Delta-01 Launch Control Facility — Attraction in Wall

Our recent visit to the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility was nothing short of fascinating! Even though we were unable to secure a guided tour, the grounds alone presented a unique and captivating window into our nation's history.

The exterior of the facility and the surrounding landscapes alone are worth the drive. Coupled with informative displays and markers, one can easily get a sense of the significant role this place played during the Cold War era. We found ourselves immersed in a living, breathing history lesson.

It was an unforgettable experience to stand at the very site that once held immense power over the fate of our world. Every detail, from the seemingly nondescript entryways to the massive protective doors, instilled a deep appreciation for the gravity and complexity of nuclear deterrence strategies in the past.

I must commend the staff as well. Even without a tour, they were friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to answer our queries. Their dedication to maintaining and sharing this critical piece of history is commendable.

All in all, the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility was an intriguing, thought-provoking and educational destination. If you find yourself in the area, it's a must-visit. It gives you a humbling perspective on our history and the progress we...

So worth booking a tour to this facility! The other two parts of the Minuteman Missile sites accessible to visitors are a launch silo with a model missile visible, and a visitor center with details and historical information. But the star of the show is this facility, which you need to pre-book for.

We were taken around the site (both "topside" and underground) by Jim Boensch, who spent his career as a missileer and logged countless hours at the ready in the launch control facility and in Looking Glass plane missions. Couldn't have asked for a better guide, from the personal notes about the menu for those at the facility, to quips about the irony of a volleyball court on the windy prairie.

The preserved site is an amazing collection of facilities and tech from the 1960s on to the 1990s, about technology and tensions that continue to endure.

Once more: you need tickets to enter, and you need to buy them in advance. They sell out quickly during the high...

The Delta-01 Launch Control facility is located between Delta-09 and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site visitor center. This review is for the self-guided ground tour only*.

An audio tour of the grounds is available by either calling the phone number posted or by clicking a link on the website. There is an interpretive sign near the parking lot, as well as flush toilets. The parking lot can accommodate a couple of RVs or trailers at a time.

*The park service provides guided tours of the actual launch facility, but it is difficult to reserve a spot unless you plan well in advance. Each tour can only accommodate 6 people plus the ranger. Reservations open up 90 days in advance and fill up quickly. We tried to get reservations about 6 weeks in advance only to find they were...