Roadtrippin’ 2025: ‘Seven doors of doom’ in Adak
ADAK, Alaska (KTUU) - When we arrived in Adak, City Manager Breck Craig said the words that defined our trip:
“Seven doors of doom.”
Now I’m interested.
Our crew loaded up in his truck for a tour of the island.
The Seven Doors of Doom used to contain nuclear weapons. Now, they’re echo chambers surrounded by security that makes the area look like an old prison, complete with barbed wire and a lookout tower.
Nearby are barracks for about 12 men who guarded the weapons. In their free time, they also painted caricatures of macho soldiers on the walls.
Drive down another gravel road and you’ll find a little cluster of spruce trees.
It’s the “world’s smallest national forest, unofficial,” Craig joked.
“Adak National Forest was actually planted back in the 80s by the military,” Craig said. “They shipped out about 6,000 Sitka spruce trees to help the soldiers and the servicemen living here to provide a little greenery, and you know, maybe get some trees growing.
“These trees ended up being a in good spot where it wasn’t too windy so they can grow, and these are probably some of the biggest trees on the island now.”
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