Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex

Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex is a military base in Cavalier County, North Dakota. A concrete pyramid rises above flat farmland, holding technical rooms once used for tracking objects in the sky, with additional bunkers and underground launch equipment spread across the site.

Construction began in 1970 after Congress approved a system to intercept incoming missiles. The facility opened in October 1975 and closed in February 1976, making it the shortest-lived missile defense station of its kind.

The facility represents Cold War military engineering through its technical design incorporating both long-range Spartan and short-range Sprint missile defense capabilities.

The site sits in a rural area near the Canadian border, roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) northeast of the town of Nekoma. Parts of the complex are now privately owned and not open to the public, though the pyramid remains visible from a distance.

During its brief operation, the complex was designed to coordinate two types of interceptor missiles: long-range Spartan missiles for targets in space and fast Sprint missiles for lower altitudes. The pyramid has since been repurposed for a data center, with former military rooms taking on new commercial functions.

Location: Cavalier County

Inception: 1975

GPS coordinates: 48.58940,-98.35670

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:00