Green Cove Springs, Florida: Roadside Space Shuttle External Tank
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- 3939 Reynolds Blvd, Green Cove Springs, FL
- Directions:
- From downtown drive south on Hwy 16, then turn east at the stoplight (Hess station) to follow Hwy 16. Drive one mile east. Turn left at the blinker light (marina on left) onto Reynolds Blvd. Drive until the road ends. You'll see the tank on the left. This is an open industrial wharf with limited water protections and few guardrails. Mind children and pets. Limited lighting in the area. Avoid after dark for safety.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Results 1 to 5 of 5...
A rare survivor of the Space Shuttle program; all the External Tanks that flew burned up on reentry. This one is parked next to a street; you can get out and touch it.
Roadsideamerica.com Report... [01/09/2015]Visitor Tips and News About Roadside Space Shuttle External Tank
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
For a bit of perspective on how big this tank is, here is my F450 Big Boy truck in front of and dwarfed by its size.
[Luv2RV, 09/21/2021]This tank was initially intended for display at an aerospace park in Clay County, Florida. The size of the tank and transporter requires utility lines, traffic lights, trees, and signs to be raised or moved during the trip to the park. No one is willing to fund the move.
Note: This is an open industrial wharf with limited water protections and few guardrails quay-side. Mind children and pets. Limited lighting in the area. Avoid after dark for safety.
[Dave Steiner, 08/07/2019]
Pretty amazing that it's so large and and that there are no placards or history about it, but really cool to see regardless.
[Jon, 06/13/2017]
This is an unused Space Shuttle external tank. It's visible from the road. We walked right up to it, touched it, and took photos with it.
[Susan, 01/09/2015]Nearby Offbeat Places
Military Museum of North Florida, Green Cove Springs, FL - < 1 mi.
1894 Old County Jail, Green Cove Springs, FL - 2 mi.
J.C. Penney Statue - Failed Utopia, Penney Farms, FL - 9 mi.Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
The tank -- built in 1977 and used for loading and stress analysis tests -- sits on its original transporter. It's 154 feet long and weighs 39 tons empty. Since the external tanks that were used in launches burned up on reentry, this unused survivor is very rare.