Abandoned missile base exploration. Marlton, NJ

[@josephclements8031]

These Videos of Nike Missile sites in the NY / Phil area air defense command, is like walking thru a ghost town. I spent 6 years of my life as an Air Defence Missile Crewman ( Nike Hercules at sites such as Orangeburgh, NY, White Plains, and others including at Fort Bliss, Texas) from 1960 - 1966). When I see what’s left of these sites I can see the people who ran these sites on a 24 hour/ 365 day a year basis and how the equipment and buildings looked when they were operational. Yeah, I’m getting old (84) but I still remember it like it was yesterday) including our annual practice in the missile ranges near Fort Bliss where we fired these missiles against drones and simulated targets. After a successful week of practice we went to Juarez, Mexico to let off steam! Can’t say more about that since this may be a family - oriented video!

[@walkingcam1]

Thanks a lot, Joseph for details you shared!

[@JMH1967]

I lived in Marlton in the 80s and actually went back there. It was pretty cool checking out all the old what I thought were silos at the time. Good stuff

[@walkingcam1]

Hi! You mean five towers on the control site? They were used for radars of aircraft/missile detection on long distances.

[@DerekMinghetti]

I lived in new world (1st section before willow ridge )…we used to go back there all the time

[@jazzyjeff1775]

Thanks for the Maps!!! I wish all of these kinds of videos had them.. I appreciate the extra effort.

[@walkingcam1]

Thank you) I'm going to add them to all excessive sites i will explore))

[@candicewhittaker9905]

This is very well done!! Just the kind of information I want to see when exploring places of the past. It's hard to imagine how it used to be. You really put things into perspective.

[@walkingcam1]

Thank you, Kit (don't know your real name, sorry) There're two huge big bunkers on this base as well. Unfortunately, inaccessible and flooded.

[@toddhatfield8406]

I grew up in Mt. Holly NJ and there was a Nike base just outside Lumberton we used to explore

[@walkingcam1]

Yes, that was base PH-23/25. It's completely demolished now, right?

[@toddhatfield8406]

@@walkingcam1 Yes all gone now

[@Scott-hb1xn]

Last I heard, part if the magazine is in use by the township(you cans see it if you look at the satellite view on Google maps, below the Lumberton Township Public Works builfing...- and until they built the new township building across the road, the last buildings at that section were in use as the police dept... there is still a radar tower or two standing where the landscaping company is on the corner of Earystown & Newbolds Corner/Municipal drive- the old main road through the complex, and the old Midway School had some of them, but they are gone.

[@dvk1895]

Your production work is incredible! Great job. Now is time to challenge the vortex.

[@walkingcam1]

Hello David) Thanks a lot! Waiting for good weather for vortex. It's hard to find info about that place 🙄

[@richardvg7670]

Really nice touch adding the base layout out outline while you're exploring that's pretty cool nice to see where and what the original buildings were too

[@walkingcam1]

thanks)

[@blaze3884]

Many of these missile silos are fully capable of being operational again. The interiors are all in one piece, and could accept nuke missiles if the gov wished. I was in a silo up here in Maine, it was VERY much in perfect condition, just no missiles. Congrats on the research!

[@walkingcam1]

Hi, Blaze, i think so. The underground should be sealed with concrete and may be used in future

[@JumpStop1]

I miss NJ. I grew up there and we would explore so much. The woods were full of adventure. Great video!

[@walkingcam1]

thank you! Love this place too

[@dalemettee1147]

In 1964, I was trained on the operation and maintenance of these elevators. I had to learn hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical circuitry, air conditioning and replacement of major parts of supporting equipment. On my return to my base, I was transferred to the motor pool and became a motor pool leader.

[@walkingcam1]

Hello Dale, that's very cool! Thank you for your service! Before the visit i was trying to figure out how the elevators worked. They should be really fast, i guess, to lift the missile from the bunker and set up on the launch site. Two weeks later after this video had been published i managed to take a look inside the bunker at nearby base in NJ. Elevators, of course, were dismantled, but i saw some metal equipment like oil tanks for hydraulic actuators, parts of AC system, and something like giant oil filters. Could you explain me a couple of things about the elevators ? - Were they used for initial targeting of missiles or just for lifting them from vault and aiming to East? - Each elevator was used for a single missile or was rechargeable? I mean, after launching a missile, the elevator immediately was loaded with next one ? Thanks in advance!

