Cold War museum slights Isle of Wight, but it could be a blessing in disguise

ISLE OF WIGHT — Isle of Wight was not chosen as the site for a national Cold War museum, but county officials believe the decision is a blessing in disguise.

Carrollton Nike Park was among the proposed sites vying for the Cold War museum, along with Fort Monroe in Hampton and Fairfax County.

"We're under some very tight budget constraints," said Newport District Supervisor Stan Clark. "We just didn't have the money."

"We were interested in it," Clark added, but the county's money woes — caused by decreased real estate tax revenue, losses in federal and state funds and budget cuts — made it difficult to construct a competitive deal.

Museum organizers settled on a 2,000-square-foot, two-story building and secure storage facility in Vint Hill in Fauquier County, which is about 46 miles west of Washington, D.C. The lease was signed Dec. 1.

The Vint Hill Farms Station was a former Army communication base used by the NSA, CIA and Army intelligence during the Cold War.

"Had the planet and stars aligned," said Jennifer L. Williams, historic resource manager for the county, "it would have been a great use for our site."

The park, a former Nike Ajax missile site, has Cold War-era buildings in use for special events and classes. The museum's founder Francis Gary Powers Jr. wanted to take control of those buildings if Nike Park was chosen, Williams said. Everything would have been cleared with Powers as far as expectations with those buildings' usage with county offices, she said.

"We have a limited amount of space" at Nike Park, said county director of parks and recreation Mark Furlo. "The Cold War museum would have taken up additional space for other activities."

The Vint Hill Economic Development Authority will contribute $50,000 for renovations, with the Fauquier County Industrial Development Authority agreeing to match the amount.

"It was very hard to say no," said Powers.

The $100,000 and free rent for five years sweetened the deal, he added.

"We needed a home sooner rather than later," Powers said. "It was all about the time frame. Vint Hill was ready now."

Nike Park and other sites would have been ready in two to five years time, he said.

"It's a shame," said local historian Albert Burckard. "It would have been wonderful for the county."

Burckard understands Powers' decision to not move to Isle of Wight considering he got a better deal elsewhere.

Powers said construction is under way with the museum planning to open next year. He expects 30,000 visitors in the museum's first year.

As a sort of a consolation prize, Powers said Isle of Wight could be the site of a Virginia chapter of the Cold War museum, which was an idea proposed by Burckard.


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