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Nike-Ajax Missile Site N-75
One of the Cold War's Few Surviving Army Air-Defense Posts
Carrollton, Virginia
On Saturday, August 22, over 75 visitors joined local historian Albert Burckard for a slide presentation and walking tour of Nike Park. The event was hosted by Isle of Wight County Historic Resources.
Specialist 4th Class Ralph Wilkerson at the main gate.
Photo courtesy of R. Wilkerson
At the conclusion of World War II, tension arose between the Soviet Union with its Warsaw Pact allies and the western democracies united in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This tension, or Cold War, continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
During this time of widening ideological conflict, both sides increased defense spending, developed propaganda, developed sophisticated weapons, practiced espionage and participated in a conventional and nuclear arms race.
Fear of Soviet bombings sparked the United States’ creation of a surface- to-air missile system ready to protect major metropolitan areas as well as large military installations like those found in Hampton Roads. In the United States, these air defense bases encompassed the areas that they were built to protect.
The Carrollton Nike Missile Battery was operational by 1954 and was one of eight bases that made up the Norfolk Defense Area. As with all continental bases, it consisted of two areas: a launch site and a control site. The two were connected by an underground cable system that enabled them to communicate with each other.
Nike-Ajax missile on the elevator
Photo courtesy of R. Wilkerson
In the event of an impending attack, the main alert would come from Norfolk, and all bases in the area prepared to fire. At Carrollton, troops manned their stations and stood ready to deploy 32 20-foot missiles. Once missiles were fired, the radar system at Jones Creek would guide them to their target.
After the Nike-Ajax system was upgraded to the Nike-Hercules system which carried nuclear warheads. Some bases, but not N-75, were converted to house both Ajax and Hercules missiles.
In 1961, the base was no longer used as a missile site, and the Army Signal Corps used it as a communications site.
TODAY
Photos: Brett England
The former Nike-Ajax missile base is now home to the Isle of Wight County Parks and Recreation Department. Many buildings still stand including the barracks, mess hall, administration and recreation building and officer/non-commissioned officer family housing.
Visitors can also see the fueling area and concrete slabs that mark the location of the underground missile magazines.
The park, over 100 acres in size, offers different recreational activities and features
softball and soccer fields, basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, picnic areas, nature and mountain bike trails, skate park, playgrounds, senior center and a recreation hall. In addition, there are fishing opportunities in Jones Creek.
Visitors are welcome to walk or drive through Site N-75 and recall the experience of soldiers stationed in remote areas.
The park is open daily from dawn until dusk.
13036 Nike Park Road, Carrollton, VA 23314
Photo: Brett England
Isle of Wight County Historic Resources
(757) 357-0115
jwilliams@isleofwightus.net
Isle of Wight County Parks and Recreation
(757) 357-2291
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Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB Staff:
Judy Hare Winslow, Director of Tourism
Lois Chapman, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
Cheryl Whitener, Visitor Center Manager
Terry Thompson, Event Coordinator
Marci Parrish, Farmer's Market Manager
Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB and the Isle of Wight Arts League are partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
