Tour historic Nike missile site in Everglades National Park

During the winter season, the park offers tours of the hidden nuclear missile base

I’d been visiting Everglades National Park for 35 years and until a few years ago, I had never experienced one of its unique sights – the historic Nike missile site whose mission was to be ready to fire a nuclear missile in the next 15 minutes.

The Nike missile site in Everglades National Park is hidden deep within the park and has only been open to the public for a decade. In 2012, as part of the 50^th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the park unveiled an actual Nike Hercules missile that was carefully restored by students from Baker Aviation.

For lovers of history, folks who remember the Cold War or aviation fans, the Nike missile site tour is a fascinating trip back in time, available only during the winter season.

In November 2023, seasonal tours start on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, which is a free day at the park with a tour at 2 p.m. Then tours are given weekends in November at 2 p.m.

Starting in December, there are regular 90-minute tours and the Nike site is open to visitors. (Details on schedule when it is released.)

The base tour begins at the Daniel Beard Center on Research Road. You can get directions at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.

There is no fee in addition to park entrance and no registration for the tour is required.

Warning sign at Nike missile base Everglades National Park — Nike missile base in Everglades: They weren’t kidding about security.

nike missile site in Everglades cuban missile crisis Tour historic Nike missile site in Everglades National Park

It started with the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Nike base was built in response to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis – the closest the US ever came to a nuclear conflict with the Soviet Union. It remained in operation until 1979 and today it is listed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. The Everglades base was one of four Nike bases in South Florida, each with 18 Hercules missiles ready to intercept a Soviet attack from Cuba,

Since tours began at the Nike base, the park has been “overwhelmed by interest,” according to Ranger Leon Howell, who recently retired from the park service.

The rangers who give tours are all military veterans and the tour emphasizes the experiences of the men who served here, according to the tour manager, Ranger Kirk Singer.

“Today, less than one percent of the population is serving in one of the four branches of the military and most people not only never served, they don’t know anybody who has served,” said a ranger who served in the Marines for nine years. “We get some points across that may be somewhat contrary to popular opinion.”

Nike missile site in Everglades takes you back to the ’60s

Original artwork by soldiers in place at Nike base — The original artwork by soldiers stationed at the Nike base in the ’60 and ’70s is still in place in Everglades National Park.

The highly effective tour led by storytelling ranger begins by evoking the era. When this base was built, Bob Dylan was singing A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall and the daily weather report included information on radiation levels in the atmosphere (because of all the nuclear testing being done.) People were building fallout shelters in their backyards.

“And we were doing duck-and-cover drills in school – as though that was going to help,” Ranger Howell said on his tour. I remember it well: Nuclear war seemed very possible, some thought inevitable.

Nike base little changed from its heyday

Nike base is on National Register of Historic Places — The historic Nike missile site in the Everglades is especially well preserved because it is in a national park.

Once the Nike base was abandoned, because it was in a national park, it changed little. Thus the buildings have the original murals painted by soldiers and you can see the scary original warning signs (“U.S. Army Restricted Area. Use of Deadly Force Is Authorized.”)

One inexplicable thing that hasn’t changed is that the administration building is pink. Now called the Beard Center, a workplace for Everglades scientists, the admin building for the Nike base is a large pink structure where the tours begin. Originally, this site would have had five tall radar towers.

After getting the scene-setting intro talk, participants drive two miles to the missile site – what the soldiers called “down range.”

High security made Nike base an intense spot

Lock door message at Nike base Everglades National Park — **Inside the assembly building, little has changed at the Nike base, including this warning.**

A locked gate is only a hint of the security once present. Because the site held nuclear weapons – or “special weapons” as the U.S. Army called them – the level of security had an intensity that is hard to imagine. Fierce Army attack dogs were kept in on-site kennels. Howell joked: “There were no ‘bring your kid to work’ days here.”

On the tour, you get to peek into the bunkers built into berms where the men hunkered down sometimes for days, to be prepared to fire the missiles.

Refurbished Nike Hercules missile is highlight

Ranger Howell with photo of Nike missile launch — **Before unveiling the missile, Ranger Howell talks about what a missile launch would be like.**

The tour’s indisputable highlight, however, is the missile assembly building and Howell builds up the drama. Standing in front of the building (one of three on the site) he shows photos of the launch of a Nike Hercules missile and describes how it would be one mile high in 3.5 seconds after its explosive launch.

Opening doors to Nike missile assembly building — The big reveal: Opening the doors to the assembly building on the Nike base in Everglades National Park.

Finally, it is time for the Big Reveal. With the help of any kids on the tour, Howell slides open the doors to the large assembly building where the white 1960 Nike Hercules missile gleams.

Inside the assembly building, the walls and bulletin boards are original. Doorways are still painted with the message: “Lock door immediately upon entry.”

Here also is the park’s second missile, captured as it would look while being unpacked from its crate (actually a tube). Missile crewmen assembled the weapon in this building, tested it with control panels on display, and pushed it out (by hand!) when the time came to fire. Then they’d take shelter in an underground bunker while soldiers in the pink control building 3,000 feet away pulled the trigger. Fortunately, they never had to. This Nike facility never fired a rocket even as a test. Crew members had to journey to White Sands to practice that.

Refurbished 1960 Nike Hercules missile at Everglades National Park.

Nevertheless, the men who worked here, Howell, said were “the heroes of the Cold War.” Looking back, we know they were safe here. But every time a Cuban aircraft came into U.S radar, he said, “these guys got an alert and they got these missiles ready.” For them, the Cold War was a real war.

After visiting this site, it is a little bit realer to all of us.

Visiting Nike missile site in Everglades National Park

If you are planning a visit to the park, it’s good to call or check the schedule of tours on the park’s website. You don’t need reservations for the Nike tour; just meet at the Daniel Beard Center, a few miles down the road that takes you to Royal Palm.

There are no bathrooms at the Nike base, so a quick stop at the visitor center is a good idea. Pick up a map too.

Be aware: Admission is $30 per car, with a pass good for seven days. (As soon as you turn 62, get a senior pass. For $80, it offers lifetime admission to national parks. Also: Take advantage of these free days in national parks.)

Here’s Florida Rambler’s guide to visiting Everglades National Park, complete with insider tips on best walks and side trips.

Here’s the history of Nike base from National Park Service.

Please confirm this information with the park website or by calling, as schedules can change.