During the Cold War, the United States established a series of 28 air defense stations along its northern border with Canada tasked with the mission of detecting any incoming aircraft or missiles. One such station was Finland AFS, located just north of the charming community of Finland. It was decommissioned more than 40 years ago and, eventually, auctioned off. Today, the property is up for sale once again, and you – with the right combination of resources and gumption – could own this abandoned Air Force base in Minnesota.

The former Finland AFS radar station is located less than three miles north of the town whose name it shares.
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The base is surrounded by the Superior National Forest - in fact, the Superior Hiking Trail passes within a mile of the abandoned air base.
The base is perched atop a hill known as Lookout Mountain and consists of more than 100 acres.
Realtor.com
The radar installation and all other technology have long since been removed.
Realtor.com

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But more than 40 single-family homes, most with three or four bedrooms and a garage, are scattered across the property.
Realtor.com
All but a handful of the homes are structurally sound.
Realtor.com
Some need windows, roof repairs, and attention to insulation. But, as the realtor says, 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.
Realtor.com
Not the least of which is figuring out the water and septic systems, as significant contamination was discovered during well testing.
Yet, perhaps the romance of owning a mountaintop ghost town outstrips all those practicalities....
Realtor.com

So, what do you think? Are you interested in owning this abandoned Air Force base in Minnesota? You can learn more about the property at its listing on Realtor.com. If you head up to see the property, you’ll find several vacation rentals in the area where you can set up your base camp. 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 Air Force base before I saw the listing. Did you know Finland AFS even existed? Let us know in the comments!

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Airbase Road, Airbase Rd, Finland, MN 55603, USA