SubTropolis: Trucking Under the Earth

The late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt developed SubTropolis via his Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development, Inc., company.

Some 50 businesses call the SubTropolis facility home. The compex is also designated a foreign trade zone.

In the mining process, limestone is removed by a 'room and pillar' method, leaving 25-foot square pillars that are on 65-foot centers and 40 feet apart. The harvested limestone is primarily used in highway construction.

SubTropolis encompasses about 6.5 miles of paved road and 2.1 miles of railroad track.

There are over 400 truck dock locations within SubTropolis and at last count over 300 different trucking firms serve this one-of-a-kind underground facility.

Knapheide Manufacturing Co. signed a lease in March 2012 for 103,100 square feet of SubTropolis space to install an aftermarket accessories facility for upfitting commercial work trucks and vans.

Jim Bockenfeld, Knapheide's VP-sales, says one attraction to locating in SubTropolis is the proximity to Ford's big Kansas City Assembly Plant where it builds trucks and vans as well as the ability to maintain a consistent 60 degrees for decal work.

Workers at Knapheide's SubTropolis facility said the consistent temperature and well-lighted environment makes them quickly forget they are located underground.

The over 17 openings into SubTropolis allows the industrial complex to 'breathe' naturally, meaning no forced air equipment is needed.

Without any heating or cooling equipment, the SubTropolis environs would remain at a temperature of 70 degrees year-round.