[@michaelmorley9475]

Grew up in Marlton in the 80's and use to play in that base as a kid. The main entrance was what is now the main entrance to Brairwood. There actually was one building still standing at that time, I assume the water treatment. It was perhaps a 3 story block building. It was gutted, including the stairs. However someone chiseled holes in the walls so you could climb back up. People would also use it as a shooting range facing the berm. Wasn't the safest place to play but it sure was fun. Thanks for the video!!!

[@walkingcam1]

Thanks, Michael! Yeah, there's not too much to see now, and i used old plans of the base to fins exact location/purpose of buildings.

[@youtubetest7282]

I noticed at 4:39, you can slightly see a little handle sticking out of the building. Was that maybe a hatch to get inside?

[@walkingcam1]

No, those constructions aren't supposed to have access from side. But there's a big hatch open on the top. Nothing interesting inside, just debris and leaves((

[@williamwintemberg]

This video reminded me of the Cold War as I often had nightmares of nuclear explosions as a child. I know these were for bomber defence and became obsolete when ICBMs came to be. There was one at the junction of 322 and Kings Highway. Another on Berlin Crosskeys Road. Another on 624 just outside of Pitman. There are buildings on this site in use to this day. Part is owned by a Christian School and part is owned by a construction company. This video showed me much of what I didn't know about these sites. I had no idea of how they were laid out and worked. Great research and videography! You got my brain working one more time.

[@walkingcam1]

Hello, William. Right. I have read about history of 12 bases around Philadelphia. There should be big rooms under the launch area and i hoped to find any access to undergrounds. Unfortunately, everything is flooded. Looks like is was done purposely

[@williamwintemberg]

@@walkingcam1 They may have been purposely flooded. On the other hand they were most likely built well enough when water would get in it wouldn't get out. Who knows? I was just a little kid when they were in operation. I remember seeing the radar antennas. In your research did you find any information of some sites that just had radar for targeting with no missiles? You have uncovered things I have never found. Of the three I mentioned I believe the one outside of Pitman did have missiles. All very interesting to me. Again, good job on this video!

[@walkingcam1]

Thank you) I have read that each missile site had, at least, three radars. First - to control the missile. Second - to track target. Third one - acquisition radar. However, control area with radars may be located separately from launch area. A base at the junction of 322 and Kings was Nike missile Site PH-58. Also four missile silos are hidden there. Looks like, they are not abandoned, just sealed. Outside of Pitman - base PH-49.

[@williamwintemberg]

@@walkingcam1 Wow! Thank You so much! Again, very interesting!

[@bryce031]

@@williamwintemberg My mother has told me about a school trip she took as a young child in the late 50's to the one in Mantua Township (where the Pitman base actually is found) on the corner of Jefferson Road and Barnsboro Road. Kramer Construction now owns the land and operates out of there. She has recounted they started at the (present day) Gloucester County Christian School and walked through a tunnel underground to the Nike Base (about 1/2 mile away!). I now work in Marlton where this base is and I've been told there was a tunnel from this base to the Methodist Church on Plymouth Drive. I was recently in the basement of this church and found what I believe to be the tunnel entrance, but have been unable to confirm. Obviously, much like the footage here of the base, they have been poured with fill and concrete (if they are indeed what I think they are). I grew up between Pitman and Mullica Hill. I've always been fascinated by these old bases. The one in Swedesboro was always neat to see driving by, but was always VERY inaccessible. Have you ever heard of these tunnels? Anyone?

[@DerekMinghetti]

I used to play in this exact base in the 80’s…it was abandoned but still had the roads and building standing…crazy to see how much isn’t there anymore.they build a development on it now

[@walkingcam1]

Hi, Derek. Yes, i heard that the ruins gonna be finally torn down. Just wanted to film the base in its last years.

