10 “Forbidden” Places in the U.S. That Are Guarded by the Military
Most U.S. military bases have apparent signs, visible fences, and known functions. But a few go far beyond that. These are the places you won’t find listed on brochures or base tours. Their true purpose is often classified, and even insiders don’t always know what’s behind the doors. This only raises more questions about what really goes on inside them.
NSA’s OPS2B Building at Fort Meade, Maryland
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Inside Fort Meade sits OPS2B, a structure even senior personnel avoid. The building hums with machinery, has no windows, and connects to subterranean spaces not listed in any public plan. Surveillance is separate from base security. Its purpose isn’t disclosed, and its recent expansion adds more questions than answers.
The Farm at Camp Peary, Virginia
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On a 9,000-acre military reservation near Williamsburg lies a CIA training facility that few ever confirm exists. Known as “The Farm,” it simulates life in a fictional country and prepares operatives for covert missions. Trainees live in a fabricated country with high-pressure drills and simulated missions.
Mount Weather Auxiliary Site, Virginia
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The better-known Mount Weather bunker already has Cold War stories attached to it, but there’s more nearby. Satellite imagery suggests a secondary installation in the vicinity, with construction not shown on local planning documents. Locals report strange patrol patterns and shifting barriers. FEMA doesn’t answer questions about it, not even to deny them.
CIA Testing Facility at Harvey Point, North Carolina
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Near the Albemarle Sound, Harvey Point looks like a sleepy base. From above, you’ll spot mock cities and multiple runways. Its classified nature is no secret, but the details are scarce. It’s believed to serve as a training ground for agencies like the CIA, with underground sections designed to simulate real-world chaos.
Area 51, Nevada
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Area 51 is now acknowledged on maps, but that hasn’t made it less mysterious. Entire swaths of sky are restricted overhead. The base’s purpose is still vague. It’s officially for aircraft testing, unofficially far more. Few places are more tightly controlled or more closely watched.
Fort Knox Auxiliary Buildings, Kentucky
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People fixate on the gold vault, but the satellite view of Fort Knox reveals other protected buildings nearby. These structures are linked by what appear to be underground connections. Lights are always on, ventilation systems are active, and guards rotate regularly.
Restricted Zones at Los Alamos National Lab, New Mexico
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At the national lab where the atomic bomb was developed, there’s one zone that remains off-limits even to staff. Technical Area 55 includes buildings mid-renovation, where workers were reportedly removed before entering sealed rooms. Officially, it’s about radiation containment. Off the record, people aren’t sure what’s being kept in or out.
Underground Facility Beneath Camp David, Maryland
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Camp David’s subterranean structure was built during the Cold War but has been modernized over time. Few people are cleared to enter, and documentation is thin. It reportedly includes hardened communications rooms, secure housing, and sealed access points.
The Federal Reserve’s Sublevel Vault, New York City
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The gold stored at the New York Fed’s vault is public knowledge. Less clear is why it’s guarded like a nuclear facility with seismic sensors, pressurized corridors, and controlled-access compartments. Some sections remain undocumented even within the Reserve system. Auditors haven’t been allowed to verify what lies beyond them.
NORAD’s Hidden Tunnel Network, Colorado
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Cheyenne Mountain’s operations are mapped publicly but only partially. Geological scans confirm tunnels extending beyond the official facility. These areas are guarded separately, with motion sensors at hidden entry points.