Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is known for its remote areas, which is why the United States Air Force chose to build a General Surveillance Radar station on East Mountain in the mid 1950’s. During the Cold War a Mobile Radar Station called the Lyndonville Air Force Station (originally known as the North Concord AFS) was constructed. It was designed to detect and provide early warning signs of nuclear activity, and today this abandoned Air Force Station in VT remains on East Mountain.
It cost 21 million dollars to build the Lyndonville which at one time housed about 175 men. Billions of dollars were spent between the 1930s and 1970s to build stations like this around the world. We found some incredible footage of this station to share with you.
On top of East Mountain just 14.6 miles northeast of Lyndonville is the abandoned 911th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
Radar stations like this one were built in of the some of the most remote parts of the world.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
The Lyndonville Air Force Station was constructed on top of East Mountain between 1954 and 1956.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
It became operational in March 1956 when it activated AN/MPS-11 and AN/MPS-14 radars. The station initially functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
As a GCI station, the squadron’s role was to guide interceptor aircrafts toward unidentified intruders that were picked up on their radar scopes.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine the range, direction altitude speed and whether or not the aircraft was friendly or hostile.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
In March of 1962 the station was renamed Lyndonville AFS and new radar towers were built. However in March 1963 the Air Force ordered the site to close and operations ceased on August 1, 1963.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
Today all of the buildings still stand, although the site is completely abandoned.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
The buildings are in various states of disrepair and nature is beginning to reclaim them.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
Check out this incredible video of the Lyndonville Air Force Station on Youtube by Geoff Johnson.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
If you found this abandoned air force station in VT interesting, we’ve got something else for you. Check out the country’s largest asbestos mine that’s right here in Vermont.
YouTube/Geoff Johnson
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