3 teenagers enter an abandoned and restricted Colorado Cold War missile silo, but only two make it back out on their own

In Colorado, there’s a missile silo that has turned into a hotspot for teens in the area. Authorities have been warning the community to stay away because the risks it poses go far beyond the obvious criminal charges that come with trespassing on federal property. Yet, on the morning of July 8, South Metro Fire Rescue got another emergency call that teens were trapped inside one of the silos.

She was 60 feet underground

The first responders gave a play-by-play of how they responded to the call. First, they posted a Google Maps screenshot showing where the call was coming from: 25690 E. Quincy Ave. Then they reported that of the three individuals who broke into the Cold War-era missile silo, one teen, 18, got stuck inside. The other two, ages 16 and 14, were the ones who ended up calling 911.

Update: Crews are working on rescuing one individual from a confined space. Media staging will be at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, near E. Quincy Ave. and Fairground Pkwy. pic.twitter.com/RWZdiFjRYP

— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO) July 8, 2026

In the third and final post of the thread, South Metro Fire Rescue announced that they had rescued the teen and were transporting her to the hospital for further evaluation. The teen pulled from the silo was not injured, but she was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Afterward, authorities held a press conference at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds near E. Quincy Ave. and Fairgrounds Parkway. According to Guessing Headlights, the sheriff said the teen was found about 60 feet underground and was unable to leave the silo without professional assistance.

The sheriff added that teens have shown an indefatigable thirst for exploring the abandoned missile silo in the area. Reportedly, this was the third rescue there within a relatively short period of time. He continued that people in that age group continue to ignore repeated warnings, even though the risks go far beyond simply getting stuck at the bottom of the silo.

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ginger Delgado said, “They are dangerous. There are dangerous gases inside that could harm you.” She continued, “There’s carbon dioxide; you could be poisoned. Not to mention, injured from falling. Please, please stay out of these missile silos.”

Reportedly, in May 2024, rescue crews responded to another decommissioned missile silo in Arapahoe County to save an 18-year-old who fell through a two-story shaft. Then, on Jan. 1, 2025, another teen fell about 50 feet through an exhaust vent tunnel at a different missile silo.

Charges might be filed

It’s clear that teens across America have been visiting these desolate places for one reason or another. Now, however, authorities are considering possible third-degree criminal trespass charges against the teens caught inside the Colorado missile silo in hopes of deterring future thrill seekers from doing the same.

As the story gained traction, however, it became clear this wasn’t just a generational divide. Many commenters said they had also explored these sites decades ago without incident. Others argued that the only real solution is to permanently seal off the silos because there will always be curious thrill seekers of all ages eager to explore them.

For now, authorities have not clarified whether they intend to press charges.