The Orange County Parks That Used to be Missile Silos

During the Cold War, to protect military bases and transportation networks as well as the manufacturing sites for ships, airplanes and electronics, the military constructed what they called a "ring of supersonic steel," around greater Los Angeles. This protective ring had a far-reaching radius that included surrounding counties, including Orange County. It made the region one of the most heavily guarded metropolitan areas in the U.S. Chapman Sports Park was part of that defensive ring, from 1958 until 1971, known as Los Angeles Defense Area Site LA-32 and manned 24 hours a day by 100 military personnel. Another Nike nuclear missile site is now the Orange County fairgrounds and another, LA-29, is at the end of Vantage Pointe Drive in Rowland Heights, with dramatic views overlooking much of Orange County.

The missiles were considered ineffective by 1971, and in an early nuclear disarmament agreement between the U.S. and U.S.S.R., the army dismantled the missile silos, buried them and donated the land to local governments. Leaders of Garden Grove wanted to use this as an industrial location for tax-generating business, but the army declared that former missile sites must become parks. The SoCal Street Hockey League now plays regularly here, near tennis courts and school administration buildings, on top of buried weapons of mass destruction.

Explore some of the spaces in Orange County shaped by the Cold War. Click on the starred map points to read more in-depth stories.

Further reading

Berchow, Mark, and Mark Morgan. Rings of Supersonic Steel: An Introduction and Site Guide. Bodega Bay, CA: Hole in the Head Press, 2010.