So Much For Tempting Fate!?

Ok everyone - need some feedback on this one.

I was in Las Vegas last year for 5 days in February attending a conference for work. Early on my third day there I blew through the cash I had allotted for gaming that day and needed to get out of the casino and find something else to do. At the time I was reading the book Alien Agenda and decided to drive north toward the Test Site/Nellis Range just for kicks. Who knows, maybe I'd see something interesting flying around. I headed up highway 93 in my rental car an drove for about 90 minutes until I saw signs for the exit for Mercury. I couldn't remember exactly what the deal was with Mercury but I recognized it from the book so I decided to check it out. There were signs saying that "no services" were available, etc, etc, and authorized personnel only etc, etc., but I decided to exit anyway and that if I was hassled I'd just play dumb. So, I took the exit. About 1/4 mile off the highway I approached a guard gate with the familiar red and white warning signs. I drove up slow and expected something to happen. I was quite surprised once I got to the outpost to see that no one was there! - not a soul (that I could see anyway?!). I hadn't come to a complete stop at that point so just kinda coasted past the guard house. Hummm...still nothing happening. I just kept going for about a mile unitl I arrived at what was the "town" of Mercury. There were a bunch of office type buildings and warehouses there and quite a few cars parked around but I didn't see a soul outside anywhere. It was really strange. Anyway, once I got there I didn't really know what to do, so I just circled around in a parking lot and slowly drove out. What a let down!! I was at least hoping for an armed escort or something!! WTF? I was actually quite nervous at the time and spooked that no one was around. Kinda like "Children of the Corn" or something. It was pretty unnerving. Anyway, I was paranoid all the way back to my hotel but nothing ever happened.

Any ideas or comments?

Wow....could you give us a little background on what you've read about Mercury? Perhaps, they work underground or inside those warehouses....now you said you didn't see anyone but were there signs of life? Cars that appeared to be parked/moved recently, signs turned on, correct dates on calenders, etc... Any Pictures???

i did a map quest on it, ITS IN THE RESTRICTED AREA!!!!!!!!! get your ass back there snag some pics and get out, i dont understand it, first off that mapquest has an accurate map of the restriced area (and it dose) and second that there was nothing garuding it, were there any signs of life there, any news papers? any people at all?

if i were you get back there and get some quick pic's



Velvet

Well, It was a very strange place indeed. It wasn't really a "town" per se, it was more like a large industrial park type complex. There were no stores, gas stations, shops, restaurants etc., just a bunch of office buildings (no more than 3-4 stories high) and lots of warehouses and out-buildings. No I didn't see anyone at all. Like I said, there were quite a few cars parked around, so the place obviously had people there. The only photo I took was of the guard house at the entrance before I got right up to it (say 100 feet away). Needless to say, I was very paranoid about pulling out a camera in there. I do remember seeing some sign about the place being associated with the Department of Energy in some way.

Sounds pretty freaky. Post the pics if you can.

found some links you might not want to go back,
www.protector.pair.com...
and the weather link go down.Population: Temporarily Unavailable
Land Area:Temporarily Unavailable
Water Area: Temporarily Unavailable
www.citylinkz.com...

This site, though a little dated, has great info on the NTS and some specifics on mercury, NV

www.globalsecurity.org...

Area 23 — This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 13 km2 (5 mi2) in the southeastern portion of the NTS and is the location of the largest operational support complex. Mercury was established in 1951 and serves as the main administrative and industrial support center at the NTS. Permanent structures and services include housing and feeding, laboratory, maintenance, communication and support facilities, computer facilities, warehouses, storage yards, motor pools, and administrative offices. Mercury is located approximately 8 km (5 mi) from U.S. Highway 95. The Area 23 Class II sanitary landfill, located just west of Mercury, is open to receive all types of nonhazardous solid waste. Wastes are compacted and covered to form layers. The Area 23 landfill receives approximately 830 tons of solid waste annually. The landfill is an open, rectangular pit with steep, nearly vertical sides. The current capacity of the landfill is approximately 4.5 x 105 cubic meters (m3) (5.9 x 105 cubic yards [yd³]).

Area 22 — This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 83 km2 (32 mi2) in the southeastern corner of the NTS and serves as the main entrance area. Before 1958, this area included Camp Desert Rock, a Sixth Army installation used for housing troops taking part in military exercises at the NTS. After 1958, the camp was essentially removed, with the exception of the Desert Rock Airport. In 1969, the runway was extended to a length of 2,286 m (7,500 ft). The airport currently is open, but provides no services.


Also check this on desert rock airlfield...the airport you mentioned in mercury...www.airfields-freeman.com...

Camp Desert Rock was also known as Desert Atom Camp.

It was home to the Army's Atomic Maneuver Battalion from 1951-1955.

The camp consisted of 100 semi-permanent buildings,

and was often filled to the 6,000 personnel capacity.

These troops, from all four services, observed nuclear detonations

from trenches, tanks and armored personnel carriers at distances of 2,500-7,000 yards.

The first airfield near Desert Rock was the Desert Rock Army Airfield.

