'Hidden gem': Step inside the Kansas missile silo turned Airbnb
ELLSWORTH COUNTY (KSNT) - Ever wanted to take a snooze where a nuke used to sit? You can make your dream come true with a new Airbnb option in the heart of Kansas.
27 News spoke with Matthew Fulkerson, the proud owner of a former missile silo tucked away in the scenic Smoky Hills of Kansas. The nuclear weapons might be long gone, but the location offers guests a unique place to spend the night and explore the local area.
"Staying in an old abandoned missile base that's been turned into an Airbnb is one of those bucket list items," Fulkerson said. "Just to be able to go through and walk through the tunnels and into the silo is a pretty incredible experience."
Fulkerson says he purchased the property with the help of an investor in 2013 and has been working hard to get it ready for people to stay ever since. He moved out to the site in 2020 to cut down on the nearly three-hour drive time from Topeka and work on the site full-time. Though he occasionally gets help from friends and family, Fulkerson says he's been operating as a "one-wrecking crew" throughout the renovation process.
"Over the last year, I've been working diligently with the power washing, demolition and rebuilding it into a destination where people can actually stay," Fulkerson said. "I'm still in the process of finishing the lower areas."
He received additional funds from Airbnb through its 'OMG!' fund. Every year, Airbnb chooses 100 hosts around the world to receive $100,000 based on their originality and other factors.
"Out of thousands of hosts who applied from around the world to create a unique destination, I was one of the hundred chosen," Fulkerson said.
The site was opened several years ago as a campground for people traveling up and down I-70. Once he felt it was safe to do so, Fulkerson started offering historic tours down into the silo to show tourists what the facility looks like. He gave 27 News several photos showing what it looked like initially:
Fulkerson says he enjoys teaching people about Cold War history and how the rockets enforced the mutually assured destruction policies of the time. However, the facility looks a little more modern thanks to his efforts to make it into a livable space.
"Most [missile silos] are abandoned or in private hands," Fulkerson said. "This is a very unique experience you can hardly find anywhere else in the world."
Up to four people can sleep at a time in the silo in its king bed or bunk beds. Modern amenities include TVs, a microwave, fridge and coffee maker. People can start reserving the missile silo resort on Monday, March 25 for $300 a night to book the Airbnb.
Fulkerson says he's also applied for a $50,000 tourism attraction grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce. He plans to use this cash to add in a sauna, spa area and an ice-cold plunge to the undeveloped parts of the silo.
The Airbnb can be found just off I-70 near the City of Wilson in Ellsworth County. Aside from exploring the site itself, people can also head over to nearby Wilson State Park for outdoor recreation activities.
"I thought this was a hidden gem for tourism," Fulkerson said. "Right off the interstate, close to one of the largest lakes in the state."
You can find the missile silo at 354 Fourth Road in Wilson. You can stay the night either at the above-ground campsite or reserve the silo itself. For more information, check out the resort's website by clicking here.
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