Ok, we have two somewhat menacing road signs for you. The one in the photo above is at White Sands Missile Range, just north of White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The range is the premier military test range in America, earning its title as “Birthplace of America’s Missile and Space Activity.” Comprised of 3,200 square miles, White Sands Missile Range supports the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as commercial and international users, while conducting more than 3,000 tests annually.
Visitors are welcome and come often. The only road into the dunefield, Dunes Drive, may be closed for periods of up to three hours during missile tests. Park staff is usually notified two weeks in advance of scheduled tests; however, notifications from White Sands Missile Range may be received up to 24 hours in advance of a test. Park staff work to inform the public as far in advance as possible for upcoming tests and park closures.
Please note that all activities, including horseback riding, backcountry camping (currently closed indefinitely), hiking, sledding, and driving on Dunes Drive is prohibited during all missile tests that require closure of Dunes Drive for visitor safety.
There are more than 3,680 miles of paved and unpaved roads (8 percent of all Army roads) on White Sands Missile Range, which would be a little more than a road trip from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, to Denver.
The park visitor center and gift shop remain open during missile test closures.
U.S. Highway 70 between White Sands National Park and Las Cruces may also be closed during missile testing. For U.S. Highway 70 closure information, call White Sands Missile Range at (575) 678-1178.
Keep your eyes open for flying artillery
Hardhats are not required on Oklahoma Highway 115 north of the small town of Cache. But you might end up seeing something a little more menacing flying over you than a buzzard. In case you can’t read the sign in the photo it says: Danger: Artillery May Be Fired Over Roads in This Area. Fort Sill is roughly 15 miles due east. Driving north on the road, keep your eyes out for wild roaming bison in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Our reporter made it through the area and lived to tell about it.
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Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 Well, these signs certainly connote interesting places nearby. 🙂 Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Sorry Diane! I did not notice the rogue 9 that infiltrated my name. 🙁
We were camping at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge last month, saw the signs and immediately looked up LOL! Two mornings in a row we were awakened by exploding artillery, some strong enough to shake our trailer. It was actually pretty exciting! 🙂
Some years ago my wife and I were visiting our son when he was first stationed at Mt. Home A.F.B. in Idaho. We were out on a drive one afternoon while our son was “at work” and came across a weird type of road sign.””! Warning: Beware, things may fall from the sky”! We abruptly turned around! Some years ago we saw the exact picture of that sign in an article written in an RV magazine. Clipped it out to show our son when he was visiting home as he is still active. “See we weren’t kidding”!