There’s an Abandoned Airbase Near This Tiny Minnesota Town

During the Cold War, the United States established a series of 28 air defense stations along its northern border with Canada and tasked them with the mission of detecting any incoming aircraft or missiles. One such base was Finland AFS radar station, located just north of the community of Finland, Minnesota. It was decommissioned more than 40 years ago and, eventually, auctioned off. Today, the property is reportedly up for sale, although it's not currently listed with a broker; so if you're searching for "an abandoned airbase near me" to own, you—with the right combination of resources and gumption—could own this abandoned airbase in Minnesota.

The former Finland AFS radar station is located less than 3 miles north of the charming town whose name it shares. The Superior National Forest surrounds the old base, and in fact, the Superior Hiking Trail passes within a mile of the abandoned air base.

It's perched atop a hill known as Lookout Mountain and consists of more than 100 acres. The property is currently only accessible by a private road from the end of Airbase Road.

It is actually gated and fenced, so you should only explore it with a realtor and the owner's permission. The radar installation, power plant, and all other technology have long since been removed.

But more than 40 single-family homes, most with three or four bedrooms and a garage, are scattered across the property. All but a handful of the homes are reported to be structurally sound.

Some need windows, roof repairs, and attention to insulation. But, as a realtor has said, the bones are good. A previous owner had the notion of developing the property into an enclave called "Finlandia." This vision never materialized.

But any buyer of the property would have a whole lot of work to do, not the least of which is figuring out the water and septic systems, as significant contamination was discovered during well testing. Abating hazardous materials would be another challenge. Yet, perhaps the romance of owning a mountaintop ghost town would outstrip all these practicalities.

There's also a cool old fire tower near the property that you can check out. The road is rough and narrow, and the tower is closed to climbing—in fact, a new cell tower has been built next to it—but on the way up to where the tower stands, you can see the back side of the radar station through a chain link fence.

So, what do you think? Are you interested in owning an abandoned airbase in Minnesota? You can learn more about the property at its former listing on Realtor.com. It appears to be off the market again, but who knows? You could get lucky! On the other hand, if you're just interested in visiting this beautiful area of Minnesota, you'll find several vacation rentals in the area where you can set up your base camp, like this gorgeous Airbnb that's perfect for stargazing. Be sure to pay a visit to The Trestle Inn, which you'll find even deeper in the Superior National Forest outside of Finland.

I've been traveling in the area for years, and I'd never heard of this radar station before I saw the listing. Did you know Finland AFS radar station even existed? You, too, can explore more of the amazing state we live in using Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.