The date of construction of Desert Rock AAF has not been determined.

It was apparently built at some point between 1949-57,

as it was not depicted on the 1940 Airports & Airways Map from the NV Division of Aeronautics (courtesy of Jim Mallery)

or the September 1949 Mt. Whitney World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Donald Felton).

The earliest depiction of the field which has been located

was on the May 1957 Mt. Whitney Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted Desert Rock AAF as being located 4 miles west of Camp Desert Rock,

and described the field as having a 4,000' unpaved runway.

However, this location would appear to be erroneous,

as it is in a very hilly location with no flat ground,

and no trace of a former airfield is perceptible at this location in later aerial photographs.

According to a Department of Energy Environmental Impact Statement,

"After 1958, the camp was essentially removed, with the exception of the Desert Rock Airport."
As of 2003, the Desert Rock Airfield is still active,

and owned by the US Department of Energy.

It was used in the past to support atomic weapons tests as the primary air facility of the Nevada Test Site.

It is located in the town of Mercury, which is the primary base camp for the Nevada Test Site.

A Department of Energy Environmental Impact Statement says

"The airport currently is open, but provides no services."

The Airfield Facility Directory includes the comment: "Used regularly by Department of Energy

F-27, F-227, DC-9, DHC-7, Kingair-Mil, C-130, military & DOE helicopters."

Now that nuclear weapons tests are no longer conducted,

it is not known what purpose the Desert Rock Airfield currently serves.

A Department of Energy web site includes the following comments:

"The airport also has a landing-arrester cable for use in the recovery

of damaged aircraft that require emergency landing facilities.

Desert Rock Airport is no longer manned,

and no services are available because of funding and program cutbacks.

However, Desert Rock Airport is still operational, and the use of this airstrip is controlled by the DOE."

It has been mentioned in British aviation magazines as a possible operating site

for the Northrop C-41SR Senior Citizen, a rumored stealth transport aircraft.

The airfield at Desert Rock consists of a single paved 7,500' Runway 2/20,

along with a small ramp area.

There do not appear to be any hangars or indications of based aircraft.




[edit on 3-3-2005 by azraeltheonionpeeler]

so the guard gate was "protecting" the town of mercury???

this is wierd...

Originally posted by they see ALL
so the guard gate was "protecting" the town of mercury???

this is wierd...

Well like I mentioned, it wasn't really a "town" like you'd normally imagine. It's marked on most maps the same way most towns are, but it's more like a large industrial park out in the middle of nowhere - like what I'd call more like an "installation" of sorts. That's the only place the highway exit leads to. So yeah, there's all the warning signs and a proper guard building when you come to it. There is a metal swing gate with warning sign, but it was up when I was there. The guard house had darkly tinted windows but no one seemed to be around. Freaky for sure.

so what im still puzzled about is that you got into the restricted area, then you saw cars and stuff but no people. i don't get it, it's a weird place and i say someone goes back to it. it must be fairly secret. maybe you just got a lucky shot with the whole no guard thing.

when you were in the place, did you feel like you were being watched? did you see camras? were there people inside the buildings? were the licence plates on the cars recent? were they in "worker only" parking spots? was there any recent sign of movement? like foot prints, or tire marks?


Velvet

You need to go back and take a lot of pictures. I agree that it is kinda 'spooky' that a 'base' is unguarded and looks deserted, so it could be abondoned...

Beautiful research made by all of the donaters of evidence. From my readings I was able to sketch up a possible scenerio.

As in Area 51 our government lacks the attention to keep workers safe from radioactive material. Which law suits from area 51 workers have proven. Yet in the town of Mercury named after its main resource is plainly seen to be harmful to residential living.

danpatch.ecn.purdue.edu...

As you can tell from its specifications, Mercury is immediatly harmful for a working envoirnment, and the government has shown no concern to this day. This resource may have made the base uncontrolled, and a hazard forcing the military to either move it, or greatly reduce its working. I am sure tests are still held, yet its main motive of operation is assumtionaly gone.

Bet you don't get in so easy the next time...especially after posting it here....


Bet theres miles of guards to stop you..

If I am wrong..happy picture hunting.......and good luck and be careful

That kind of security, there is nothing to worry about for anyone to go back there. I've worked in these types of facilities before. If they are going to be shooting at you/making you disappear, there will be lots of fence jumping or other 'John Woo' action to be had first. It's likely only mildly important, nothing really 'cool' for example. Have fun finding the largest radial tire depository!

While the OP has described Mercury well enough, I sincerely doubt this story.

The guards are well trained and conscientous. They seem friendly enough, but they can turn mongoose-mean in the blink of an eye.

I can't buy the front gate unmanned. I have worked there many times since 1996, never saw the gate unmanned.

The idiots who are suggesting that the OP go back and take pictures have no clue. You would find yourself under Leavenworth.

You can't take a camera, binoculars or a GPS on NTS. In the last few weeks military bases have banned cameras, cellphones, laptops, CB and amateur radios, any USB devices, even volt meters. I have no doubt that NTS is past that standard.