The Nike Missile Base: 1955-1963

In the Rouge Park Prairie, where the Butterfly Garden is today, nuclear missiles once stood ready to be launched at Russia?  In 1955, the U.S. military built three Nike missile silos there. A command center, offices and barracks were built south of Joy Road between Trinity Street and Spinoza Drive, and north of Joy Road between the Detroit Mounted Police horse barn and Cozy Corners Recreation Area.  Once a week they would conduct a test drill and raise the missiles up from the silos into launch position, then return them underground with a crowd of spectators watching from Outer Drive. 

​In 1962, the Army asked for a 50 year lease to continue, and expand, the base. The Parks & Recreation Department rejected the lease and the missiles were decommissioned in 1963. All but one of the buildings were removed except for one north of Joy Road that became the park’s West District Office. The Friends of Rouge Park held some of its very first meetings there.​ It closed in the early 2000s, but is currently being renovated to be used for offices for the General Services Department, and hopefully some of the space will be set aside for offices for non-profit organizations, including the Friends of Rouge Park.