Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station turns 50
A golden anniversary celebration was under way at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station Friday morning
Excavation for the station started in 1961, but the facility reached full operational ability by April 20, 1966.
Veterans at the celebration, who served at Cheyenne when the complex first opened, said a lot had changed.
“Forty-six years ago was the last time I was up here,” said retired Staff Sgt. William Buckner. “It’s a whole different arrangement everywhere.”
“You’d look up and the little rocks are still falling from the ceiling and then they got us hard hats,” said retired Master Sgt. Robert Thiabult.
The $18 billion complex is managed by the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base.
It’s home to 13 mission partners including the Air Force Space Command and NORAD.
The ceremony Friday morning featured speeches by Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Corey Gardner.
In addition, the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team journeyed from Fort Carson to Cheyenne Mountain as a sign of support during the ceremony.
