Near Valencia, a stalled construction endeavor consisting of 53 homes is currently idle, yet the location is now transforming into a hotspot for airsoft activities. One of the most renowned maps from Call of Duty: Black Ops is likely Nuketown – a suburban American locale inspired by a nuclear test site and, as a result, rather desolate. This map has featured in several iterations of the franchise and is now etched into the memories of countless players.
Anyone who has ever desired a backdrop like this for their paintball matches doesn’t need to venture far these days. A real-life “Nuketown” awaits just a short flight away in Spain.
### Distrito Zero, the airsoft haven in a Spanish suburb
Nonetheless, nuclear power has nothing to do with the forsaken community. Siete Aguas, located half an hour from Valencia, is a U.S.-backed construction scheme that was left incomplete in 2007. Presently, Siete Aguas resembles a ghost town with nearly 50 vacant houses and minimal vehicular movement on the roads.
In 2019, however, an airsoft group uncovered the site – and the dilapidated buildings were repurposed as “Distrito Zero.” In coordination with the owner, it was decided the site would now serve as a recreational facility. For the owner, this translates into rental income, while for the association, it offers an extraordinary backdrop for team battles and search-and-destroy missions:
**Why did the construction project fall through?** Initially, over 600 villas, a shopping complex, and a golf course were planned for the 500,000 square meter site in the early 2000s. However, in 2007, environmental authorities intervened, halting the entire project. Due to the necessity of constructing municipal roads through a public forest region, work was initially paused. Subsequent disputes with building authorities led to a total cessation of construction. Ultimately, only 53 structures were finished.
Since the construction was never fully realized, the developer could not lease the completed homes to occupants and was burdened with the costs and a substantial fine. The agreement with the airsoft players arrived just in time. They also help deter vandalism and squatting.