Hidden beneath the rolling fields of Sprague, Washington, lies one of America’s most remarkable Cold War relics – an Atlas E missile silo transformed into a fully functional underground home.
Originally built in the early 1960s as part of the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, this facility was one of just 27 Atlas E sites constructed nationwide. Each was designed to withstand nuclear blasts and protect intercontinental ballistic missiles at the height of Cold War tensions.
The Sprague silo, known as Site 4, was decommissioned after only four years of service when missile technology advanced beyond the Atlas E program. For decades, it sat abandoned – a buried monument to the nuclear age.
From Nuclear Deterrent to Underground Home
In the early 1990s, retired engineer David McIntyre purchased the empty silo and began a decades-long project to convert it into a livable subterranean home.
With no guidebook to follow, McIntyre carved through reinforced concrete for plumbing and wiring, installed ventilation, waterproofing, and even built a homemade elevator to connect the underground structure to the surface above.
Over time, the silo evolved into a comfortable two-bedroom dwelling with a kitchen, storage rooms, and a recreation area dubbed “the Green Room.” McIntyre’s ingenuity turned a decommissioned weapon site into a warm, habitable refuge – not as a prepper’s bunker, but as an engineering masterpiece.
Today, the property is cared for by McIntyre’s daughter and son-in-law, who preserve both its history and its craftsmanship.
Featured by Faircompanies
The unique site was featured in a popular YouTube video by Kirsten Dirksen on the Faircompanies channel, titled “Turning giant Cold War missile silo into 50-ton door underground home.”
The video tour, hosted by McIntyre’s son-in-law Tom, offers a rare look inside the massive silo — from its heavy steel blast doors and concrete corridors to the comfortable living spaces built within.
https://youtu.be/Br0Il37t5Uk?si=HF42nbJb_gjuk_gT
For Sale: Own a Piece of Cold War History
The Washington Missile Base is now listed for sale, offering roughly 24.5 acres of land and over 19,000 square feet of combined underground and surface structures.
The site includes the original silo, a drive-in ramp, blast doors, a large metal workshop, and living quarters. It is currently marketed at $1.45 million, according to the official listing at washingtonmissilebase.com.
With its Cold War origins, heavy-duty engineering, and one-of-a-kind living concept, the property draws interest from historians, survivalists, and architecture enthusiasts alike.
Legacy
From Cold War weapon to family home, the Washington Missile Base stands as a testament to creativity and reinvention. It reminds us that even structures built for destruction can be reshaped into something enduring — and deeply human.