About Whiteman Air Force Base

Entrance to Whiteman AFB.

Whiteman Air Force Base is located among the wooded hills of central Missouri in eastern Johnson County. The part of the base that is a census-designated place had a population of 2,556 in 2010, down from 3,814 at the 2000 census. The nearest major city is Kansas City, Missouri, 70 miles to the northwest. The base is 3 miles south of the town of Knob Noster, 11 miles east of Warrensburg, and 21 miles west of Sedalia.

Whiteman AFB was established in 1942 as Sedalia Glider Base. It is currently the home of the 509th Bomb Wing, which operates and maintains the Air Force's premier weapon system, the B-2 bomber. The men and women of the wing are capable of flying anywhere around the world from home station and delivering a wide range of precision-guided munitions.

Stealth bombers such as this B-2 are housed at Whiteman AFB.

Throughout its history, Whiteman Air Force Base has been at the forefront of national defense. Beginning in 1988, massive construction created new buildings designed for B-2 operations and maintenance. The first deployment of the B-2 Advanced Technology Bomber, the Air Force’s premier weapon system, was at Whiteman. On 1 Feb 2010, the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base became part of the newly created Air Force Global Strike Command. The 509 BW operates the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, designed to be employed to strike high-value targets that are either out of range of conventional aircraft or considered to be too heavily defended for conventional aircraft to strike without a high risk of loss.

Whiteman AFB is the only permanent base for the B-2 stealth bomber. Whiteman can launch combat sorties directly from Missouri to any part of the globe, engaging adversaries with nuclear or conventional weapon payloads. The 509th Bomb Wing first flew the B-2 in combat against Serbia in March 1999.

Other aircraft assigned to Whiteman include the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack fighter; the Northrop T-38 Talon jet trainer, and the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

Real Estate Near Whiteman AFB

The median income for a household is cited between $35,000 and $45,000. The median home value for this area is approximately $110,000. Meanwhile, the median rent is approximately $750. Apartments in the surrounding areas rent from $450 - $800. Townhomes and houses are available to rent from $750 - $1500.

Whiteman Family Homes

Aerial view of the Whiteman Family Homes development.

Located on the Whiteman Air Force Base, Whiteman Family Homes is a gated residential community that leases exclusively to active duty Air Force families stationed at Whiteman. It is ideally situated to offer residents easy access to the base as well as ample outdoor recreation opportunities and all of the shopping, dining and entertainment options nearby.

Whiteman Family Homes offers a wide variety of two, three, and four-bedroom floor plans in single-family, townhome, and ranch styles. There are master suites, fully-equipped kitchens, ample closets, storage space, and garages. The very walkable, pet-friendly community is secure and convenient, with 24-hour maintenance, lawn care services, and community events.

Further amenities include basketball courts, playgrounds, an indoor pool, as well as easy access to all of the Whiteman AFB facilities and amenities. The base even has a Taco Bell, a Charley’s Philly Steaks, and a Stars and Strikes Bowling Center.

Royal Oaks Golf Course

Royal Oaks Golf Course boasts sits amidst 250 acres of rolling hills and beautiful woodlands.

Royal Oaks Golf Course is just 1/2 block outside the main gate of Whiteman Air Force Base. The front nine was designed by Donald Sechrest and opened in 1958. Military lore claims that the front nine was built in the 1950’s when some enterprising GIs, with a passion for golf, approached the general requesting a few bulldozers so they could sculpt a golf course from the land across the street from the base. The back nine was built in the late 1990’s.

Royal Oaks features 350 acres of rolling hills and wooded areas and provides the golfer with a quiet, serene place to get away from the noise. It is not unusual to see wildlife in and around the course in a natural setting. Meanwhile, its golf course has a wonderful and challenging layout, with many of the holes lined with mature trees and woods on both sides.

Royal Oaks offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep Whiteman AFB Royal Oaks Golf Course difficult yet friendly, and the staff can offer tips and tricks for playing your best round.

Four sets of tees give the course variety that can be enjoyed equally by either the serious golfer looking for a real challenge or the weekend golfer looking for fun and relaxation. U.S. Air Force Services Agency owns and manages this facility.

Royal Oaks Golf Course is open to the public and hosts the Royal Oaks Golf Course Annual Tournament.

Things to Do

A drive of 10 minutes or less from Royal Oaks Golf Course will bring you to Knob Noster State Park, a scenic oak woodland with patches of prairie along both sides of Clearfork Creek. It’s a great place for mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders to get some trail time. The park also features an oxbow slough, which has been officially designated as Pin Oak Slough Natural Area.

A 7 minute drive separates Knob Noster from Montserrat Vineyards, a winery with fantastic views and award-winning wines. Missouri is widely recognized as the leading producer of excellent Norton wine, a red wine that is comparable to Zinfandel.

A few minutes in the opposite direction of the vineyards will bring you to Coffee Sknobs, for an energetic alternative to wine.

The Knob Noster Farmer’s Market features local and sustainable food every Thursday and/or Saturday in old downtown Knob Noster at 113 N State St.

In Knob Noster and nearby Warrensburg, there are many elegant dining options to enjoy as well as “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants that locals rave about.

University of Central Missouri

The University of Central Missouri’s 1,561-acre campus is located 11 miles east of Whiteman AFB. UCM is a public university established in 1871. The school offers more than 150 majors and minors and a variety of sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. Additional athletic pursuits available include UCM Indoor Rock Climbing Wall and UCM Union Bowling Center.

Missouri State Fair

The Missouri State Fair draws thousands of visitors from all over the state.

Twenty miles west of Whiteman is Sedalia, where the Missouri State Fair takes place. The 400-acre fairgrounds present premier livestock shows and competitive exhibits, and first-class professional entertainment. In addition to the activities of the eleven-day Missouri State Fair, the fairgrounds are utilized on a year-round basis.

Off-season usage draws over 300,000 visitors to various events including camper rallies, livestock shows, organized athletic leagues and tournaments, craft shows, and youth rallies.

Whiteman AFB

We are fortunate to be conveniently located near Whiteman Air Force Base. Whether you are just PCS'ing to or from Whiteman or are considering moving off base, Old Drum Real Estate would love to provide you with assistance.

Our website features the best Whiteman AFB real estate search for homes available. It is the only site you will ever need! It is easy-to-use and updated frequently by direct connection of the official database used by area real estate brokers and agents. 

You can save searches, and get daily email alerts of new listings, price changes, sold data, and market reports. Our Interactive Map Search allows you to view properties on a map or refine your search by drawing the boundaries around the area you desire. 

Below you will find some newly listed properties that are within easy commuting distance to Whiteman Air Force Base.