[@notloganparker]

Fun hike! Shame there's not much of the site left, it would've been awesome to explore those buildings

[@walkingcam1]

Right, that was a lot of structures. I didn't dare to unblock hatches but looks like underground rooms can't be explored without scuba 🙂

[@KFV8]

@@walkingcam1 sometimes the water level will go down i was just there this week and the stairs weren’t flooded like usual im planning on attempting to go inside sometime

[@walkingcam1]

@@KFV8 you mean if the underground is accessible over there? I didn't see any hatches unsealed

[@KFV8]

@@walkingcam1 yeah there’s a stair well with some big cement thing on top of it it looks almost like a cellar hatch there’s a narrow opening you can go into and it’s a stairwell in

[@KFV8]

@@walkingcam1 the bunkers a few feet away from that section of the base are also accessible by the top for both and there should be a partial opening in the back of the second one i live in the area and i go there a lot

[@ogearbox6132]

I grew up in Mt. Holly and later lived in Marlton. I recall driving by this location many times. The one in Lumberton was also another I drove past many times. Interesting to see the trees appear about 50 yrs or so old. Interesting to see this video of my old haunts.

[@walkingcam1]

Thank you for watching 🙂 This base is one of the few still exists

[@1993MAZDAMIATA]

There was one in lumberton sadly nobody ever did a video tour before it was knocked down

[@walkingcam1]

Yes 😦 But i found some photos here ph32.homestead.com

[@1993MAZDAMIATA]

@@walkingcam1 that’s of the Marlton but it’s still awesome. Appreciate it keep up the good work

[@walkingcam1]

@@1993MAZDAMIATA thank you))

[@LiftedJeepTJ98]

Excellent video and presentation! I've recently begun documenting through photography many of the former South Jersey sites. The Swedesboro control site was recently demolished, btw! I know exactly where this particular site in Evesham/Marlton is located. I've contemplated hiking in from Elmwood Rd since it appears the actual road once used to access the base now "runs into" the rear of a nursery along Tomlinson Mill Rd. Would you mind sharing how you got to the site? Where along the access road you entered?

[@walkingcam1]

Control site demolished? Oh, damn me. So sad To reach Marlton, i parked on the closest street (Old Republic Lane). But, believe, would be good to choose a place safer. Indian Spring Country Club parking at Elmwood Rd is a good place to leave car safe

[@alyhoudart]

Do you know of any other abandoned places in or near Marlton?

[@walkingcam1]

If you mean on public lands, within 25 miles radius: Hampton furnace, Friendship town ruins, Terracotta brick factory, Amatol plant, Atsion bridge & barn

[@sndwnr111]

I remember when I was a kid (14-17) one of my loves was exploring old, abandoned, rundown buildings. I remember a group of us traveling into Holmdel NJ and going into what we all thought was some sort of underground missle structure. Whether or not we were trespassing, I don't know, and as kids we didn't care, but it was cool. I was just wondering if anybody else had visited this site and whether or not it still remains???

[@walkingcam1]

Hello! Probably, you visited the launch area of Battery NY-54 which was armed with Hercules missiles as a part of New York Defense. It was active 1955-1968. Now the area is redeveloped into park and recreation area (The Bowl park). No undergrounds left

[@sndwnr111]

Thank-you for the update. Even back in the seventies it was a part of Holmdel Park. I lived in Keyport at the time...which had a lot of abandoned downtown stores on Front Street. I remember going into what seemed to be an old pharmacy and finding these racy postcards from the early 1900's (my best friend's mother confiscated them from me). But still thru the years, I'm still drawn to old abandoned places.

[@walkingcam1]

I believe, in 70s, explorations were much surprising without google maps. A lot of places were undiscovered and finds were more impressive.

[@johnclifton8074]

Think I remember of that place in early 70's believe it was off RT. 72? There was a sign that said no trespassing, govt. property. Tell me, is the Warren Grove target area still around? Drove in there by mistake back then. Pretty freaky but a little scary!

[@walkingcam1]

hello, i didn't see any signs but think they should be somewhere. The only info about ownership is "Ownership of this portion is a mystery. Public records show the owner as the Evesham School board, but this is said to be incorrect since the previous developer never actually deeded the tract to the Board." Yes, that's close. A couple of miles to Warren Grove target.

[@Xtremekreations]

a little late but yes the warren grove range is still active. jets target practice there almost daily. i ride my dirt bike in and around that area about once a week.

