Context: The above video was first published on March 25, 2024.
ELLSWORTH CONTY (KSNT) - The owner of a renovated Kansas missile silo is sharing his plans for the unique tourist destination after getting a boost in funding from the state.
27 News first spoke with Matthew Fulkerson about his "hidden gem" travel stop in March 2024. He has spent the better part of the past decade renovating an old missile silo in Ellsworth County with aspirations of transforming it into a tourist hotspot. While he has worked tirelessly to transform the silo into a livable space and attract guests to it as an AirBNB location, his work is now drawing the attention of state authorities.
Kansas Tourism visited Fulkerson's missile silo on Monday, May 20 to present him with $80,000 from the state's Attraction Development Grant program. Fulkerson says he applied for the grant weeks ago in the hopes he could acquire the money for more renovation work on the silo.
“High-quality tourism attractions play a large role in the economic success our state has seen over the past five years,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By establishing and continuing to invest in quality attractions, we are improving the quality of life for current Kansans and creating more reasons for potential future residents to call Kansas home.”
"I'm very excited to finish out the development of the missile base," Fulkerson said. "Already I have been able to connect with different people who actually want to sponsor me and help with the development of the place."
Fulkerson says the additional funds will help him complete renovation work on unfinished parts of the silo's lower levels. Currently, he plans to add three more bedrooms and bathrooms, a lounge area and possibly a spa or ice-bath area. Some of the cash will also go towards developing the surface campground areas around the missile silo for campers and RVs.
You can learn more about Fulkerson's missile silo by going to his website or by seeing the location on AirBNB clicking here. To learn more about Attraction Development Grants offered by Kansas Tourism, click here.
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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf
