the super-hardened missile silos. 

Pictured here is the unassuming entrance to the bunker, concealing the huge underground structure that lies beneath. 

While it may not have looked like much from the surface, security was exceptionally tight in the heyday of these Cold War facilities. The Atlas F complexes were originally surrounded by an eight-foot-high (2.4m) chain link fence topped with barbed wire. You’d certainly feel safe hunkering down here. 

Ideal for off-grid living, the abandoned bunker has its own water, electricity and sewage systems already in place from its time as an inhabited military base.

According to Kansas newspaper The Hutchinson News, construction costs for the Atlas F sites ranged from $14 million to $18 million in 1960, which would be around $148 million (£115.6m) to $191 million (£149.2m) today. We'd say the silo's new owner got a real bargain!

Entering the silo is a rather intimidating feat. Long flights of concrete stairs descend into the complex through a windowless stairwell. It's not hard to imagine how the base's military staff must have felt when they first made the daunting journey down into the facility.

The Atlas F complex was built from concrete mixed with epoxy-based resin to strengthen the walls. Combined with approximately 600 tons (544t) of steel rebar, the fabric of the bunker can withstand the equivalent of a 500-mile-per-hour (805kph) wind.

When the silo was up for sale back in 2021, it was in a somewhat forlorn condition. Pictured here, you can see paint crumbling from the walls and exposed electrical wiring lacing the corridors.

Nevertheless, there's no denying the potential given the sheer scale of the complex, which has 6,900 square feet (641sqm) to play with. 

Here we see the launch control centre, a smaller cylindrical underground chamber consisting of two levels. The complex was run from the lower storey, which would have housed the launch control console to operate the missile if disaster struck. Meanwhile, staff barracks were housed in the upper storey. 

Three blast doors protect the launch control centre, while a concrete access tunnel, pictured here, connects it to the missile silo itself.

In total, the US government constructed 72 Atlas F missile silos across the country, with most of the sites concentrated in the rural Midwest. When the complexes were decommissioned in 1965 after the invention of the more powerful Titan missile, the old Atlas F missiles were retired and repurposed as space launch vehicles.

Although the complex isn't short of living space, the bunker contained just one rudimentary bathroom when it went up for sale in 2021. You can see the shower cubicle here, complete with an old plastic curtain. 

The current condition of the bunker is unknown, but plenty of work would've been required to bring this unusual property into a habitable condition. However, a full renovation would've resulted in a pretty unique piece of real estate. 

On their own, the two levels of the control centre each encompass an impressive 1,200 square feet (111sqm). While the unique geometry of the vast, circular rooms may feel a little daunting at first, the spaces could make characterful open-plan living areas or perhaps a large workshop or office. 

Pictured here is the spartan upper level of the launch control centre, where staff would have retired between shifts. Back in the silo's operational prime, the base would have been run by a five-man crew who would work 24-hour shifts on rotation. Atlas F staff accommodation was utilitarian in design and usually encompassed bunk beds, a kitchen and a wash space. 

Following the decommissioning of the Atlas F missile silos, many were stripped of their parts, which were reused in other military facilities, leaving only the silos' structural walls. This explains why the base looked pretty desolate when it went up for sale. 

Nevertheless, more and more people have been taking on ambitious renovations of these military relics, turning them into everything from residences to conference centres. In fact, the Zillow listing for the property even revealed that the previous owners had "successfully built out another Atlas F silo to live in" and were happy to advise the new owner.

Adjacent to the launch control centre, the cylindrical silo itself has a diameter of 52 feet (15.8m). In order to launch the missile, which was removed from the base when it was decommissioned, two 90-ton (81.6t) doors would have been opened hydraulically.

Given the bunker's unique architecture and features, it's hardly surprising that a number of renovated missile silos have proved popular on Airbnb, drawing in curious visitors who want to spend a night underground.

In addition to the bunker and silo, the lucky buyer also got this 4,000-square-foot (372sqm) Quonset building, complete with water, electricity and a sewage system. 

These prefabricated structures were made from corrugated steel and were easy to assemble. The design was developed in the US, where hundreds of thousands were produced during the Second World War.

Inside, the hut appeared to be in relatively good condition when the base was put on the market in 2021.

There were originally two Quonset buildings installed on Atlas F sites. Most of the structures were removed when the sites were decommissioned and the metal was salvaged and reused, making this shelter an especially unusual find. 

Listing photos of one of the rooms in the Quonset hut reveal a plethora of bright colours across the walls, from lime green to blue and purple. Perhaps this space was used as a classroom – or a visiting room if the families of employees were given permission to drop by. One thing's for sure, it certainly stands out among the expanses of grey concrete. 

The rolling acreage also includes an extra outbuilding built from breeze blocks. While the space isn't watertight, it could make an ideal storage space. Alternatively, the structure could be renovated into a home office perhaps or a hobby room.

Combining security and unique architecture, this former missile silo is certainly a fascinating real estate find. We wonder what the new owner has planned for this promising property. With any hope, the base's historic features will be preserved and the structure will be brought up to date for modern living. Watch this space!

Loved this? Take a tour of more incredible bunkers from around the world