[@johnclifton8074]

Yup , I used to hear the 50 cals. Going off when I lived in Mystic Island . Was always in the afternoon . That was back in the 80's .

[@debramccrosson2334]

There was base in marlton now houses and two schools

[@walkingcam1]

Yes, on the place where control area used to be

[@AlexanderNasis]

could you get arrested for going to places like this?

[@walkingcam1]

there's nothing secret. All military stuff dismantled in 60s

[@SFbank721]

It was visible from the road in the 70s. I thought it was long gone and nothing left

[@walkingcam1]

Mostly the site is demolished. Control area land turned into houses. Just launch site is left

[@delvin3302]

Man, I live in Marlton New Jersey what the

[@robdedrick2052]

Probably full of water . It would be cool to see inside . Could you lower a Camera inside ?

[@walkingcam1]

Hi Rob. Yeah, this base is completely flooded. I saw water in the holes. However, when i was exploring PH-58 base, I found a manhole open and filmed my short trip thru bunker on the boat)

[@sharingtherealworld]

You should have went to the one in Lumberton. More to see.

[@walkingcam1]

Hmm, really? I heard that's a scrap yard over there now, isn't?

[@sharingtherealworld]

@@walkingcam1 There used to be a school that was the command post and the Sams lawn place has two standing silos.

[@walkingcam1]

@@sharingtherealworld ok, thanks for info, i'll figure out!

[@seanporter5038]

I live near HA 36 Nike site in Glastonbury Connecticut I have explored it many times it has been destroyed from the surface and attempted to be filled with dirt was not filled with dirt is flooded however you can still enter and explore

[@walkingcam1]

Sadly, that's too far from me

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

The dafs were nice. There seam's to be a lot of woodlands in NJ.

[@walkingcam1]

Plenty of. Sadly, they are not so wild, how would like to see them.

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

@@walkingcam1 yes I would like to see them. But how is that possible, I live in the north west of England.

[@walkingcam1]

Oh, Henry, two weeks ago i purchased complete works of sir Arthur Conan Doyle and these days im reading them. Recently finished "Three men in the boat..." of Jerome K. Jerome. This sort of books immerses me into the world of United Kingdom of 19th century and vividly draws in my imagination pictures of ancient castle and ruins what may be discovered there. History of your country is much longer than ours and im pretty sure there is a lot of places to explore.

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

@@walkingcam1 Sir A.C. Doyle. He went to school near to where I live. Stoney Hurst college. Witch is a historic building in its own right. There are lots of historic buildings here from roman villa's to abbey's and castles. Where I live is a small market town called Clitheroe, we have a 12 centre castle. There's a Abbey in a Village just down the road that's 11 centre.

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

@@walkingcam1 you need to come here and see it for your self. You would be Amazed at some of our history. Just in the north of England would captivate you.

[@dalemettee1147]

Yea sure. If I can remember how it goes (it's been a few years, haha). As the call comes in from the command center, the elevators are energized. An alarm goes off, the pumps start, the doors open, the elevators go up, reach the top of their travel, blocks are engaged, elevators settle on them. the rocket is angled to its firing position. After the rocket fires, the sequence reverses. another rocket is loaded and so on. To the best of my memory. hope this helps you.

[@walkingcam1]

Thanks, Dale! Now it's clear! Probably that would be very loudly ))

[@LeaveNoTrashBehind]

I've seen an abandoned air field out in the Pine Barrens on Google Earth it has buildings in the area. It definitely looks abandoned, the path to get there looks like you need a 4x4 vehicle. I would tell you where it is, but there's no way I'm saying it on YT.

[@walkingcam1]

Hi! Text me gps, maybe i already was there. I've explored tons of places in nj but don't always take my cams with me.

[@LeaveNoTrashBehind]

@@walkingcam1 What do you mean by text you GPS, how do I do that??

[@walkingcam1]

@@LeaveNoTrashBehind you can see my email. Main page -> About -> View email address

[@LeaveNoTrashBehind]

@@walkingcam1 Alright I sent it.

[@toyotacamry7640]

Is it in nj? Can you send it to me

[@jackmartusus2201]

Where is this exactly at we bout go here

[@jackmartusus2201]

We from Marlton me and the boys wanna pull up

[@walkingcam1]

pm me. Email is in the bio

[@jackmartusus2201]

@@walkingcam1 ok

[@mikec7176]

@@jackmartusus2201 It is right across the street from Cherokee High School

[@kengibson402]

Is this right off sharp road?

