SubTropolis

Useful Information

Location:	Kansas City. Interstate 435, exit Missouri 210 east, at flashlights turn north.
Open:	after appointment [2005]
Fee:	free [2005]
Classification:	Limestone Mine Rock Mines Factory cellar
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	Ar=460,000m².
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Hunt Midwest SubTropolis, 8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64161, Tel: +1-816-455-2500, Fax: +1-816-455-4462. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1945	limestone mining started.

Description

SubTropolis advertises to be the world's largest underground business complex. Huge underground caverns with a size of almost half a million square meters house 50 local, national and international businesses. There are warehousing, cold storage, light manufacturing and office operations.

The underground caverns are a result of limestone mining using the room and pillar method. This means, the whole layer was mined, but to support the ceiling pillars were left. They are 20 m apart, 12 m wide room alternating with 8 m wider pillars. The floors were paved and the whole mine is now for rent. Because of the huge size it is possible to separate any size of space and even to resize it later by merging it with adjacent free space.

The main arguments for such an underground business space are the environmental factors: the temperature and humidity is the same all year. It both is suitable for the intended business there are no costs for heating or cooling. It is also ideal for cold storage, as it is not necessary to cool down from hot summer temperatures, which saves a lot of energy. All in all these are the same reasons as always. Additionally, there's the aspect of security. The surface is patrolled, so there is no way to enter the stores from outside.

This site is not really open to the public, we could not find information on public tours. But we think there is the possibility to visit the site for future lessees (twinkle).