[@walkingcam1]

Marlton, NJ. Don't know what road exactly.

[@wertzfamily5858]

In sixth grade I went to Gloucester County Christian school which was built on one of these old cold war era Nike bases. I believe they repurposed some of the buildings. It you could get permission it would be interesting to see what remains there. I remember my class was in this small building at the top of the hill, I seem to remember seeing some strange things in there too.

[@walkingcam1]

Hello! You mean base PH-49 at the crossing Jefferson and Barnsboro roads?

[@kevwertz]

@@walkingcam1 More like Barnsboro and Golf Club roads but yeah I think we're talking about the same one.

[@walkingcam1]

@@kevwertz i see a sort of truck shop on that site now 😢

[@kevwertz]

@@walkingcam1 I think you might be talking about the launch site. According to the listing on wikipedia, the control site was located where my former school is now. "Redeveloped into Bethel Church and Glouchester County Christian School. Part of old access road still visible from Pitman Road."

[@walkingcam1]

@@kevwertz thank you. I'll learn if anything worth to visit still exists there. I thought everything was demolished years ago

[@alegasveles3806]

Намоленное место. Нарциссы сами по себе не вырастают посреди леса (тем более они не эндемики для этого континента), кто-то должен был посадить их там.

[@walkingcam1]

Там рядышком жилой квартал есть. Совсем близко. Наверно они посадили. Место, где был командный пункт и казармы для личного состава застроили уже.

[@njlauren]

I am old enough to remember when the Nike base in East Hanover NJ was active, was on way to the doctors office aa a kid. Had armed guards, etc. the site had housing and so forth. Is now a housing development. The control center was in livingston, it is now a park and the old buildjngs are artists studios. There is a preserved base on Sandy Hook , they have regular events where you can see the ops center and a volumteer explsins how it worked. The missile bases closed in the early 70s when they signed the abm tready w the russians that banned anti missile weapons

[@walkingcam1]

Thanks a lot for details! It's always hard to find them on the internet(

[@njlauren]

@@walkingcam1 That is local history in my story. Yeah it is hard, weird NJ before it became just more blah blah had some great articles about the Nike bases and the story from the late 50s when a bomarc missile silo exploded,/ burned. Near where I live there was an old mud brick place that went out of business in the 1930s. It left behind a very deep series of ponds where the clay was taken from& a lot of myths. All kind of stories about underground works that kids found ways into, myths of ppl drowning when they hit a spring that caused the works to flood ( not true; the ponds are fed by springs but that happened after the works shut down, the pumps kept it dry in the day). But there is very little on it on the net, outside a few small references.

[@walkingcam1]

I've read about Bomarc fire as well. The site looks impressive on google maps, but i haven't visited it yet. Looks like, guests are not welcome there. Could you remember the name of the place where those ponds are located? Honestly, never heard about that. Would like to learn more, hope, i'll manage to unearth some info on the internet

[@njlauren]

@@walkingcam1 You wouldn't, it is really a local thing. The company was called the Hanover Brick Company in Whippany,NJ. It is located on Reynolds Avenue. The municipal pool is there, it is also called the Brick yards. The ponds are very deep, the main one is like 130 feet deep. The only artifact of the factory is a brick chimney.

[@walkingcam1]

Thanks for info! I adore mystical stuff

[@lesjones5684]

There’s a old base in swedsboro New Jersey Check it out 😂😂😂

[@walkingcam1]

Hi, Les! Been a few times there. Even took a boat trip in the bunker) kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4fPfoKdrLybgLc

[@larryharry7221]

And the DOD place in Carneys Point.

[@olheghtt]

"needles of destruction" 😁

[@mickeyphillips6603]

I used to date a woman from Marlton. I wish I knew about this place back then.

[@walkingcam1]

sad, almost everything is torn down there

[@AmazingA202]

Hmmm the warckes are z target ND the Dottie's

[@Njk742]

Eeeeeeeeeeeee

[@thomassmith2058]

Lame!

[@walkingcam1]

Thanks for sincerity. Boring?